The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the winners of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.
The following built projects and the architects responsible will be honoured:
115 Studios – Cirque du Soleil
Les architectes FABG
Design Architect: ric Gauthier (Montreal)
Bibliothque Municipale de Chteauguay
atelier TAG et Jodoin Lamarre Pratte et Associs Architectes en consortium
Design Architects : Manon Asselin, Katsuhiro Yamazaki (atelier TAG) (Montreal)
Erindale Hall, University of Toronto at Mississauga
Baird Sampson Neuert Architects
Design Architects: Barry Sampson and Jon Neuert (Toronto)
Institut de tourisme et d’htellerie du Qubec
Lapointe Magne + difica
Design Architect: Michel Lapointe (Montreal)
Jardins de Mtis/Reford Gardens
Atelier in situ
Design Architects: Annie Lebel, architecte et Stphane Pratte, architecte (Montreal)
Maurer House
Florian Maurer Architect (Naramata)
SC3-Smith Carter Workplace
Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated (Winnipeg)
Schulich School of Business, York University
Hariri Pontarini Architects, Robbie/Young + Wright Architects In Joint Venture
Design Architect: Siamak Hariri (Toronto)
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Saucier + Perrotte architectes
Design Architect: Gilles Saucier (Montreal)
Thtre du Vieux-Terrebonne
atelier TAG et Jodoin Lamarre Pratte et Associs Architectes en consortium
Design Architects: Manon Asselin, Katsuhiro Yamazaki (atelier TAG) (Montreal)
Thtre Espace Libre
Lapointe Magne et associs
Design Architect: Michel Lapointe (Montreal)
Unity 2
Atelier Big City (Montreal)
“Today, Canadian architects stand squarely with the best of their international counterparts as artists and craftspeople who strive not only for a physical expression of function and form, but also for an experience rooted in aestheticism and grace,” said Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michalle Jean, Governor General of Canada.
The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture recognize outstanding achievement in recently built projects by Canadian architects. This program, created by the RAIC, contributes to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increases public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society. These awards are administered jointly with the Canada Council for the Arts, which is responsible for the adjudication process and contributes to the publication highlighting the medal winners.
“The Canada Council’s participation in the administration of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture is part of its ongoing effort to promote the excellence of Canadian architecture and make the public aware of the creative genius of our architects,” said Karen Kain, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. “Since its creation in 1950, this competition has helped foster an understanding of the nature of Canadian architecture, and of the regional, cultural, aesthetic and historical realities it reflects.”
The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture will be presented September 20, 2006 at 6:00pm in Montreal at l’Institut de tourisme et d’htellerie du Qubec by Her Honour the Honourable Lise Thibault, Lieutenant Governor of Qubec.
“What can be said of this year’s laureates? That there is a promising future for Canadian architecture with the breakthrough of a new generation of architects. That modest public buildings in smaller urban centres can demonstrate the value of architecture in our communities. That an architectural competition program, such as the one in the Province of Quebec, can successfully give rise to superior buildings,” said Yves Gosselin, FIRAC, RAIC President.Descriptions, biographies and downloadable images of the architectural firms and their winning buildings are available at www.raic.org and www.canadacouncil.ca.
The 2006 winners of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture were selected by a jury of the following distinguished architects: Amale Andraos (New York); Peter Busby, FRAIC (Vancouver); Adam Caruso (United Kingdom); Julien De Smedt (Denmark); and, Mario Saia, FIRAC (Montreal).
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is a voluntary national association established in 1907 as the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada. Representing more than 3,300 architects, the RAIC provides the national framework for the development and recognition of architectural excellence.
McGraw-Hill Construction generously sponsors the RAIC’s awards programs.
The Canada Council for the Arts, in addition to its principal role of promoting and fostering the arts in Canada, administers and awards over 100 prizes and fellowships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences and engineering. Among these are the Killam Prizes, the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes, the Governor General’s Literary Awards and the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts, the Prix de Rome in Architecture and the Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement.