It's still a whole week away, but the annual Doors Open Toronto is quickly approaching. Amongst the many buildings that will be welcoming guests this year, ten architect's offices across the city will give visitors the chance to consider both architect's own spaces for work, as well as the work they will be displaying. It's always an interesting time, and while most tours are self-guided, there will be architects on hand to answer questions about their work.

The firms opening their doors this year will all be open on Saturday May25 from 1 to 5 PM. Those welcoming guests are Cannon Design, Dialog, Diamond Schmitt, DTAH, gh3, Montgomery Sisam, Reigo & Bauer, Studio Junction, The Ventin Group, and Zeidler Partnership Architects. A map, linked here, has been created to help get you from one to the next!

Diamond Schmitt Architects will also open on the Sunday as well, as they will be hosting several talks—on both days—by architects who will present their buildings in Toronto, across Canada, and abroad, all in relation to this year's theme of 'Creators, Makers and Innovators'. The half-hour talks are free of course, and should satisfy those interested in learning more about the significance and work put into the Don Jail restoration, the Mariinsky II Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sick Children's Research Tower, Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park and how the area has been socially impacted by its new buildings, designing large wooden structure buildings in British Columbia, using computer-modelling software as a design tool, and architectural illustration in watercolour. The talks will also discuss current structures undergoing development and future projects. 

Daniel's Spectrum in Regent Park, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

Along with these presentations, Diamond Schmitt Architects will also have architectural videos, renderings, models, plans and photography on display. The Ryerson Image Centre, Corus Quay, and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute are just a few other buildings designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, which will be tourable during this year's Doors Open as well. 

Sick Children's Hospital Research and Learning Tower, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

Mariinsky Theatre in Russia, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

The presentations are listed below:

Saturday, May 25th Presentations:

• 1:30pm - Mariinsky II Opera House by Jack Diamond
• 2:00pm - Vaughan Metropolitan Centre by Mike Szabo
• 2:30pm - Wilfrid Laurier University Global Innovation Exchange by Birgit Siber and Gary Watson
• 3:00pm - Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge, Ontario by Gary Watson
• 3:30pm - Working with wood structures: Thompson Rivers University Law School by Matthew Tsui
• 4:00pm - Designing Toronto condominiums by David Dow
• 4:30pm - The transformation of the Don Jail at Bridgepoint Health by Antra Roze

Sunday, May 26th Presentations:

• 1:30pm - The architecture of health by Greg Collucci
• 2:00pm - Sick Children's Hospital Research and Learning Tower by Duncan Higgins
• 2:30pm - Repurposing a heritage textile mill at Brock University by Joseph Troppmann
• 3:00pm - The social impact of architecture in Regent Park: Daniels Spectrum by Jennifer Mallard
• 3:30pm - First Nations iconography at a B.C. academic library by Jarle Lovlin
• 4:00pm - Vanier Hall at the University of Ottawa by Sarah Low
• 4:30pm - Architectural drawing in the digital age by Jon Soules

For more information on Diamond Schmitt Architects visit their website here. 

More information on Doors Open Toronto talks can be found here and details on the self-guided tours are found on this website.