This page provides information on architectural awards won by Toronto buildings, and on how many of these are found in TOBuilt. To search for buildings that have won awards, click here.

Massey Medals

The Massey Medals were awarded by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).

·        Award history and description. The awards were given eight times, between 1950 and 1970. Between 1971 and 1981, the awards series was abandoned. In 1982, it was re-established as the Governor General's Medals for Architecture.

The awards, as well as published information about them, varied considerably from year to year. In the beginning, the awards consisted of a single "Gold Medal" and several "Medals". From 1952 to 1961, “Silver Medals” were awarded, sometimes accompanied by “Gold Medals”. Beginning in 1964, only "Medals" were given, without no distinction made between silver or gold. Because of this evolution, the medals are referred to most often simply as “Medals”.

In some years, detailed information about buildings that did not win a medal was also included. In 1958, information about these buildings was provided under the heading "Mentions". In 1961, 1964 and 1970, "Finalists" were listed.

Below is a summary of Toronto buildings that have won Massey Awards, or which have been finalists.

·       Sources of information. Information the Massey Awards was generally published in the Journal of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada. See the chart below for issue dates for issue dates containing information about the Massey Awards. From 1961 to 1970 information was also published separately from the Journal in a standalone publication.

·       Scope. TOBuilt contains information about Toronto buildings that have won Massey Awards. Many of these buildings have since been demolished; information about them is also included in the database.

·       Completeness. Toronto buildings won a total of 28 Massey Medals and were shortlisted 64 times, for a total of 87 awards. Two Toronto structures that received Massey Awards do not fit the scope of the database. A total of 86 buildings, related to 56 Massey-awards, were found in TOBuilt as of May 2009 (A single Massey Award may be given to a project consisting of many buildings).

Governor General’s Awards for Architecture

The Governor General’s Awards for Architecture are administered by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), with support from the Canada Council. They recognize outstanding achievements in architectural design and promote public recognition of architectural accomplishments. 

·        Award history and description. The awards were first given in 1982. The RAIC held three competitions in the 1980s, and beginning in 1990 the awards were endorsed by the Canada Council. The awards offered have varied slightly from year to year. For 1986, 1992, 1990, 1997, “Medals” and “Awards” were given. In 1999, awards offered were “Medal of Excellence” and “Medal for Merit”. Since 1999, only “Medals” have been given.

·       Sources of information. Competition results are published in a volume called Architecture Canada: The Governor General’s Awards for Architecture. In any given year, only medal or award winners are announced, not finalists or honourable mentions. You can also click here for information about this award from the RAIC website.

·       Scope. TOBuilt contains information about most of the projects that have won Governor General’s awards that are located in Toronto. If the award was given for an interior design project, it is linked to the building of which the project forms a part.  

·       Completeness. Between 1982 and 2008, 38 buildings or projects in Toronto received awards or medals. Two of these are out of scope; as of May 2009 all but two of the remaining 36 buildings or projects were in TOBuilt.

Canadian Architect Awards

This award is given by Canadian Architect magazine for unrealized projects designed by a Canadian Architect regardless of whether they were to be constructed in or outside of Canada.

·      Award history and description. The first Canadian Architect awards were given in 1968. Since then, the award has been offered annually with the exception of 1980. Until 1997, only  "Awards of Excellence" and student awards were presented. For some time from 1997 on, the magazine offered both “Awards of Excellence” and “Awards of Merit”.  Information about honourable mentions has not been published.

·      Sources of information. Competition results are published annually in Canadian Architect magazine. With the exceptions noted below, they can be found in the December issue. You can also click here for information from the website of Canadian Architect about these awards.

·     1969 Awards: Published in a separate publication.

·     1970 Awards: Not yet found.

·     1971 Awards: Published in a separate publication.

·     1979 Awards: These awards were spread over two issues, December 1979 and January 1980.

·      Scope. TOBuilt contains information about completed buildings that won Canadian Architect awards and that are located in the City of Toronto. It includes information about unrealized high-rise buildings, but does not generally contain information about other unrealized projects, or projects such as parks or landscaping treatments that did not result in buildings.

·       Completeness. From 1968 to 2008, Canadian Architect awarded 80 awards to Toronto projects. Many of these buildings were never constructed. Of the total awards given, 56 of these are in TOBuilt as of May 2009.

Ontario Association of Architects Awards

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) offers yearly awards for projects in Ontario. The awards are designed to promote best practice among architects and to educate the public about architectural excellence.  

·       Award history and description. The Ontario Association of Architects Awards have given architectural awards for many years, but the current series of awards have been given annually only since 1986 (the 1985-1986 awards). Award categories include "Residential Design Awards" and "Architectural Excellence Awards".  In 2007, some of these categories were replaced with "Design Awards". The OAA also gives awards for older buildings, called "the Landmark Award" (formerly known as the 25 Year Award). In addition to announcing winners, the Association also publicizes honourable mentions.

·        Sources of information. Click here for information about this award from the website of the OAA. Additional information about some award winners is available in the journal of the association entitled Perspectives.

·        Scope. TOBuilt contains information about OAA awards received by buildings, but generally does not include awards for theoretical projects, or for projects such as parks and street enhancements.

·        Completeness. Between 1986 and 2009, 146 awards from this group are in scope for TOBuilt. 97 were in the database as of May 2009.

City of Toronto Urban Design Awards

This award is given by the City of Toronto for projects that provided an outstanding contribution to the quality of life in Toronto. The City has given awards to buildings, conceptual projects, and publications. Only some awards from the most recent year, 2007, are included in TOBuilt. 

·        Award history and description. The first ceremony was in 2000. Since then, awards have been given roughly every second year in categories such as "Buildings", "Building in context", "Building element", and "Theoretical project". The categories have changed slightly over the years. Between 2000 and 2007 the awards series were known as the Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, in 2009 it became known as the Toronto Urban Design Awards. See below for a summary of the award titles and quantities for any given year which are in scope for TOBuilt (this eliminates visions, master plans, student projects etc.).

·        Sources of information. Click here for additional information at the City of Toronto's website about the Architecture and Urban Design Awards.

·        Scope. TOBuilt contains information about awards received by buildings and some other structures, but generally does not include awards for theoretical projects, or for projects such as parks and street enhancements. 

·        Completeness. Between 2000 and 2009, 59 structures in scope for TOBuilt received awards or honourable mentions. 52 of these have been included in TOBuilt as of December 2009.

Other awards

Other awards, such as international awards or Canadian Home Design Awards, are added to TOBuilt as they are discovered.

__________________________________________________________________ 

Home   |  Search buildings   |  Search companies   |  Search awards   |  Browse   |  About

Ó2010 Bob Krawczyk -- All rights reserved