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BDP Quadrangle receives a canadian governor general’s medal in architecture
BDP Quadrangle’s innovative, sustainable design for a timber frame workplace project - 60 & 80 Atlantic Avenue - has won Canada’s most prestigious architecture prize.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) awarded the building its top prize as it is one of 12 Canadian projects that is creating a better world through the built environment.
Principal in Charge at BDP Quadrangle, Richard Witt, explains: “Sustainable, considerate buildings are becoming increasingly visible as the global architecture profession continues to promote careful, not careless design. 60_80 Atlantic embodies the ambition of our teams to create places that have a positive impact on businesses, communities and on the planet. It is evidence of the elevation of our design culture and of our desire to bring innovative, ground-breaking buildings to life. It is a worthy recipient of this award.”
60_80 Atlantic stands in the heart of Toronto’s Liberty Village, a former industrial site. Comprising the adaptive reuse of a historic building with a contemporary expansion, the project offers a sustainable, contemporary workspace and urban connectivity within a fast-gentrifying historic neighbourhood. The project represents, not only a commitment to reducing the carbon footprint, but also a belief that our heritage deserves preservation while creating something modern and adaptable.
In addition to its aesthetic beauty, 60 Atlantic takes a structure originally constructed in the late 19th and breathes new life into it as a mixed-use building designed to be a hub for the neighbourhood. 80 Atlantic is Toronto’s first mass timber framed office building in more than a century. Combined with innovations in internal systems that optimise airflow, natural light capture, and the integration of electrical and communication systems, the buildings exude all the elements of modern, thoughtful architecture.
The RAIC advocates responsible architecture and celebrates outstanding examples of Canadian design and architectural excellence. In collaboration with the CCA, the Governor General's Medal in Architecture is awarded biannually to practices’ that produce exemplary work in their field. The award contributes to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture and aims to increase public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society.
John Brown, President of the RAIC, said: “The projects represented in this year’s recipients of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture illustrate design excellence in a variety of building typologies through their contextual response, sustainability and creativity. The thought and consideration of our award-winning Canadian architects taken in each project demonstrates their ability to produce dynamic spaces that are not only beautiful, but enlivening and enriching, enabling us to learn and grow.”
