Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Association of Architects has announced the winners of its 2026 Design Excellence Awards and Service Awards, recognizing projects, practices and individuals that demonstrate innovation, sustainability and community impact.
The awards will be celebrated next month at the OAA Conference, Collaboration Powering Innovation, in the Waterloo Region.
The biennial Design Excellence Awards program highlights the work of Ontario architectural practices across a wide range of sectors and geographies. This year’s winners include projects spanning community centres, housing, academic and cultural facilities, and public spaces.
A jury selected 10 winning projects from 96 submissions, narrowing the field to 20 finalists. Entries were evaluated based on creativity, context, sustainability, good design and business practices, and long-term legacy. All submissions were also required to include Energy Use Intensity (EUI) metrics, reflecting the OAA’s emphasis on environmentally responsible design.
“The 2026 Design Excellence Awards showcase exciting examples of the quality work being performed by members of Ontario’s architecture profession, as well as the clear impact our built spaces can have on our communities,” said OAA president Lara McKendrick. “By mandating the submission of Energy Use Intensity metrics for all candidates, the OAA is pleased to actively advance climate stability and ensure sustainable design remains a core priority for the profession.”
The public can vote for a People’s Choice Award from among the winners, with online voting open until April 22.
The 2026 Design Excellence Award winners are:
- Angle of Repose (Algonquin Highlands, Ont.) by Reasonable Projects Inc.
- Beaverton Heights Modular Transitional Housing (Beaverton, Ont.) by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
- Carmen Corbasson Community Centre (Mississauga, Ont.) by Diamond Schmitt Architects
- Kìwekì Point (Ottawa, Ont.) by Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. and Patkau Architects Inc.
- Koffler Scientific Reserve (Toronto, Ont.) by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
The Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus at the University of Toronto, Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Architect: Weiss/Manfredi Architects - Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, University of Toronto (Toronto, Ont.) by Weiss/Manfredi and Teeple Architects
- The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum (Burnaby, B.C.) by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Iredale Architecture
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, Ont.) by Bucholz McEvoy Architects Ltd. and ZAS Architects Inc.
- Toronto Public Library – Bridlewood Branch (Toronto, Ont.) by Ken Fukushima Architecture in association with David Fujiwara Architect
The OAA regulates the practice of architecture in Ontario in the public interest and uses its awards program to promote the role of architecture in shaping communities across the province.
