The RAIC Announces the Recipients of the Awards of Excellence for 2021

The RAIC is proud to announce the recipients of the Innovation in Architecture Award and the President’s Award for Multimedia Representations of Architecture for 2021. These awards are presented on a biannual basis as part of the RAIC Awards of Excellence program. 

Innovation in Architecture

This award is to recognize excellence in architectural innovation, including the research and development and the applied use of new technology; unique adaptation of existing technology; new project delivery methods; new design processes; new details; or the development of new methods related to the construction process. 

Innovations cover a wider range of architectural endeavours including, but not limited to Management, Project Delivery, Energy, or Building Envelope. The award is intended to recognize skill and innovation in technology, project delivery, building science, the practice of architecture, and social innovation. 

Medal Recipient: Grand Théâtre de Québec Refurbishment

• Architects: Lemay / Atelier21 
• Client: Société du Grand Théâtre de Québec 
• Completion: 2020 
• Location: Québec, QC 

The refurbishment of the Grand Théâtre de Québec’s envelope required consideration of its two defining components: its brutalist architecture by Victor Prus and an integrated sculptural mural by Jordi Bonet. Indeed, the existing building’s prefabricated concrete envelope had significant condensation and rust issues.  

Having to transform a heritage icon required a creative and sensitive approach from the Lemay/Atelier 21 team. The new transparent outer shell fades, disappears, reflects, and illuminates. Beyond its primary function of creating a weather-protected tempered envelope, the casing acts as an extension of the original building, maintaining design continuity. The solution leaves the landmark intact and perfectly visible.

Comments from the Jury

The Grand Theatre de Quebec demonstrates a host of notable innovations in the spirit of honouring the original Victor Prus building and sensitively protecting the existing degrading structure and Jordi Bonet mural. The new glass casing is quiet and understated, with a technical rigour that speaks to what must have been remarkable teamwork between the architects, engineers, and manufacturers. It skillfully addresses the challenges faced by the concrete façades and unique interior sculptural murals by developing from the exterior a meticulous envelope system and creating an in-between controlled environment. The team’s choices throughout the process demonstrate how intelligent, quiet innovations can significantly extend the life of public buildings for the betterment of the community, climate, and environment.

Innovation in Architecture Jury:

• Pat Hanson, FRAIC, Principal and founding partner of gh3*.
• Michael Green, FRAIC, Principal, MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE A Katerra Design Partner.
• Leila Farah, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural Science, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Ryerson University.

President’s Award for Multimedia Representations of Architecture

This award recognizes a narrative about buildings and cities that promotes the public understanding of architecture and the role of architects. The entry must be a body of work. 

Medal Recipient: Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present

• Elsa Lam (Editor), Graham Livesey (Editor) 
• Published: 2019 
• Location: Toronto, ON 
  

The book Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present is the first comprehensive volume on modern and contemporary Canadian architecture to appear in over 25 years. It is co-published by Princeton Architectural Press and Canadian Architect magazine.  

Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present, is a far-reaching review of major work in this county. It includes 15 original essays by authors including George Baird (FRAIC), Brian Carter, (Hon. FRAIC), Ian Chodikoff (FRAIC), Odile Hénault, George Kapelos (FRAIC), Lisa Landrum (FRAIC), Steven Mannell (FRAIC), Sherry McKay, Marco Polo (FRAIC), Colin Ripley (MRAIC), Lola Sheppard, David Theodore (MRAIC), Larry Wayne Richards (FRAIC), Adele Weder (Hon. MRAIC) and Mason White (MRAIC). It is illustrated with 500 photographs and drawings.  

The 50-year retrospective begins with the nation’s centennial and Expo 67 in Montreal. It covers the definition of national institutions and movements, how Canadian architects interpreted major international trends, regional and Indigenous architectural tendencies, and the influence of architects in Canada’s three largest cities—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.  

Comments from the Jury

The book “Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to Present” is a body of work representing Canadian Architecture from coast to coast diligently and completely compiled into one superb anthology. It is a timely piece that may take decades to replicate and or replace. In 15 chapters, these authors clearly explain the themes and regional trends that have shaped the country’s built form in this period – a period in which, as the editors suggest, a truly Canadian architecture was born for the first time. This assembly of expertise and regional knowledge allows the book to provide a depth of insight that no one individual could offer. Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present is a body of work whose diversity and variety are entirely Canadian.  

President’s Award for Multimedia Representations of Architecture Jury: 

• Michael Cox, PP/FRAIC, Architect. 
• Wayne De Angelis, PP/FRAIC, De Angelis Architecture.
• Alex Bozikovic, Architecture Critic, The Globe and Mail.

Source: V2com newswire