RAIC announces Montreal-based Chevalier Morales Architectes as recipient of the 2018 Emerging Architectural Practice Award

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada has named Chevalier Morales Architectes as the recipient of the 2018 Emerging Architectural Practice Award. The annual award, which has previously honored D'Arcy Jones Architecture, La SHED, and KANVA, recognizes the principals of emerging architectural practices that have consistently produced distinguished architecture.

Reflecting the positive impact of the architectural competition process in Quebec, this year's winner was celebrated by the jurors for their series of impressive works via private houses and competitions for cultural projects. “This firm has become successful because of the opportunity to participate in competitions,” said the five-member jury. “They have grown as a successful young practice because of public policymaking and the opportunities that it creates."

Founded in 2005 by Stephan Chevalier and Sergio Morales, the firm, that now includes 15 architects and contributors, has garnered several awards for both their residential and cultural works. Their Maison de la Littérature project—which added the new addition of a public library to a Gothic Revival church (and UNESCO World Heritage site) in Quebec City—has received numerous awards including the Grand prix d’excellence and the Prix d’excellence en architecture of the Quebec Order of Architects, and the 2014 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence. Their Résidence Roy-Lawrence—a top-heavy timber chalet in the mountains of eastern Quebec—has also earned ample attention. 

Describing their work as "sleek and clean, warming and welcoming," the jury was impressed with the craftsmanship behind the firm's portfolio. “Their work is creative, inventive, fresh, strong, sensitive to details, almost poetic. There’s a mastery of building technology. They’ve demonstrated very mature work for an emerging firm.”

“The challenge for any up-and-coming practice is often working in the shadows with limited resources,” said principal architects Sergio Morales and Stephan Chevalier. “While this can be an exciting and fertile period that demands resourcefulness and creativity, it is very nice to feel the warmth of the light shone on our practice via the 2018 Emerging Architectural Practice Award. The recognition and publicity that come with this award validate our efforts and increase our motivation to continue to produce quality architecture for our clients and the public.”

The awards will be presented at the RAIC/AANB Festival of Architecture to be held in Saint John, from May 30-June 2.

Jury members: Peter Busby, FRAIC, Principal, Perkins + Will, Vancouver, BC; Andrew Batay-Csorba, MRAIC, Principal, Batay-Csorba Architects, Toronto, ON; Johanna Hurme, FRAIC, Principal, 5468796 architecture Winnipeg, MB; Renée Mailhot, MIRAC, Founder, La SHED architecture, Montreal, QC; Diogo Burnay, Director, Dalhousie University School of Architecture, Halifax, N