1.2K 
Some of this province's leading architecture firms were honoured at The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Awards, held on Friday, May 8th. The event, with internationally renowned mezzo-soprano opera singer Jean Stilwell as Master of Ceremonies, featured a ceremony and dinner at Liuna Station in Hamilton, allowing Ontario's architectural community to gather and celebrate.
“Ontario architects, every year, show their ability to create enduring, beautiful and sustainable buildings” said OAA President, Toon Dreessen. “Architecture forms a part of the cultural and social history of Ontario residents. The Design Excellence Awards show that OAA members create value by being creative problem solvers, increasing the impact that good architecture can have on our physical, mental and social well-being. Architects contribute to the local, provincial and national economy and help create spaces that we all use and appreciate.”
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was on hand to present the first-ever Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Design Excellence to N45 Architecture Inc. in association with Snøhetta Architecture Design Planning for their work on the new Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts in Kingston, Ontario.
“We are very honoured to receive the OAA Lieutenant Governor’s Award,” said Robert Matthews, partner at N45 Architecture Inc. “The Isabel Bader Centre was designed not only as a beautiful place for the public to enjoy music, but as a versatile space for the students of Queen’s University’s music, drama, film studies and fine arts departments to learn and experiment. We were inspired by Kingston’s geography and wanted to make sure the building related to its environment. The main performance hall is wrapped in wood reminiscent of the rock you see throughout the city.”
Les Klein of Quadrangle Architects was honoured with the Order of da Vinci award, which recognizes architects who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the profession, education and/or in the community.
Acclaimed architect Bruce Kuwabara of KPMB Architects was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Architecture firm PARTISANS has been attracting attention with their unorthodox techniques, and the young firm - with an average employee age of just 25 - took home this year’s Best Emerging Practice award. The firm also landed a 2015 Design Excellence winner with their Grotto Sauna, located on the picturesque shores of Georgian Bay.
Along with from the architects honoured at last week's gala event, the OAA also awarded honourary memberships to former architects, as well as those in related fields who do not hold a licence under the Architects Act.
The OAA recognized three recipients this year.
- Earl Reinke trained at the Algonquin College of Applied Arts & Technology, has over four decades of experience as an architectural technologist, and has contributed to some of Ottawa's most significant projects during that time.
- Kenneth Acton has served as a professor in the Architectural Technology at St. Clair College since 1997, and has contributed to the careers of a number of young architects.
- Jessica O’Rafferty has served as Secretary to the Executive Director for the OAA for almost four decades, has had extensive involvement in the creation and editing of the Canadian Handbook of Practice.
Finally, while several of Ontario's most striking new buildings and concepts were recognized with Design Excellence awards and honourable mentions earlier this year—these beautiful buildings can be found in this fully illustrated article—announced at this event was the winner of the People's Choice Award, who were Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with Charles Correa Associates for the newly opened Ismaili Centre on Wynford Drive in Toronto.
Congratulations to all the honourees!
| Related Companies: | entro |
