RAIC Awards of Excellence: These are Canada's greenest and most innovative buildings of 2019

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada just revealed the eight recipients of its biennial RAIC Awards of Excellence which recognize industry achievements through innovation, green building, allied arts, advocacy, and journalism.

"This year's projects demonstrate that delightful environments are possible in buildings designed towards zero carbon," commented RAIC President Michael Cox. "For example, we see innovation applied to extend the structural capacity of timber, the cleaning abilities of biological systems, and the thermal performance of construction."

Following are this year's award-winning projects and individuals.

Awards of Excellence – Innovation in Architecture: West Block Rehabilitation Project (cover image)
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON
Architects: Architecture49 and EVOQ Architecture

"The restoration of the West Block, the oldest of the three Parliament buildings, was one of the most significant rehabilitation projects in North America. The project modernized the 19th-century building with state-of-the-art facilities and preserved the heritage and character-defining elements. It also designed a contemporary addition for an interim House of Commons under a glass canopy roof within the courtyard of West Block. It was the first time in 100 years that a new House of Commons was built and the government relocated from Centre Block. The Parliament buildings are classified federal heritage buildings and the finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture in North America." 

Awards of Excellence – Innovation in Architecture: The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation
Mohawk College, Fennel Campus, Hamilton, ON
Architects: B+H Architects and McCallumSather

"The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation is one of the region’s first and largest net-zero institutional buildings. The 8,918-square-metre facility is helping determine the requirements and standards for the Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Buildings Framework. It is also contributing to the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero initiative, a global project which aims to ensure that all buildings are net zero carbon by 2050, with all new buildings being net-zero carbon by 2030." 

Awards of Excellence – Innovation in Architecture: Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool
Borden Park, Edmonton, AB
Architects: gh3*

"The Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool is the first chemical-free public outdoor pool to be built in Canada. The project replaces an existing pool and includes a seasonal pavilion and landscaped pool area for 400 swimmers. The building houses universal change rooms, showers, washrooms, staff areas, and water filtration mechanisms. The challenge was to create a large-scale pool with high-quality water control while also achieving an environmentally healthy and natural filtration process. The design process began with developing a pool technology that cleanses the water through stone, gravel, sand, and botanic filtering processes."

Awards of Excellence – Green Building (Administered in partnership with the Canada Green Building Council): Campus Energy Centre (CEC)
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Architects: DIALOG

"The Campus Energy Centre (CEC) is a state-of-the-art hot water facility that supports the University of British Columbia’s target of eliminating the use of fossil fuels on campus by 2050 and advancing clean energy research. The $24-million, LEED Gold facility demonstrates leading-edge sustainable design strategies and plays a significant role in reducing the university’s greenhouse gas footprint. Through its optimized spatial configuration and the predominant use of timber, the CEC uses almost 63 percent less energy and 31 percent less water than a baseline building of its type."

Awards of Excellence – Advocate for Architecture: Brent Bellamy
Winnipeg, MB

"Brent Bellamy is an architect and Creative Director at Number TEN Architectural Group in Winnipeg, MB. He has become a leading advocate for sustainable city building and human-focused design through public speaking, teaching, mentoring, writing, and conventional and social media."

Awards of Excellence – Allied Arts Medal: Klaus Nienkämper
Toronto, ON

"Over the past 50 years, furniture manufacturer Klaus Nienkämper introduced modern design into offices, public spaces, and houses across Canada and internationally. He has continuously collaborated with architects and industrial designers, realizing a broad range of chairs, tables, and sofas to create holistic and integrated spaces."

Awards of Excellence – Allied Arts Medal: Kathryn Walter
Toronto, ON

"For almost 20 years, Toronto artist and designer Kathryn Walter has created feature wall installations in Canada and the United States through collaborations with architects and interior designers. Since founding FELT Studio in 2000, she has worked almost exclusively with industrial, manufactured felt for its aesthetic, insulating, fire-resistant and sound-absorbent qualities."

Awards of Excellence – President’s Award for Media in Architecture: Alex Bozikovic
Toronto, ON

"Alex Bozikovic is the architecture critic for The Globe and Mail. In his columns, he mixes reporting and critical analysis to reveal what is happening in the built environment, and to advocate for better buildings and better cities. His work in 2017 and 2018 spans six provinces and a range of architectural projects, from houses to public buildings to urban design. As a writer, he pays attention to the forces that shape architecture including esthetic and technical dimensions, and political and social contexts. Throughout, the articles reveal how architecture impacts lives."

The awards will be presented in late October at the RAIC Festival of Architecture in Toronto.