Five architects and designers join RAIC College as new Honorary Fellows

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has announced the elevation of five new Honorary Fellows of the prestigious RAIC College's class of 2024.

Architects Adele Weder, Yvonne Hancock, Claire Weisz, last year’s Venice Architecture Biennale head curator and the 2024 RIBA Gold Medal winner Lesley Lokko, and the late Quebec landscape architect Claude Cormier were honored with the designation, which is given to practitioners that have "achieved international professional eminence or rendered distinctive service to the profession or to the community at large, either nationally or internationally."

The new Honorary Fellows join last year's quartet that included Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas, David Hughes, Tokunbo Ómisorè, and Sumayya Vally.

The announcement was preceded by the RAIC's selection of Toronto-based architect Yew-Thong Leong to a three-year term as Dean and the naming of 41 members as Fellows in the RAIC College.

The 2024 Honorary Fellows are:

Adele Weder

Weder, a noted architectural writer, editor, and curator has championed the work of Canadian architects through her roles as a correspondent and author for a number of years. She won the President’s Award for Architectural Journalism in 2011 and the RAIC Advocate of Architecture Award in 2015. In addition to her practice of architectural journalism, she has been active as an Advisory Board member of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture since 2018.

The RAIC citation stated: "Weder's influence extends beyond the written word. She has curated architectural exhibitions and actively participated in panels and conferences, where her expertise has enriched architectural discourse in Canada."

Claude Cormier

Cormier passed away last September at the age of 63, leaving behind a legacy of well-regarded public space designs in Montreal and across Canada, including Toronto’s Love Park and Berczy Park and the popular new Ring installation in downtown Montreal. He was also noted for being a champion of the local LGBTQIA+ community.

"Rendering visible the invisible of the everyday, his projects seek to reawaken the joy of phenomena through an apparent simplicity that is complex, but not complicated. Over the years, he has acquired a solid reputation as a prolific designer, noted for his originality and creativity," the RAIC citation reads of the late architect.

Lesley Lokko

Lokko has enjoyed a banner year after serving as the curator for the Venice Biennale, adding to her RIBA Gold Medal win with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) citation as part of the 2024 New Year Honours from King Charles III. Lokko is, of course, the founder of the African Futures Institute and the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg.

Her citation reads: "Bestowing the RAIC Honorary Fellowship on Lokko transcends mere acknowledgment—it is an ovation to a career that moves beyond borders, echoing the profound essence of diversity and inclusivity. Lokko’s journey is a vivid narrative, epitomizing architecture that is as resonant, intricate, and diverse as the global community it serves. Each stone laid, every word penned, and every insight shared illuminates the world of architecture with a steadfast glow of excellence, creativity, and influence."

Yvonne Hancock

The only woman in her 1962 graduating class from the University of Manitoba School of Architecture, Hancock has enjoyed a five-decade presence on the country's architectural scene in which she has collaborated with firms in the United States, Asia, and the United Kingdom on the design of many significant cultural and commercial projects through her work with Adamson Associates.

"Yvonne’s record of distinguished leadership is undeniable. Her long career is, by itself, remarkable. Combined with her exceedingly capable design execution skills and mentoring of others, she has contributed substantively to architectural practice in Canada and abroad," her citation reads.

Claire Weisz

The founding partner and Principal-in-Charge of WXY Architecture + Urban Design, Weisz counts institutions such as Yale, Columbia, and the University of Toronto among her teaching credentials. She is also a co-founder of The Design Trust for Public Space in New York City and has won many prestigious professional honors, including the Architectural League of New York’s Young Architects Award and AIANY’s Medal of Honor.

The RAIC citation says, "In Claire, architecture finds a voice rich in context, humanity, and purpose. Esteemed as an educator, revered juror, and community contributor, her engagements with multiple architectural boards highlight her broad commitment to the field. Her indomitable influence, unwavering commitment to urban betterment, and profound academic roles position her prominently as an architectural luminary."