The Winners of the 2015 OAA Celebration of Excellence Awards

Earlier this month, Ontario’s top architects, building industry members and guests, and those interested in the architecture field gathered in Hamilton for the annual Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Celebration of Excellence Awards.

20 new buildings in Toronto, St. Petersburg (Russia), Georgian Bay, Kingston, Bolsover, Sudbury, Crawford Lake, Sarnia, Oakville, Town of the Blue Mountains, Port Hope, and Surrey (British Columbia) were honoured in the Design Excellence category.

“Ontario architects, every year, show their ability to create enduring, beautiful and sustainable buildings,” says 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.”

Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, Kingston, ON, N45 Architecture Inc. in association with Snøhetta Architecture Design Planning P.C. - photo by Doublespace Photography

In addition to the 20 honoured for Design Excellence, there were a few more awards presented. The inaugural Lieutenant Governor’s Award went to the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston, Ontario, which was designed by N45 Architecture, with Snøhetta Architecture Design Planning P.C.

“We are very honoured to receive the OAA Lieutenant Governor’s Award,” says Robert Matthews, partner at N45 Architecture. “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.”

Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, Kingston, ON, N45 Architecture Inc. in association with Snøhetta Architecture Design Planning P.C. - photo by Doublespace Photography

The second award was for the best project that cost less than $8 million, dubbed the Michael V. and Wanda Plachta Award, which went to UUfie Inc. for their design of Lake Cottage. The third big award of the evening was the People’s Choice Award, which went to Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Charles Correa Associates for the Ismaili Centre design. There was also a Sustainable Design Excellence Award, which was awarded to J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, Consulting Engineers & Architects in association with Perkins + Will Canada Inc. for their work on the Vale Living with Lakes Centre in Sudbury.

Ismaili Centre, Toronto, ON, Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with Charles Correa Associates - photo by Shai Gil

See below for a full list of the other Design Excellence winners:

Design Excellence – Awards:

Echo House

Toronto, ON

Paul Raff Studio Incorporated Architect

Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy

Toronto, ON

Kohn Shnier Architects

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport

Toronto, ON

Patkau Architects Inc., MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd.

Grotto Sauna

Georgian Bay, ON

PARTISANS Architects

Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts

Kingston, ON

N45 Architecture Inc. in association with Snøhetta Architecture Design Planning P.C.

Ismaili Centre

Toronto, ON

Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with Charles Correa Associates

Lake Cottage

Bolsover, ON

UUfie Inc.

Mariinsky II

St.Petersburg, Russia

Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated

Surrey Civic Centre

Surrey, BC

Moriyama & Teshima Architects in joint venture with Kasian Architecture Ontario Incorporated

Vale Living with Lakes Centre

Sudbury, ON

J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, Consulting Engineers & Architects in association with Perkins + Will Canada Inc.

Design Excellence – Honourable Mentions:

14 Division

Toronto, ON

Stantec Architecture Ltd.

Annex Residence

Toronto, ON

Audax Architecture Inc.

Deer Clan Longhouse

Crawford Lake, ON

Brook McIlroy Inc.

Fort York Branch Library

Toronto, ON

KPMB Architects

Fort York National Historic Site Visitors Centre

Toronto, ON

Patkau Architects Inc. and Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.

Gold Corp Innovation Suite, Lassonde Mining Building

Toronto, ON

Baird Sampson Neuert Architects Inc.

Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery

Sarnia, ON

Kongats Architects

Maison Glissade

Town of the Blue Mountains, ON

Atelier Kastelic Buffey Inc.

‘Pit Stop’ Transit Facility

Oakville, ON

Bortolotto Design Architect Inc.

Port Hope House

Port Hope, ON

Teeple Architects Inc.

Concepts:

PRISMATICA

RAW design inc.

The Hole Idea - Now in Technicolour

Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited

Dancing Cubbies

Honourable Mention

Denegri Bessai Studio

Landmark Designation:

Belleville City Hall

Belleville, ON

William R. White Architect Limited

Best Emerging Practice:

PARTISANS Architects

Randy Roberts Service Award:

Recognizing members of the OAA for extraordinary service to the members

Istvan Lendvay

Lifetime Design Achievement Award:

Honouring members for career-long contribution to Architectural Design Excellence

Bruce Kuwabara

Order of da Vinci:

Presented to persons who have made a significant and meaningful contribution to the profession of architecture

Leslie M. Klein

2015 OAA Award Juries

The 2015 Award winners were chosen by Juries that included members of the public whose interests and background represent many areas of the Ontario design community.

Design Excellence & Lieutenant Governor`s Award:

CHAIR – Cheryl Giraudy, Associate Professor & Architect, OCAD University

Boris Brott, Founding Artistic Director, Brott Music Festival

Jane Corkin, Founder & Owner, Corkin Gallery

Dianne Lister, Immediate Past President & CEO of the ROM Governors

Sheila Penny, Vice President, Facilities Management, Toronto Community Housing

Concepts:

CHAIR – Ila Berman, Director, University of Waterloo School of Architecture & Principal, Scaleshift Design

Sarah Culp, President, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects

Rita Davies, CEO, Culture Capital and Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair

Jim Strasman, Principal, Strasman Architects Inc.

Landmark, Order of da Vinci, Best Emerging Practice & G. Randy Roberts Award:

CHAIR – John Hrovat, Chair, St. Clair Society of Architects

Toon Dreessen, OAA President 2015

Diana Osborne, Architect, Osborne Architect

Eb Zeidler, Senior Partner Emeritus, Zeidler Partnership Architects

Feature image: Ismaili Centre, Toronto, ON, Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with Charles Correa Associates - photo by Shai Gil