From a pool of almost 200 submissions, 10 projects have been selected as winners for the Ontario Association of Architects' (OAA) 2016 Awards' prestigious Design Excellence category. The awards highlight some of the best and brightest architectural firms operating in Ontario, with a focus on creativity, context, sustainability, design, good business and legacy.
2016 OAA Awards – List of Winners
Design Excellence
Aga Khan Museum
Toronto, ON
Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with Maki and Associates
The new institution in Toronto opened its doors in 2014, and has since become known as both a striking architectural landmark and a well-received addition to the city's multicultural social fabric.
Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre
Edmonton, AB
MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. and HIP Architects in joint venture
This Edmonton public building has added a new facet to what is already an important sporting precinct. Situated between the 1978-built Commonwealth Stadium and the 1938-built Clarke Stadium, the new facility houses football operations, stadium programming, and a community centre.
Go Home Bay Cabin
Georgian Bay Township, ON
Ian MacDonald Architect Inc.
A modern spin on the traditional Ontario cottage lifestyle, Go Home Bay Cabin features a contemporary minimalist design that challenges the recent trend of large, overbuilt cottages. The modest massing and green roof allow the structure to blend in with the rugged, scenic beauty of cottage country.
Harbord Towns
Toronto, ON
Superkül Inc.
The Superkül-designed Harbord Towns responds to the scale of the surrounding low-rise neighbourhood, though with a bright and modern twist. The rental development features a boldly contrasting envelope black and white cladding, with vibrant orange accents dividing the frontage into sixths and marking the residential entrances.
Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay Waterfront
Thunder Bay, ON
Brook McIlroy Inc.
Centred around two buildings, the Water Garden Pavilion and the Baggage Building Arts Centre, the design of Prince Arthur's Landing evolved from a series of public workshops with Native and non-Native community representatives. Spaces include a restaurant, a splash pad/skating rink, a skateboard park, trails, aboriginal gardens, public art installations and an outdoor amphitheatre, making it possible to enjoy this development year-round.
Richard Ivey Building, Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
London, ON
Hariri Pontarini Architects
London's new Richard Ivey Building has added another striking design to Western University’s campus. The three-storey, 274,000 square foot building features exterior finishes such as walnut, copper, and Douglas fir, and is centred around a large courtyard, a nod to traditional Oxford-style academic architecture.
Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
KPMB Architects & HCMA Architecture + Design in joint venture
The University of British Columbia’s new Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre is a three-storey pavilion that gives UBM alumni a place to network, meet students, and participate in programs. The structure features a largely transparent skin that allows views of the wood-finished details within, while upper floors feature windows with ceramic frit.
Skygarden House
Toronto, ON
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
Skygarden House occupies a narrow lot in an established Toronto neighbourhood. The design is a modern take on the traditional form of a Toronto single family home. The project's namesake “skygarden” is a wood-clad exterior space with recessed planters on the third floor of the front of the house, while an additional outdoor space can be found on the front exposure of the third storey.
Stade de soccer de Montréal
Montréal, QC
Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / Hughes Condon Marler Architects (now HCMA Architecture + Design)
Located on the site of Montréal's former Miron quarry in the borough of Villeray-Saint Michel–Parc-Extension, the 12,600 square metre Stade de soccer de Montréal was the result of an architectural competition held by the City of Montreal in 2011. The indoor soccer complex is one facet of a greater plan to convert the former limestone quarry into Montreal’s largest park.
Toronto Public Library Scarborough Civic Centre Branch
Toronto, ON
LGA Architectural Partners Ltd. and Phillip H. Carter, Architect in joint venture
Toronto’s recently completed 100th public library, the Toronto Public Library Scarborough Civic Centre Branch, is a realization of the original 1969 plan to include a library in the Raymond Moriyama Architects-designed Scarborough Civic Centre, which was constructed without its intended library in 1973.
A number of other awards are being given out in addition to the much-anticipated Design Excellence category, with categories highlighting Concepts, Landmark Designation, Best Emerging Practice, G. Randy Roberts Service Award, Honour Roll, Lifetime Design Achievement Award and the Order of da Vinci.
Concepts
Planespotting
Dominique Cheng, OAA
Shoreline Commemorative
Paul Raff Studio Incorporated Architect
Landmark Designation
299 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
Burke, Horwood and White (original building)
Quadrangle Architects Limited (renovation)
St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church
Sudbury, ON
John Stefura and Carl Skerl, Townend Stefura Baleshta and Pfister Architects
Best Emerging Practice
Denegri Bessai Studio
G. Randy Roberts Service Award
Recognizing members of the OAA for extraordinary service to the members
John C. Cook
Honour Roll
Douglas Cumming Johnson
Brian Curtner
Lifetime Design Achievement Award
Honouring members for career-long contribution to Architectural Design Excellence
George P. Baird
Order of da Vinci
Presented to persons who have made a significant and meaningful contribution to the profession of architecture
William N. Greer
*
While the winners above have now been chosen, there is still one major category to be awarded, and voting has now begun for this year’s OAA People’s Choice Award. Members of the public are being encouraged to visit www.oaa.on.ca between April 5 and 22 to cast their vote for the People's Choice Award.
Winners from all categories will be honoured at the upcoming 2016 OAA Annual Conference at the Allstream Centre in Exhibition Place on May 13th, where winners of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award, Michael V. & Wanda Plachta Award and the People’s Choice Award will be revealed to the public.
You can learn more above the 2016 OAA Awards by visiting this link.