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The 2016 Governor General's Medals in Architecture honour outstanding buildings across Canada

May 19, 2016

Ottawa, May 19, 2016 - The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts today announced the recipients of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture. The biennial awards celebrate outstanding design in recently completed projects by Canadian architects.

The jury found that the 12 winning projects reflect themes of connection, revitalization, and experimentation. “Bringing people together in new ways, valuing what we have, and designing innovative programs are currently what our architects do best,” writes jury member Annmarie Adams, FRAIC. “Each of the winning projects is a catalyst for change beyond its own site lines.”

The awards will be presented during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on September 20, 2016.

Click here for images, descriptions of each project and jury comments.

The 2016 Winners

The recipients of these awards are among Canada's finest architects. I'm delighted to see such deserving projects being recognized and I offer my sincere congratulations to the recipients.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada

Architecture is at once a construction, a footprint in time, a structural innovation and an aesthetic vision. It expresses and shapes our culture and ways of living together. The winning projects of 2016 – spaces for gatherings, culture and work – are outstanding interpretations of our lifestyles and collective aspirations.The Canada Council is proud to celebrate excellence in the art of architecture through the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.

Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts

This year's award recipients are ambitious in their use of innovative and sustainable building technologies, and display a solid commitment to the public realm.

Allan Teramura, FRAIC, RAIC President

About the awards

The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, created by the RAIC, contribute to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increase 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.

Members of the 2016 jury

Annmarie Adams, FRAIC – William C Macdonald Professor, McGill University School of Architecture (Montreal, Canada)
Vanessa Miriam Carlow – Founder, COBE Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
Gary Hack – Dean Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania School of Design (Philadelphia, USA)
Richard Henriquez, FRAIC – Founding Partner, Henriquez Partners Architects (Vancouver, Canada)
Todd Saunders – Principal, Saunders Architecture (Bergen, Norway)

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is the leading voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada. Representing about 5,000 members the RAIC advocates for excellence, works to demonstrate how design enhances the quality of life and promotes responsible architecture in addressing important issues of society.

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national public arts funder. They champion and invest in artistic excellence so that Canadians may enjoy and participate in a rich cultural life. In 2014-15 the Canada Council allocated $155.1M towards artistic creation and innovation through our grants, prizes and payments. They also conduct research, convene activities and work with partners to advance the sector and help embed the arts more deeply in communities across the country.