2015 OAA Awards: Submission Deadline Approaching!

The deadline to nominate a design for the 2015 OAA Awards is quickly approaching! Anyone, whether you’re in the architecture and design industry or not, can nominate an Ontario individual or firm’s design.

This year, the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is emphasizing the importance of multi-unit and mixed-use projects. “As populations continue to grow and shift back towards urban centres, architects will need to present creative residential structures that promote density and accommodate mixed-uses while engaging within their given context and environment,” says OAA President Bill Birdsell. “It’s important to recognize the architects that are designing exceptional and diverse expressions of our modern lifestyle.”

The OAA Awards recognize both emerging and established architects in Ontario. The awards serve as the perfect platform for young, innovative architects to make their splash in the industry and get noticed by other firms and the public. Builder associations across the province have categories recognizing the best designs, but only the OAA brings together submissions and nominations from across Ontario and compares them to see which projects really stood out in the previous year.

180 Queen Street West: Design Excellence winner, 2007 OAA Awards, photo credit - Eduard Hueber

Last year, there were 176 submissions, and the OAA is hoping to exceed that number this year! There were nine winners in Toronto last year, including the Centennial College Library and Academic Facility by Diamond Schmitt Architects, Mount Dennis Library by G. Bruce Stratton Architects, and Victoria Park Subway Station by IBI Group and Brown and Storey Architects. There were only a couple low scale residence winners from Toronto, but with the emphasis falling on condo and mixed-use design, 2015 will hopefully see even more Toronto winners.

Other Toronto winners from previous years include 180 Queen Street West by KPMB Architects, and 60 Richmond East by Teeple Architects. These two designs are from 2007 and 2010, respectively, and we have to say, we think it would be amazing if we started to see more buildings resembling that Teeple design in the downtown core.

2015 OAA Awards Submission categories:

• Best Emerging Practice
• Design Excellence
• Sustainable Design Excellence
• Lieutenant Governor's Award
• G. Randy Roberts Service Award
• Concepts
• Honour Roll
• Landmark Designation
• Lifetime Design Achievement
• Order of da Vinci
• People's Choice

60 Richmond East: Design Excellence winner, 2010 OAA Awards, photo credit - Shai Gil

Most of the categories are self explanatory, but let’s take a closer look at the G. Randy Roberts Service Award, as well as the new Lieutenant Governor’s Award. The G. Randy Roberts Service Award is awarded to a firm that has shown a strong dedication to the OAA and is responsible for a lot of the “behind-the-scenes” action in the industry. A nominee should have constant communication with the OAA and have a grassroots relationship with members.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award recognizes design excellence and innovation for any projects that have been completed in the last five years. The winner will be selected by the official jury, based on how the entry successfully addresses all the awards criteria.

The deadline for submissions is January 26 at 4:30pm. The winners will be announced at the Celebrations of Excellence Awards Ceremony at the 2015 OAA Annual Conference in Hamilton May 6 - 8, 2015.

To learn more about the 2015 OAA Awards and to find info on each category, click here.