2021 Canadian Architect Award Winners Announced

Two hundred and thirteen submissions were received for this year’s awards program, with the jury selecting five projects for Awards of Excellence, six projects for Awards of Merit, and two projects for Student Awards of Excellence.

Two of RJC’s projects received awards: UBC Gateway received an Award of Excellence, and the Toronto Paramedic Services Multifunction Paramedic Station received an Award of Merit. 

UBC Gateway is designed by Perkins + Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen, RJC is the structural engineer and provided a lifecycle analysis.

 “….There’s a lot of thought put into its sustainability strategies and material choices, from its mass timber structure to its prefabricated wall panels and terracotta cladding. The quality of its materiality, rational planning and expression result in an endurance-oriented design befitting of a gateway. It is targeting an exceptional level of performance, with a GHGI of 1.4—a significant achievement, especially given that it includes a kinesiology department with a wet lab.”-Jury Comment

The Toronto Paramedic Services Multifunction Paramedic Station is designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with gh3, RJC is providing structural engineering and building science services.

“… A mass timber structure is used to reduce embodied carbon, helping the project target net zero carbon certification. There’s something seductive and attractive about the resulting form that is a site-specific response to capturing solar energy.” -Jury Comment

Now in their 54th year, the awards are the highest recognition for excellence in the design stage in the Canadian architectural sector. By focusing on commissioned but not yet completed projects along with exceptional student work and architectural photography, the program recognizes design ambition and supports an overall culture of design excellence.