The Atlas of Excellence in Architecture—a database of award-winning projects by Canadian architects, urban planners, and landscape architects—has launched an initial site listing over 2,800 projects.
The database currently compiles the winners from over 50 regional and national design awards dating back to 1992, including the Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence, Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, RAIC Awards of Excellence, provincial design awards, and other programs.
The project is initiated by Jean-Pierre Chupin of the Université de Montréal. Chupin holds the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence. The database is taking shape in conjunction with the establishment of a research network, intended to better understand the quality of built environments.
The initial inventory, which has no current equivalent elsewhere in the world, took more than two years to compile. Another year will be needed to expand the database to include earlier awards, dating back to the 1950s.
Chupin is calling on the collaboration of organizations, design firms, researchers and students from all schools of design to continue expanding the project, and to use the database for research and policy development purposes.
To learn more and to consult the Atlas of Excellence, visit architecture-excellence.org.