We are honored to have BEAT Executive, Safoura Zahedi, kick start our 2024 Talk series on Saturday, January 27, 2024 with a presentation and walk through of her installation, ‘Journey Through Geometry’. This session will be held in-person at Stackt Market where the installation is exhibited as part of the 2024 DesignTO Festival, following its feature as part of the Interior Design Show’s ‘Future Neighbourhood’ program. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Safoura will share her journey navigating an interdisciplinary creative practice that sits at the intersection of art and architecture. Her talk will include an overview of her 365-day field-research project which took her to 17 countries and over 40 cities to study geometric patterns in art, craft and architecture across major historic Islamic dynasties, and a walk through of ‘Journey Through Geometry’ – an immersive installation that explores geometry as a spiritual design tool and invites people to contemplate, connect, and partake in a spatial meditation.

About Safoura Zahedi:

Born in Japan and raised in Iran and Toronto, Safoura Zahedi (OAA, M.Arch, BID) is an artist, architect, educator, and geometry expert. She brings a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to the study of geometry and how it can be used as a spiritual design tool to create spatial experiences that encourage curiosity, meditation, and connection.

In 2022, Safoura traveled to 17 countries and over 40 cities to conduct field-based research on geometric patterns in art and architecture across major historic Islamic dynasties. She created “365 Days of Geometry,” a now popular Instagram project devoted to chronicling her encounters with objects and architecture and reflections on the relationships between geometric typologies, material choices, cultural histories, and spiritual philosophies.

Safoura holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Interior Design from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She has practiced at prominent Toronto-based firms, such as Moriyama & Teshima, Lebel & Bouliane, and most recently Superkül, where she led institutional projects including renovations to Robarts Library and the CN Tower. She teaches regularly at TMU and is often invited to participate in design reviews and give lectures at various universities.

An active member of Toronto’s architecture and design community, Safoura spent a decade as Programs Coordinator for the DesignTO Festival and is an Executive Committee member at Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) – leading art and design programming committed to advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Safoura’s independent work has been exhibited at the Design Exchange, the Gladstone House, and as part of the DesignTO Festival amongst others.

Location

STACKT Market, 'The Studio' Container #3-101 (next to the 'Solarium' Container #3-114)

28 Bathurst Street, Toronto ON

Please check in at the door.

Event schedule

10:45am Doors open

11am - 12:00pm BEAT Talk + exhibition walkthrough

Links:

https://www.safourazahedi.com/ 

https://designto.org/event/journey-through-geometry/

https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/future-neighbourhood/

BEAT dinner series is back!!  

BEAT believes that every conversation counts and works to create inviting contexts that foster open dialogue. Each BEAT Dinner is hosted at a remarkable Toronto restaurant. A highlight of this event is that a different VIP guest of honour will be invited to each dinner.

We are honoured that the featured guest of the upcoming BEAT Dinner will be Eladia Smoke.

About Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak

Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak
MArch | OAA | OAQ | MAA | FRAIC | LEED®AP
Principal Architect, Smoke Architecture Inc.

KaaSheGaaBaaWeak | Eladia Smoke is Anishinaabekwe from Obishikokaang | Lac Seul First Nation, with family roots in Alderville First Nation, Winnipeg, and Toronto. Eladia has worked in architecture since 2002, and founded Smoke Architecture as principal architect in 2014. She is the first Anishinabekwe architect in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as the third Indigenous woman licensed as an architect in Canada. She taught as a Master Lecturer at Laurentian’s McEwen School of Architecture from 2016 to 2022. She serves as a founding member of RAIC’s Indigenous Task Force. Eladia represented Canada at the 2018 Venice Biennale Unceded exhibition as part of an international team of Indigenous designers and architects. Current professional work includes community-based and institutional projects working alongside Indigenous stakeholders, collaborating with First Nation communities, and listening closely to our Elders.

About Smoke Architecture

Smoke Architecture is Anishinaabeg owned and operated. Providing complete architectural services since 2014, we focus on First Nation and Indigenous projects. Our clients, guided by Elders and community leaders, hold millenia of expertise on how and what to build in our traditional territories. Smoke Architecture exists to support your success.

Their design process is guided by and responsible to our clients. The path we take rediscovers Indigenous knowledge in contemporary contexts. This process of land-based learning applies to each project we undertake, using engagement tools, design techniques, and building systems crafted specifically for each community and each place.

More about Smoke Architecture at https://www.smokearchitecture.com/

Location

Terroni Queen, 720 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

Event Schedule

8:00 PM  - 10:00 PM

Mark your calendars! Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, November 1st at 12:00pm.

We are honored to have Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak, Principal Architect at Smoke Architecture Inc. conduct a BEAT Talk on Thursday November 16th, 2023. This session is in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University and will be held in-person at Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Sciences. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

About Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak

Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak
MArch | OAA | OAQ | MAA | FRAIC | LEED®AP
Principal Architect, Smoke Architecture Inc.

KaaSheGaaBaaWeak | Eladia Smoke is Anishinaabekwe from Obishikokaang | Lac Seul First Nation, with family roots in Alderville First Nation, Winnipeg, and Toronto. Eladia has worked in architecture since 2002, and founded Smoke Architecture as principal architect in 2014. She is the first Anishinabekwe architect in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as the third Indigenous woman licensed as an architect in Canada. She taught as a Master Lecturer at Laurentian’s McEwen School of Architecture from 2016 to 2022. She serves as a founding member of RAIC’s Indigenous Task Force. Eladia represented Canada at the 2018 Venice Biennale Unceded exhibition as part of an international team of Indigenous designers and architects. Current professional work includes community-based and institutional projects working alongside Indigenous stakeholders, collaborating with First Nation communities, and listening closely to our Elders.

About Smoke Architecture

Smoke Architecture is Anishinaabeg owned and operated. Providing complete architectural services since 2014, we focus on First Nation and Indigenous projects. Our clients, guided by Elders and community leaders, hold millenia of expertise on how and what to build in our traditional territories. Smoke Architecture exists to support your success.

Their design process is guided by and responsible to our clients. The path we take rediscovers Indigenous knowledge in contemporary contexts. This process of land-based learning applies to each project we undertake, using engagement tools, design techniques, and building systems crafted specifically for each community and each place.

More about Smoke Architecture at https://www.smokearchitecture.com/

Location

Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Architectural Sciences
ARC-203 - 325 Church Street, Toronto, ON

No tickets are required, entry will be on a first-come first-served basis.

Event schedule

5:30pm Doors open

6:00-7:30pm BEAT Talk 

Join us for the 5th BEAT Forum focussing on construction site behaviours and dynamics. Geared toward those who work at or visit construction sites, including architects, clients, contractors, trades, and consultants, the Forum will explore different perspectives on how to create a collaborative and productive work environment for all stakeholders throughout the construction process.

The Forum is divided into two parts, a panel discussion in the morning and afternoon workshop after lunch. Our panel includes experts from the architecture and construction industry:

Speakers:

• Jen Hancock – Vice President of Collaborative Construction, Chandos Construction

• Carol Philips – Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects

• Lisa Laronde – President at RSG International, Canadian Association of Women in Construction

• Gayle Meeks - Associate/Technical Director, Perkins&Will

Moderator:

Jennifer Esposito – Assistant Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University; Principal, Place of Work Architecture Studio; Executive Chair, BEAT

Schedule & Details:

10:00am – 12:00pm       Panel Discussion

The morning session will commence with short presentations from our panelists followed by a moderated panel discussion and question period. Our panelists will offer insight from the perspectives of practice, advocacy, and policy-making.

12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch & Networking

1:00pm – 3:00pm Workshop led by Jen Hancock, VP of Collaborative Construction, Chandos Construction (*note that the afternoon session is on a first-come first serve basis, sign up available at 9:30am at the event)

The afternoon session will include a hands-on workshop that focuses on aligning values among stakeholders that work on construction sites. This workshop will be interactive, featuring breakout groups, discussion presentations, and the ultimate goal of generating a tangible set of values to take away.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. 

BEAT Forums are dedicated to exploring questions related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), led by experts in the EDI field and within the design, architecture, and construction profession. 

This BEAT Forum will qualify for 2 OAA Structured Learning hours.

Speaker Bios:

Jen Hancock, BA, BEd, LEED AP BD+C

Vice President of Collaborative Construction, Chandos Construction

Jen has worked for Chandos for the last 15 years and has helped lead many of the company’s innovative practices in that time. She helped set up the company’s Net zero 2040 strategy and works primarily as a coach, facilitator and trainer for project teams with a focus on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), collaborative construction practices, lean, sustainability and is a driver of EDI initiatives.

Carol Phillips, B.E.S., B.Arch., OAA (BCDS), NSAA, AIBC, AAA, LEED AP, SCUP, FRAIC

Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects

Carol is a Partner with the renowned firm Moriyama Teshima Architects known for remarkable, innovative Canadian and international projects. A Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Carol’s inspired designs have received international awards and are distinguished by the spare but assertive use of materials that bring identity and grace to communities. Her practice is increasingly focused on low carbon and timber in the search for ways the construction industry can contribute better solutions to the climate crisis. Along with her built work, Carol provides service to the architectural community through teaching at the University of Toronto, lecturing internationally, acting as a juror for design awards, and, in addition to being a member of the Brookfield Sustainability Institute League of Innovators, she also advises Building Equity in Architecture Toronto, as well as the faculty developing the Architecture Engineering program at the University of Waterloo.

Lisa Laronde

President, RSG International, Canadian Association of Women in Construction

Lisa Laronde is president of RSG International, a global leader in road safety infrastructure, and a powerful advocate for women in leadership. Through her influential speaking engagements and podcasts, her aim is to inspire women in all industries, particularly construction. Lisa is passionate about building psychologically safe work environments, where diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of her organization. Her business acumen and demonstrated success in growing market share make Lisa a unique and inspirational leader.

Gayle Meeks

Associate/Technical Director, Perkins&Will

Gayle Meeks is the Technical Director for Perkins&Will’s Toronto and Ottawa studios. Since graduating from TMU’s Bachelor of Architecture program in 2004, she has worked across multiple sectors with a variety of client groups in Canada and the UK. Her primary areas of focus are construction documentation and contract administration, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to provide innovative solutions for delivering complex designs. While providing oversight to all aspects of technical delivery at Perkins&Will, Gayle continues to work in contract administration, as she believes the best way to learn about buildings is by watching them get built.

We are honored to have Lauren Abrahams, senior urban designer at Public Work conduct a BEAT Talk on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. This session will be held in-person at Public Work office in Toronto. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as Lauren shares her thoughts on the dynamic, landscape-based process of making places to enhance our ever-evolving experience of public life in the city. She will trace her commitment to re-imaging the role of urban infrastructure systems, recognizing the importance of resourceful, creative and courageous thinking and acting. As a practitioner, researcher, parent, and maker, she reflects on the hybrid nature of our lives, and the need to design hybrid places and governance to support and sustain our cities.  She invites us to explore these rich frictions, unexpected synergies and regenerative potential as a meaningful foundation to transform the public realm.

About Lauren Abrahams:

Lauren Abrahams brings her experience in architecture and urbanism to her work at a range of scales with Public Work. Lauren has a strong international profile, enriched by over 18 years of practice and urban, ecological research in Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States including academic appointments at Harvard GSD and the University of Waterloo. Her combined experience gives her a research-based approach and a progressive outlook on the relationship of landscape, urbanism, and the design of the public realm.

With over 10 years experience as a senior project leader at PUBLIC WORK, Lauren coordinates some of the studio's most complex and challenging projects - leading multi-disciplinary design teams from concept through to construction documentation and project delivery. She was project leader on The Bentway and is currently collaborating on a vision for the future potential of a transformed public realm under the entire Gardiner corridor.

About Public Work

Public Work is an urban design and landscape architecture studio focused on one of the foremost public topics today—the intelligent evolution of the contemporary city. We aim to produce transformative works that invigorate the public realm, optimize and enhance the performance of urban and natural systems, and support public life by adding new layers of experience to the city. At the core of our practice is one question: How can every urban project— public or private—contribute to the quality of life and urban experience in the city?

More about Public Work https://publicwork.ca/

Location

Public Work

317 Adelaide St W #802, Toronto, ON M5V 1P9

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk 

8:00-8:30 pm Networking reception

We are honored to have Janna Levitt, co-founder of LGA Architectural Partners (formerly Levitt Goodman Architects) conduct a BEAT Talk on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. This session will be held in-person at LGA Architectural Partners office in Toronto. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as Janna Levitt shares her insights on her career path and the work done at LGA Architectural Partners. She will be speaking on the risks, challenges, and opportunities of working in a wide range of sectors. 

About Janna Levitt:

Janna Levitt (OAA, AAA, FRAIC) is a co-founder and partner of  LGA Architectural Partners (formerly Levitt Goodman Architects). She believes buildings can serve as a connector between culture and people. Her projects often involve implementing transformative cultural and environmental agendas, developed with a diverse group of collaborators. As a Partner, she has led projects throughout Ontario, including Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture, the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the heritage renovation Kitchener Central Library (LEED Gold Certified), and the near carbon-neutral Kiln Building Redevelopment at Evergreen Brick Works. Janna has also worked with many Indigenous communities working to realize their visions for projects such as the Centre for Native Child and Family Well Being, Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto Birth Centre, Thunder Bay Library Indigenous Knowledge Centre and is the local partner working with Alfred Waugh of Formline Architects on the Indigenous House at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus. Janna is a leading voice on sustainable city building, an active collaborator with U of T Daniels Tuf Lab, a member of the Waterfront Design Review Panel and a recipient of Sustainable Building Canada’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

About LGA Architectural Partners

LGA Architectural Partners is a skilled team of architects and building scientists based out of Toronto who create sustainable, contextually-sensitive and socially-minded architecture. Since 1989, LGA has been designing spaces that reflect the highest ideals and aspirations of our clients while contributing to the healthy growth and vibrancy of the communities we serve. Their diverse portfolio encompasses post-secondary facilities, libraries, community and cultural hubs, and residential projects. LGA is known for its responsiveness to clients’ programmatic requirements and expertise in delivering unique, one-of-a-kind spaces.

More about LGA Architectural Partners https://lga-ap.com/

Location

LGA Architectural Partners

310 Spadina Ave. # 100B, Toronto, ON M5T 2E8

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk 

8:00-8:30 pm Networking reception

We are honored to have KPMB Architects host a BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Please note that this session will be held in a hybrid format. The in-person event is at the office of KPMB Architects and it will be simulcast online via Zoom. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as we hear from architects and designers at KPMB Architects: Andrea Macaroun, Roxane Bejjany, Samantha Hart, and Sahana Dharmaraj, as they share their stories, interests, and careers navigating the architecture and design world. Speakers have diverse experience levels and will be sharing their career trajectories, lessons learned, and recent work. The talk will highlight the importance of mentorship and professional support in each of their respective careers, and specifically within KPMB Architects.

About KPMB Architects

Established in 1987, KPMB is an internationally recognized architectural practice based in Canada. Their wide-ranging work has earned over 400 respected awards, including 18 Governor General’s Medals, Canada’s highest honour. The founding partners, Bruce Kuwabara, Marianne McKenna and Shirley Blumberg, have all received the Order of Canada for their personal achievements and for KPMB’s collective contributions to improving people’s lives through the built environment.

About The Speakers:

Andrea Macaroun, Senior Associate, OAA

Andrea Macaroun joined KPMB Architects in 2002, following her graduation from the University of Toronto where Bruce Kuwabara was her thesis advisor. Andrea brings an enthusiastic commitment to architectural practice and design excellence to the studio. Over the years, she worked on civic, academic, and cultural projects in Canada and the United States at the forefront of creating positive change – projects with purpose drive Andrea. She has developed expertise in detail and contract documents. Andrea has contributed to a wide variety of significant projects including Vaughan City Hall, TIFF Bell Lightbox, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, and the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, and has worked on office interiors for high profile financial services companies. She was the Project Architect for the Sugino Studio and currently is working on Agnes Reimagined, the art centre at Queen’s University.

Roxane Bejjany, Associate, OAA

Inspired by the profound impact that the built environment has on people, community, and society, Roxane Bejjany was drawn to pursue architecture and received her master’s degree from the University of Toronto. She joined KPMB in 2019, bringing valuable experience in civic, academic, and residential project typologies in a range of scales that also include custom projects. Previously, she worked at Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and Izen Architecture. After joining KPMB, Roxane worked on a competition for a courthouse, where her discernment for details and material choices demonstrates her ability to create a tailored environment, for this project, one that represents truth and honesty. Her exceptional ability to centre a project’s ambitions and vision, manage the day-to-day details, and motivate her team members is evident in her current leadership role in Project Horizon for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). For SickKids, she is driven by the firm’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of healthcare design to elevate the experience of care. At KPMB, Roxane sits on the student hiring committee and she also oversees and spearheads many of the firm’s community service programs.

Samantha Hart, OAA

An architect, Samantha began at KPMB as a student and has been involved in and assisting with schematic design, design development, construction documents and the contract administration on several award-winning projects. She has contributed to such major projects as the Julis Romo Rabinowitz Building and Louis A. Simpson International Building at Princeton University and Boston University’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences. For the latter, Samantha was involved in schematic design all the way through to construction documentation. She also supports the development and integration of BIM software best practises throughout the office. She recently worked on the new workplace strategy and design of the interiors for Scotiabank’s newest building, Scotiabank North, in Toronto’s Financial District. She is currently working on the pre-design for the Yale Dramatic Arts Building.

Sahana Dharmaraj, Intern Architect

Sahana joined KPMB in 2018 as a student and played an integral role in leading the communication and coordination of the winning design competition for the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction’s Research & Discovery Centre. Since joining full-time shortly thereafter, she has worked on a series of successful competitions and submissions. She was a key member of the proponent team for winning Hamilton’s Pier 8 competition and the successful Downsview Framework Plan. For this project she played a coordinating role in the robust engagement component, designed to reach as many communities as possible. In addition, Sahana is committed to advancing equity in the profession of architecture. She was an inaugural member of KPMB’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. During the pandemic in what spare time she had, she participated in the Sudbury 2050 Urban Design Ideas Competition and her team’s scheme was a finalist. Sahana is also a film and video producer, and a volunteer with the Toronto Society of Architects’ K-12 Taskforce.

Location

KPMB Architects,

351 King St E Suite 1200, Toronto, ON M5A 0L6

Please check in at the door.

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk*

8:00-8:30 pm Networking reception

*Please note for Zoom participants, the session will run from 7:00-8:00 pm onlyJoin us as Heather Dubbeldam shares lessons learned from her varied career and the challenges of managing a practice while balancing parenthood, research and advocacy work. Heather will discuss her multi-disciplinary practice, the opportunities this has provided, how her practice has evolved, and the impact her Prix de Rome research had on the trajectory of her firm’s work, interests, and values. She will highlight some of the practice’s recent work, including research on sustainable and livable missing middle and multi-unit housing.

Join BEAT and SOSA (Society to South Asian Architects, Canada), as we collaborate and host our first //MIX of 2023 at the EQ3 showroom. 

BEAT X SOSA // MIX  will include five Featured Guests from various sectors in the Building Industry. All Guests have an educational background in architecture and have successfully transitioned into senior roles in various sectors such as Government, Real Estate Development, University, Project Management and Construction. At this MIX, we want to encourage a discussion focused on the diverse opportunities available for those with an architecture background. 

Our Featured Guests include:

Johanna Stille, OAA, M. Arch., B. Arch. Sc.
Senior Planner, University of Toronto, Mississauga
Sector – University

Johanna is a Senior Planner in the Facilities Management and Planning Department at the University of Toronto Mississauga with 14+ years of experience in Canada and abroad. Johanna has a passion for impacting people through thoughtful, well planned, design that promotes a sense of belonging, community, equity, and diversity. Past projects at UTM include planning the Office for the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation, Outer-Circle Recording Studio, and multiple classrooms and research laboratories.

Prior to her position at UTM, Johanna was an Architect at RAW Design in Toronto and bbp Architekten in Kiel, Germany, as well as a Designer at Dubbeldam Architecture + Design and Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects. Her project portfolio in consulting covers a wide range of typologies including the Helicopter Airport and Administration Building for the Federal Police Squadron in Oberschleissheim, Germany, The Milton Sports and Recreation Centre, and several boutique homes, mid and high-rise condominiums.

Johanna is a registered architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto (2009) and a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University (2003). She has been a guest critic at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, and guest speaker at the Toronto Society of Architects.

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Mehrdad Kolour, OAA, M. Arch., B. Arch. E.
Manager of Technology, Matheson Constructors
Sector – Construction

Mehrdad Kolour is a Manager of Technology and a licensed OAA architect with a wealth of knowledge in the intersection of technology, construction, and architecture. With a focus on large-scale projects in sectors such as ICI, residential, and healthcare, Mehrdad has developed a strong skill set in using the latest tools and technologies to optimize project efficiency and quality. His expertise extends to managing complex BIM models, integrating information from multiple disciplines, existing conditions, and point cloud data.

Prior to joining Matheson Constructors, Mehrdad held positions as a regional BIM manager and architect at several renowned architectural firms across Canada and the US. With a dedication to delivering high-quality work and a passion for utilizing technology to enhance architectural design, Mehrdad Kolour continues to make a significant impact on the industry.

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Mélisa Audet, OAA, M. Arch., B. Sc. Arch.
Manager, Practice Advisory Services, OAA
Sector - Government

Mélisa is a licensed architect in Ontario with over 18 years of post-graduate experience in architectural design, construction, and project management. Since 2019, she is the manager of Practice Advisory Services at the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and works alongside practice advisors to coordinate the delivery for a broad range of practice services that support architectural firms and the public. Mélisa obtained both her Bachelor of Sciences and Master of Architecture from McGill University in Montreal.  In 2014, she completed her certificate in project management (construction) from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Fully bilingual (French and English), Mélisa has acquired extensive project experiences working with private practices in Toronto and Montreal, Federal Government Agencies, as well as with working at a construction management firm.  She brings practical insight from different points of view from our industry.

She got elected and joined the OAA’s Council in 2017 and was the Vice President of Regulatory from 2018 to 2019. Mélisa was also an active member of the McGill Alumni Board of Directors in Toronto from 2014 to 2018 as well as the Toronto Society of Architects from 2017 to 2018.  She has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity GTA chapter.

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Vaibhav Jain, B. Arch., MDes
Development Manager, Marlin Spring
Sector – Real Estate Development

Vaibhav is a Real Estate professional with a background in business and design, with over fifteen years of experience in collaborating across multiple lines of businesses. Vaibhav’s expertise is in project / design management and real estate development strategy of different asset classes across Canada, US, Asia, and Middle East. Vaibhav moved to Canada in 2019 and is currently working at Marlin Spring as a Development Manager overseeing high-rise condo developments in the GTA. Before this role, Vaibhav worked at RE Development in US and India, and worked as an Architect for a Scottish firm based out of Hong Kong.

Vaibhav is trained as an Architect from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi and completed his Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. Vaibhav strongly believes in the philosophy of ‘design is the new business horizontal’ and views development through the lens of design and finance. In his spare time, he enjoys reading Manga and kayaking in summers.

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Vishal Sawlani, B. Arch., M. Sc.
Director – Project Management, CBRE
Sector – Project Management

Vishal is a Director of CBRE’s Project Management Services in Central Canada and is responsible for leading the business development efforts, developing client solutions, and ensuring outstanding service delivery and value creation for Clients. An Architect by background, he has 10+ years of experience in Canada, the Middle East, and Asia and has worked on corporate offices, retail malls, mixed-use developments, high-rise towers, entertainment centers, and residential housing projects.

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Building Equality in Architecture (BEA) exists to initiate change, building momentum to create a shift in the profession. As a group dedicated to enabling great architects to do great work, we understand that each of us must contribute to our fullest. Design excellence, diversity and equity are therefore not mutually exclusive.

Society of South Asian Architects, Canada (SOSA) is a not-for-profit organization that embraces and aims to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the professions of architecture and design. SOSA was established in 2021 by a small group of architects who identified the need for a community-based professional organization to represent the interests of South Asian architecture and design professionals in Canada. Our mission is to support our communities by creating opportunities for networking, advocacy, mentorship, education, and outreach.

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About our venue sponsor:

In a world of excess, EQ3 is focused on a new way forward—one that values quality and never compromises on craft. They own the means of their production to keep costs fair and prices honest, as they believe by making enduring designs, they can leave a lighter footprint. Aligned with their mission to create timeless designs that honour the people who make them and the places they’re made, EQ3’s talented artisans are masters of craft, focusing on creating with longevity in mind to produce functional forms that are inherently non-disposable—ensuring a more beautiful future.

BEAT and SOSA encourages Interns, emerging practitioners and seasoned professionals to join this interconnected community to share information, advice and opportunities.

We are honored to have Heather Dubbeldam, founder of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, host our first BEAT Talk session for the year, on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023. Please note that this session will be held in-person. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as Heather Dubbeldam shares lessons learned from her varied career and the challenges of managing a practice while balancing parenthood, research and advocacy work. Heather will discuss her multi-disciplinary practice, the opportunities this has provided, how her practice has evolved, and the impact her Prix de Rome research had on the trajectory of her firm’s work, interests, and values. She will highlight some of the practice’s recent work, including research on sustainable and livable missing middle and multi-unit housing.

Biography:

Heather Dubbeldam (OAA, FRAIC, LEED AP, WELL AP) is a fourth-generation architect and the principal of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, an award-winning studio committed to creating thoughtful projects that embody sustainable approaches. Through her practice and ongoing research in both Canada and Scandinavia, Heather has become an advocate for more progressive design and planning that exemplifies best practices in social and environmental sustainability, climate-positive developments, and urban resilience. She is regularly invited to speak as a thought leader on the subject at schools of architecture, industry events and national conferences.

Heather is known for her advocacy and leadership in the profession, elevating others, especially the younger generation of designers. She is involved with many volunteer boards including as the Advisory Board Chair for BEAT, and the Director of Twenty + Change, a national organization dedicated to disseminating the innovative ideas of the next generation of Canadian architects. Heather regularly participates in panel discussions, on professional and award juries, and as a guest critic at schools of architecture across Canada. She is the editor and co-author of several architecture publications.

About Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design is a multidisciplinary design studio in Toronto with a reputation for creating innovative, beautifully-crafted, and environmentally responsible design solutions. Founded by Heather Dubbeldam, the studio is known for sustainable architecture, interiors and landscapes that enrich the human experience. The studio’s portfolio includes a diverse range of projects in many sectors including workspaces, hospitality, mixed-use, and residential, as well as landscape design and architectural installations. Recipient of over 80 awards, including the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, the studio’s projects have also been widely published.

More about Dubbeldam Architecture + Design here: https://dubbeldam.ca/

Location

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

142 Westmount Ave 2nd Floor*, Toronto, ON M6H 3K4

*Stair access only to the second floor.

Please check in on the second floor upon arrival. Masks are optional.

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk 

8:00-8:30 pm Networking reception

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

We are thrilled for the return of BEAT’s Leadership Seminar, after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.  Previously occurring on an annual basis, this event will now be held bi-annually.  

The Leadership Seminar is dedicated to exposing students and young practitioners to leaders in the architectural profession. From sole practitioners to partners in Toronto's leading design firms, the seminar speakers are architects and academics who have established successful careers. The talks and tours that follow will showcase the breadth of the profession and speak to the numerous ways to navigate a career in the built environment.

While the event is geared towards women, all are welcome to attend. It is critical to have inclusive discussions surrounding issues of pay equity, gender bias, and the pressures of balancing work with a family life. 

BEAT Leadership Seminars qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours for the lecture portion of the event.

Speakers

• Vanessa Fong Principal Architect, VFA   

• Anya Moryoussef Director, AMA   

• Megan Torza Partner, DTAH 

• Ilana Altman Co-Executive Director, The Bentway

• Cheryl Atkinson Associate Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University & Principal, Atkinson Architect

Tour sites to be announced at a later date. 

Moderator

Heather Dubbeldam Principal, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design and Advisory Chair, BEAT

Master of Ceremonies

Stephanie Hosein Associate, Omar Gandhi Architects and Executive Committee Chair, BEAT

Schedule & Details

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

Gladstone House
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON 

Registration    |   9:30 am – 10:00 am

Seminar    |    10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Lunch and Networking    |    12:00 pm – 1:00 pm  

Tours / Breakout session    |    1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

* Tours and breakout sessions are led by seminar speakers. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the seminar. 

We are honored to have Amanda Large and Younes Bounhar, founders of Doublespace Photography, host our last BEAT Talk session for the year, on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2022. Please note that this session will be held in a hybrid format. The in-person event is at the office of Diamond Schmitt Architects and it will be simulcast online via Zoom. Event schedule and location details below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as we hear from Amanda and Younes about finding the art in architecture as photographers. Their goal is to create images that go beyond straight representation and focus on storytelling. They will also elaborate on their experience working as a team in a profession that is typically done solo, and evolving both practice and philosophy over the years.

Biographies

Amanda Large is a professional architectural photographer based in Toronto. As an architect by training, she is passionate about the impact of our surroundings on us; how they shape our moods, our experiences, and our worldview. As a photographer, her aim is to encourage people to reconsider their environment, find beauty in the everyday, and see spaces in a different light. Amanda and her partner Younes Bounhar established Doublespace Photography studio in 2012.

Younes Bounhar is a professional architectural photographer based in Toronto. After embarking on a sinuous path that took him from molecular biology to intellectual property to landscape photography, Younes and his partner Amanda Large established Doublespace Photography studio in 2012.

About Doublespace Photography

Doublespace photography = Amanda + Younes. We make bold and elegant architectural photography that tells the story of inspiring design. Our creative vision is the product of our combined experience and diametrically opposed backgrounds. A mutual love of capturing the built environment led us to launch doublespace photography in 2012, and we haven't looked back since! To us, this is more than a job or even a career; to put it simply, we eat, breathe, and sleep architectural photography. Our work has helped clients garner several national and international awards and is regularly featured in architecture and design magazines and books.

Location (In-person event)

Diamond Schmitt Architects

384 Adelaide Street West, Suite #300, Toronto, ON, M5V 1R7

Please sign up manually at the door upon arrival. We encourage everyone to wear a face covering. Please be advised covid protocols may change.

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk* 

8:00-9:00 pm Networking reception

*Please note for Zoom participants, the session will run from 7:00-8:00 pm only.

Zoom fatigue got you down? Get with the BEAT!

Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) invites you to the Cross-Pollination Party 2.0 at the Herman Miller showroom.

We’ve got snacks!

We’ve got music!

We’ve got drinks!

And best of all - we’ve got plenty of real people in a real room for networking and socializing like it’s 2019.

BEAT is thrilled to be back to in-person events and we hope to see you there!

Please note this is a ticketed event.

General Admission: $15

Students: $5

To purchase tickets, please RSVP below.

We are honored to have Sue Jean Chung, founding principal of Studio JCI, host our first Hybrid format BEAT Talk session: Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling – Tales of an Asian Female Architect on Site on Wednesday, Sept 28th, 2022.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

BEAT Talks qualify for OAA Structured Learning hours

Join us as we hear from Sue Jean Chung as she shares her story, experiences, and challenges she overcame as an Asian Female architect and founder. 

The session will focus on Sue Jean’s insights on how to develop leadership and garner respect from Construction Managers, City Officials, and Clients – skills that can be applied to any stage in one’s professional development or any phase of a project.

This session will be held in a hybrid format, tickets will be available for in-person (Mask-friendly environment) and online attendance (via Zoom). Event schedule and location details  below.

About Studio JCI

Studio JCI provides creative solutions to design challenges, adding value throughout the building process to create elevated architecture. Their work is a culmination of intensive study, from aesthetic concept and market feasibility to functional programming and building performance. 

Architects and studio founders, Jaegap and Sue Jean Chung provide thoughtful solutions to their clients’ needs. Their innovative, multidisciplinary practice allows for a process-oriented approach to design and project execution. They use location as a catalyst to explore regional identity and vernacular technique to create contextually sensitive work. Founded in 2007, Studio JCI has a portfolio of single family, multi-unit residential, public, commercial, and healthcare projects with additional, extensive feasibility study experience. As knowledgeable guides, the firm supports their clients through the regulatory and planning process and understands the market forces that affect their investment return.
The firm is committed to finding solutions to address our cities’ most significant design challenges while finding opportunities in undervalued spaces. Studio JCI carries the firm belief that successful city building includes both contextually sensitive architectural design at a macro scale and micro level execution to ensure the quality of spaces contained also promote well being and functionality.  

Sue Jean

Sue Jean Chung is a founding principal of Studio JCI. She is a respected and effective leader who deftly guides new construction and complex renovations at all scales and phases. From Design Feasibility through Construction and Close-Out, Sue Jean works collaboratively with clients and stakeholders to ensure project goals are successfully delivered to communities.

Her rigor and commitment have led to the completion and progress of some of Studio JCI’s largest and complex projects. Additionally, she has contributed to over 2000 residential units in the GTHA and Greater Golden Horseshoe region. 

Sue Jean received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto. In Spring 2022, she was inducted into the 2022 WLI Championship Team, an awards initiative originated in 2014 by the Women’s Leadership Institute of Urban Land Institute, annually honoring women’s contribution, leadership, and skills in real estate development, land-use, and city-building.

Location: 20 De Boers Drive, Toronto, ON M3J 0G7

We are conveniently located 1 block north-west of Sheppard West subway station. There is ample paid parking available on site.

Our office is located in the Domo Center.  The BEAT talk will be hosted in suite 305.  Please join us afterwards in our studio (suite 525) for light refreshments at our rooftop garden, a tour of our studio, and good conversations.

Event schedule

6:30pm Doors open

7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk *

8:00-8:30pm Networking opportunity

*Please note for Zoom participants, the session will only last from 7:00-8:00pm

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local Architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

We were honoured to have Brenda Izen host a BEAT Talk at her office on Wednesday, May 18th, 2022. Watch below:

In this talk, Brenda Izen, founding principal of Izen Architecture, discussed how she’s leveraged an innate ability to build relationships - and hired an all-female team skilled in doing the same - as a key differentiator for her firm. The most critical part of what Izen offers is intangible - and is a result of the genuine, deep connection fostered with their clients and their homes. The session focused on Izen’s belief that their unique approach to architecture and design enables them to arrive at boundary-pushing, thought-provoking design solutions

About IZEN

Izen Architecture is a Toronto-based architecture and design studio that was born from a desire to more seamlessly integrate each stage of the architectural process with the whole. The firm specializes in the design of single-family homes, with a portfolio of projects distinctive for their finely-honed detailing. The all-female firm was founded by Brenda Izen in 2015 and now comprises nine incredible women who work in a collaborative environment to enhance the quality of people’s lives through good design.

Izen’s ethos is that the quality of their architecture is evaluated by how it affects the lives of its inhabitants. They strive to create sanctuaries that promote wellness in mind and body, achieved through our unique floor plans and their coalescence with both natural and artificial light, fresh air and air quality, the surrounding environment, proportion, colour and texture. They develop unique, personal relationships with their clients and incorporate them as collaborators throughout the process. Izen believes that establishing an open relationship with clients is one of the best ways to set a project up for success. 

Brenda Izen

Brenda Izen is the founding principal of Izen Architecture, an all-female firm based in Toronto, specializing in modern residential design that is bold, boundary pushing and highly individual. Brenda oversees all phases of design from concept to completion, always developing a warm, personal relationship with clients – key to creating a home that truly reflects them. Her considerable experience with building construction and fabrication offers a unique approach – she combines conceptual ambition with the realities of construction in order to instill each project with design innovation, a focus on detail, and material creativity.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

We are honoured to have Megan Sanchez host the BEAT Workshop session on Wednesday, April 27th, 2022.

About the Workshop

Amidst our office transitions and return to hints of normalcy, we have a huge opportunity to reintroduce humanity back into the workplace. Never has there been a more opportune time to prioritize the discussion on mental health and burnout prevention within architecture and design. In this session we’ll challenge the notion of self-sacrifice as a prerequisite for success and shed light on the steps we can take for change – first for ourselves as individuals and then for the wellbeing of our organizations.

This event will cover:

Storytelling – The power of sharing openly and honestly, especially when it’s uncomfortable. Learn what happened when Megan asked 35 women in AEC to share their personal struggle with burnout.

What’s Unique (and not-so-unique) About Our Industry – Understand the factors that cause us to normalize burnout, and learn what’s possible when we stop ignoring them and start confronting them.

Why wasn’t I taught THAT in design school? Uncover key research based principles that play an important role in our mental and physical wellbeing. See how these principles apply specifically to our industry.

Community is Key – Learn how the ByDesign program came to be and why support and accountability are everything if we want to change the future of work.

About UpSwing

UpSwing is a mental health and lifestyle focused coaching practice. They believe in slow, steady behavioral change that stands the test of time. None of this overnight, quick to fix and fail stuff. Their practices are based in research and centered around your unique needs, goals and values. Healthy doesn't have to be so hard, after all.

WEBSITE: upswinghealthcoaching.com

BYDESIGN COURSE: upswing-health-coaching.mykajabi.com

IG: upswing_hc, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/megan-sanchez-8475a924, FB: @upswinghc

About Megan Sanchez

Megan Sanchez is a certified professional coach and the founder of UpSwing Health Coaching, based in Washington, DC. Upon leaving the agency world of brand and environmental graphics, she made it her mission to challenge the grind-crash-repeat mindset of today’s workforce. Megan’s twelve years in corporate A&D bring a unique understanding of the challenges within a fast paced, high pressure work environment, all while juggling the demands of family and personal life. She coaches men and women individually on mental wellbeing, lifestyle design and adapting new habits. She is also the founder of ByDesign, a virtual course and community that addresses the unique challenges of burnout and mental health for women in allied fields of the built environment including design, construction, engineering and real estate.

Megan is a graduate of the Mastery Coaching Program from the Health Coach Institute and practices cognitive behavioral coaching based on cutting edge psychology, brain science, intuitive listening, behavior change and lifestyle design. She continues to contract environmental graphics as an independent designer.

Megan holds a degree from Syracuse University with studies in experiential design and a minor in psychology. She loves both outdoor and urban adventures and has called Washington, DC home for 10 years.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local Architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

We are honored to have Lemay host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022.

Join us as we hear from Lemay Associates, Senior Project Director Gail Shillingford, Principal Design Director Patricia Lussier, and Regional Director and Associate Grace Coulter Sherlock as they discuss what it takes to navigate the architecture and design world in a position of leadership, as women. Each speaker will be sharing their respective personal career trajectories and experiences navigating motherhood while balancing leadership roles across Lemay’s pan-Canadian studios. Gail, Patricia and Grace will discuss their impact, challenges and opportunities as leaders in their respective studios and how they are making room for the next generation of women in architecture and design

About Lemay

Lemay has been imagining new ways to create spaces that engage users and bring people together since 1957. Over 450 architects, designers, industry leaders and change-makers work tirelessly to cultivate innovation in their own backyards and in communities around the world. Inspired and strengthened by transdisciplinary creativity, the firm has also developed its very own Net PositiveTM approach to guide teams towards sustainable solutions that shape a better future. With the human experience at its heart, Lemay strives to design with empathy and create spaces to grow. 

Gail Shillingford 

With over 20 years of experience, Gail Shillingford has a strong background in urban design and landscape architecture, a combination that has allowed her to create successfully integrated and balanced built form and open space environments. As an Associate, Senior Project Director, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture at Lemay, her focus on all projects is entrenched in building community and creating attractive high-quality public realm spaces that foster socialization, inclusivity, cultural diversity, and healthy living. In each of her designs, the role of the public realm is heightened beyond creating notable destinations, to also revitalizing communities, incorporating sustainability and resiliency, and positioning open spaces as catalysts for social and economic vitality and viability. In addition to her experience, Gail leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conversations and pursues Indigenous education and knowledge building to respond to and enable Truth and Reconciliation. 

Grace Coulter Sherlock 

As Lemay’s Regional Director for Western Canada and an Architect with Lemay, Grace oversees all stages of the design process, providing the team with guidance, creative direction and support.  An exceptional design strategist and communicator, she is often called upon to lead and inform the development of challenging typologies. Her diplomatic approach and relentless creative drive inspire the creation of sustainable, human-focused places.  Grace has designed a wide range of award-winning architecture and interior design projects across Canada, with her work centered on the research and dialog surrounding inclusive design models. Grace teaches at the University of Calgary, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape and is part of the leadership team on a joint research project between FLDWRK +SAPL exploring Climate Havens and Climate Resiliencies in Canadian cities. She is a registered Architect in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with work ongoing across the country.  

Patricia Lussier 

Lemay associate and principal design director Patricia Lussier has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and design leader. She brings a unique sensitivity that highlights qualities within the space she creates. Commemoration and interpretation are at the heart of her approach, integrating both social and environmental engagement. Her wide-ranging experience in multidisciplinary projects and competitions of all scales enriches her overall vision at every project stage. She has always worked to refine her expertise in expressive signature development, both in terms of design narrative and specific compositional elements such as furniture, paving patterns and the use of materials and plants with a sense of identity. Often a pioneer in her practice, Patricia Lussier has always had an interest in integrating sustainability in a simple, efficient and creative way. She is the winner of national and international awards, for such high-profile projects as Espace 67, Place des Montréalaises, Belvedere du Chemin-qui-Marche, Gatsby Condos and the Hypernature 066 contest in Montreal. 

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local Architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

We are honored to have COMN Architects host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022.

About COMN

COMN Architects is a Toronto-based architecture practice founded in 2019.  Our studio combines the innovative with the pragmatic, creating well crafted, timeless, and considered spaces. Much of our work and research is focused on medium density residential building typologies that provide an alternative to high-rise apartments.  This includes contextually sensitive low-to-mid-rise multi-family buildings on underutilized infill sites.  

This talk will focus on Semi Semi, a 2020 OAA Design Excellence Award and Michael V. and Wanda Plachta Award recipient. We will explore Semi Semi in detail, from site-acquisition to completion, including a virtual tour of the space.

Clarissa Nam, OAA

Partner

Clarissa Nam is a founding partner of COMN Architects. Clarissa is focused on creating architecture that conveys simplicity, clarity, and balance, stemming from experimental design and a rigorous analytical process. Prior to founding COMN, Clarissa gained valuable experience leading residential and commercial projects, at both small and large firms in Toronto. Clarissa obtained her Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Urban Planning and Design from University of Waterloo, and Master of Architecture degree from University of Toronto. She is a licensed architect in Ontario.

Peter McNeil, OAA, MRAIC

Partner

Peter McNeil is a founding partner of COMN Architects.   Peter’s work is driven by context and emotion, approaching architecture as a series of curated and spatially rich experiences.  Prior to founding COMN, Peter worked for architect and developer, George Popper, designing and developing residential and mixed-use projects in Toronto. Peter earned his Bachelor of Architectural Science degree from Ryerson University, and Master of Architecture degree from Lawrence Technological University.  He is a licensed architect in Ontario, and a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

As part of 2022 DesignTO Festival, BEAT is excited for our first MIX in collaboration with Global Furniture Group.

Building Equality in Architecture exists to initiate change, building momentum to create a shift in the profession. As a group dedicated to enabling great architects to do great work, we understand that each of us must contribute to our fullest. Design excellence, diversity and equity are therefore not mutually exclusive.

Networking can be one of the most powerful and productive activities an individual can do to launch and manage their career. In the workplace today, it is important that we are known to others, and to ensure that others are aware of our resourcefulness. BEAT MIX is a platform to develop a series of relationships across Toronto’s Architecture and Design communities. BEAT is excited to host this event in collaboration with Global Furniture group - a company founded with the vision of manufacturing well-made office furniture at affordable prices.

BEAT MIX includes four Featured Guests who are stationed in specific breakout rooms. The Featured Guests comprises of Partners and Principals from local Architecture firms of various sizes, along with leaders in the Design Community. Participants have the opportunity to interact with the Featured Guests and meet a succession of individuals in small groups throughout the evening.

BEAT encourages Interns, emerging practitioners and seasoned professionals to join this interconnected community to share information, advice and opportunities.

Limited space available.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions and for the safety of our community, this event will be held virtually via Zoom.

Panelists:

Brooke Anderson, NCIDQ, BID, ARIDO, IDC, LEED Green Associate

Senior Interior Designer, HOK

Brooke is a passionate designer who loves to connect with her peers and get exposed to new and exciting ideas. She has diverse experience working in an array of industries, including: workplace, hospitality and residential, as well as government, justice and healthcare. She is active in the design community currently as a member of the ARIDO Communications Committee.

Brooke is detail-oriented, well-versed technically and a strong communicator, enabling her to effectively lead teams of designers and subconsultants to deliver projects successfully. She believes that recognizing other individual’s passions for interior design, architecture and engineering is a key component to creating strong teams that deliver exceptional projects.

Kellie Chin,OAA, M.Arch

Architect, Workshop

Kellie is an Architect at WORKSHOP with an interest towards promoting social responsibility and invigorating local communities. She has completed various buildings in Toronto as well as projects with Toronto’s Shelter, Support & Housing Administration, working on the new Rapid Housing Initiative, and 1000 Shelter Beds Project

With an interest in housing equity, she contributed to work published in the book House Divided and Azure Magazine. Most recently, she co-authored The Case for Compassionate Design in Housing Standards, an independent project to research the connection between health and housing published by Spacing.

Patricia Lussier, AAPQ

Landscape Architect, Associate, Design Principal , Lemay

Lemay associate Patricia Lussier has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and design leader, bringing a sensitivity to history and genius loci to each design. Commemoration and interpretation are at the heart of her concerns and her approach. Her wide-ranging experience in multidisciplinary projects and competitions of all scales enriches her overall vision at every project stage. She has always worked to refine her expertise in expressive signature development, both in terms of design narrative and specific compositional elements such as furniture, paving patterns and the use of materials and plants with a sense of identity.

Often a pioneer in her practice, Patricia Lussier has always had an interest in integrating sustainability in a simple, efficient and creative way. She is the winner of national and international awards, for such high-profile projects as Espace 67, Place des Montréalaises, Belvedere du Chemin-qui-Marche, Gatsby Condos and the Hypernature 066 contest in Montreal.

Deborah Wang, MFA, OAA, M.Arch

Architect, Artistic Director, Co-Director, DesignTO

Deborah Wang is a Taiwanese Canadian curator and architect based in Toronto, with a broad range of experience in contemporary art, design, and architecture that spans two decades. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from OCAD University, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo, where she was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Student Medal.

As artistic director of DesignTO, she co-leads the non-profit arts organization that produces Canada’s largest annual design festival, while curating numerous public programs and exhibitions both independently and for DesignTO. As a community leader and design expert, she has been interviewed by The Globe and Mail and Monocle Radio, and profiled in Azure Magazine. Alongside her curatorial work, Deborah practices architecture with award-winning firms.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local Architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

We are honored to have SvN Architects+Planners host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022.

Join us to hear from Principals Shonda Wang and Liana Bresler, along with Senior Associates Andrea Gaus, Danielle Whitley and Lina Al-Dajani, present recent SvN projects to share the firm's values and how these values impact the various projects and the communities they impact. Being an interdisciplinary design practice is the ability to integrate several different elements successfully. This session will focus on the theme of "integration" through four distinct aspects that relate to programmatic use, collaborators, stakeholders and the office culture of SvN itself. The panel will discuss what they mean by "integration." In each case study, the discrete aspects of their respective success allow them to represent the communities and clients they serve.

About SvN

SvN transforms big ideas into better communities.

SvN transforms big ideas into better mobility.

SvN transforms big ideas into better cities.

SvN is one of the only integrated design firms with urban designers, planners, architects, and landscape architects under one roof. As a multi-disciplinary office, our unique strength is our ability to offer clients a full-service team that can anticipate all the challenges that come with complex projects and develop robust, context-specific, flexible and resilient solutions. We tackle complex city-building projects where there are no ready-made solutions. Over the past 40 years, our firm has shaped the built environment in regions, cities, and towns worldwide. We have revitalized industrial waterfronts, developed new forms of affordable housing, designed resilient neighborhoods, stimulated improvements to the quality of the public realm, and promoted the economic development of both rural and urban regions.

Liana Bresler, OAA, MAA 

Principal

Liana Bresler is a Principal at SvN with over 15 years of experience designing housing, libraries, and notable insti­tutional projects. She is an effective leader who guides new construction and complex renovations at all scales. Liana is currently co-leading the integrated transit-oriented development team on the Ontario Line as the technical advisor to Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario and the Principal-in-charge for the Bob Rumball Centre Group Home for Deaf Youth, among other projects. Re­cent projects include the Lawrence Orton Community Centre and Childcare Facility. Before joining SvN, Liana was an associate with LGA Architectural Partners in Toronto and worked for several award-winning firms in New York and Barcelona. She received the Best Concept Award at the 2011 Ontario Association of Architects Awards.

Shonda Wang, MCIP, RPP 

Principal

Shonda is a Principal at SvN with nearly two decades of experience in large-scale urban regeneration projects concentrated on mobility, planning, and design. She has led numerous pivotal and award-winning mobility-related projects linking the public realm, built form and transportation infrastructure. Shonda was the Planning and Urban Design Lead for RioCan REIT’s Master Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendment for the Shoppers World Brampton, a 53-acre site at the terminus of the Hurontario Light Rail Transit Corridor. She is currently the Lead Technical Advisor to Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario for Transit-Oriented Communities along the Ontario Line. Shonda is now supporting Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario in engagement with the City of Toronto to determine approaches to transit-oriented communities that balance delivery of technical, market and community requirements.

Lina Al-Dajani, MCIP, RPP, CSLA, OALA

Senior Associate

Lina Al-Dajani is a Senior Associate at SvN. A licensed landscape architect and registered urban planner, her areas of expertise include master planning, community engagement, urban design guidelines, policy review, and large-scale infill developments. Among her many responsibilities at SvN, Lina was the Project Lead on the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan and is the Project Manager and planner for the 53-acre Shoppers World Brampton Redevelopment. Lina is currently the Chair of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force. She also leads the SvN JEDI Research Group.

Danielle Whitley, OAA, LEED AP 

Senior Associate

Danielle Whitley is a licensed architect who works on project types ranging from single-family residential to complex large-scale institutional and commercial projects. Before joining SvN, she worked at Holt Renfrew, leading the interior renovation of vendor projects in Vancouver and Montreal. She has also worked for A+I in New York and KPMB Architects in Toronto. Danielle is actively involved in the academic community and is currently a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

Andrea Gaus, OAA, MRAIC, LEED AP 

Senior Associate 

Andrea Gaus is an architect who specializes in the planning, design, and construction of institutional and commercial projects across Ontario. She has worked with such clients as the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, SmartREIT and the YMCA. This cumulative experience with diverse project types has led to her current specialization in large-scale, mixed-use buildings and mid- to high-rise residential developments. Andrea has worked closely with devel­opers and Metrolinx to address the need for additional investment and intensification on Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD). These sites require planning for infrastructure that supports the convergence of multiple modes of trans­portation.

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

Not everyone experiences space the same way. Not all public spaces are equitable. Is inequity inherent in our built environments? What are equitable built environments? How do we imagine the future of public spaces and how they can be more equitable?

“Social and environmental equity have a direct impact on improving opportunities for not only the historically disadvantaged populations, but also has the potential for economic prosperity for all.  In terms of physical space, fair access to environmentally safe places for residency, education, employment and full participation in the political and cultural life of the community is one of the greatest challenges that we as a society face today. Equitable Design has the power to problem solve on multiple levels including social situations.” (Sheng, 2016)*

This session will include short presentations by invited speakers from within the profession on the concept of equitable space, followed by a moderated discussion with panelists and an open Q&A. This discussion will assist attendees in identifying factors that can contribute to the creation of equitable spaces and will support them in the promotion, design, and advancement of equitable design. 

*Sheng, Rosa (2016, August 30) Why Equity Matters for Everyone: A New Value Proposition For Design https://trimtab.living-future.org/trim-tab/why-equity-matters-for-everyone-a-new-value-proposition-for-design/

Speakers

Lorene Casiez, Accessibility and Wellness Practice Lead at BDP Quadrangle

Lori Brown, Professor and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Syracuse University School of Architecture

Tarisha Dolynuik, Partner, MJMA Architecture & Design

Zahra Ebrahim, CEO & Co-Founder, Monumental

This event is free to attend, but registration is required below.

BEAT is a volunteer-run organization made up of architects, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs creating opportunities for community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship. We believe that empowering women in the design community improves and enriches the practice of architecture, the quality of the built environment, and ultimately, the human experience.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

We are honored to have Heather Rolleston host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021.

Join us for BEAT Talks this October with BDP Quadrangle Principal and Design Director Heather Rolleston to hear about the highs and lows of her now almost 30-year career. In addition to sharing insights on how she got to where she is today, Heather will reflect on some standout moments from her career, such as her “creepiest” and “coziest” projects, ephemeral installations, and contributing to the skyline and public realm.

The conversation will also examine Heather’s women-led project Reina Condos and some of the broader questions that project has raised so far. As women, do we design differently? How does the process differ when working with an all-female team? What role does gender play in design (and designing buildings) if any? Are we indeed changing the conversation?

About Heather Rolleston

Principal, Design Director, B.Arch.

Heather has 20 years of experience designing, leading and managing award-winning projects in the residential, mixed-use, master plan and commercial sectors.

A principal of the firm, Heather is responsible for design reviews and elevating the design practices of BDP Quadrangle across all sectors. She is currently leading the design and construction of landmark high-rises including Theatre District Residences and RIU Hotel, as well as innovative mid-rises such as Reina and RUSH. Heather’s extended portfolio prior to joining BDP Quadrangle includes The Evergreen Brick Works Master Plan, Form Condos at Queen + McCaul and the George Brown College Student Residence in the Canary District.

She continues to be active in the architecture and design community as a sitting member of the City of Toronto’s and the City of Ottawa’s Design Review Panel, and also as a guest critic at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, as well as that of her alma mater, the University of Toronto Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

BEAT is thrilled to host a virtual roundtable and book launch for Women [RE]Build: Stories, Polemics, Futures. Women [Re]Build was inspired by the organizing activities of a group of women architecture students who sought to answer questions important to them as young professionals entering into a discipline largely still dominated by outdated postwar corporate practices. The edited book features projects and research of both accomplished academics and practitioners in the field. 

Women [RE]Build is exemplary in its mission to combine in one resource reflections on the renewal of feminist thought in architecture (Framing Stories), challenges to practice made possible by activism (Shaping Polemics), and portrayals of inspiring practitioners who pave the way for future women architects (Building Futures). Rarely have so many women’s voices, dedicated to enriching the profession of architecture, been collected in one publication. The book celebrates the work, wisdom, and aspirations of those who have succeeded in surpassing the daily challenges set by this most conservative of professions.

Please join us for an evening of inspiring conversation with editors and contributors Ramona Adlakha, Ramune Bartuskaite, Franca Trubiano, Shirley Blumberg, Nicole Dosso, Annelise Pitts, with a special presentation by Sadie Morgan.

In addition to reviewing the book’s original intentions, the evening’s roundtable discussion will ask particular questions in light of the recent challenges the profession has experienced in the worldwide pandemic. As economic and social conditions have further revealed the disparities that exist for those who study architecture, labor in its design and construction, or live in their buildings, the evening’s conversation will ask “how will we know” when and if things have changed in the industry? Is the industry changing for the better? What are some strategies we can implement to keep the industry moving forward?

Limited space available.

While this event is free to attend, a ticket for entry will be required.

PANELISTS:

RAMONA ADLAKHA | Diamond Schmitt Architects

Toronto, Ontario

Ramona works at Diamond Schmitt Architects where she focuses on large scale cultural arts and institutional design projects. Ramona holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania where she received the Alpha Ro Chi Medal for professional merit and the William Melhorn Scholarship in architectural history and theory. Ramona holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Fine Art and Literary Studies from the University of Toronto where she was the recipient of the Government of Canada’s Millennium Provincial Laureate scholarship. Ramona is deeply committed to promoting the visibility and voice of women in design. Ramona’s first book, Women [Re]Build: Stories, Polemics and Futures, co-edited with Franca Trubiano and Ramunė Bartuskaite and published by ORO editions is now available online and in bookstores worldwide.

Ramona is an Executive Committee Member of BEAT and focuses on graphics and communication media, developing marketing collateral to further promote BEAT’s programming and mandate.

RAMUNE BARTUSKAITE | JKRP Architects

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ramune is a practicing architect at JKRP Architects in Philadelphia.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a Marketing Minor from Miami University, ‘14, a Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, ’18, and a Certificate in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building from Parsons School of Design, ‘21.  She is a co-editor of a book titled Women [Re]Build: Stories, Polemics, Futures, published in 2019 by ORO Applied Research +Design.  Ramune serves as Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Urban Land Institute (ULI) Women’s Leadership Initiative, advocating for healthier, more equitable, and inclusive development within the city. She is a board member of a national nonprofit called Rise First, serving first-generation and low-income students and professionals.  Ramune is also the founder and CEO of Spec Matters: an online resource for architects, designers, and building owners–educating them on how to write healthier specifications and make better material selections. The project aims to bring awareness to the toxicity of the building industry and empower building professionals to build healthier environments and communities.

FRANCA TRUBIANO | University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Franca Trubiano is Associate Professor in Architecture at the Weitzman School of Design of the University of Pennsylvania and a Registered Architect with l'Ordre des Architectes du Québec. She completed her Ph.D. in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Her work has been funded by the Mellon Humanities Urbanism and Design (H+U+D) Initiative at Penn, the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, the Perry World House at Penn and the US Department of Energy. Her current manuscripts include Building Theories, Architecture as the Art of Building (2021 Routledge) and the co-edited book Bio/Matter/Techno/Synthetics: Design Realties for the More than Human (2022 Actar Publications). She co-edited Women [Re]Build: Stories, Polemics, Futures (2019 Oro Books) with Ramona Adlakha and Ramune Bartuskaite. Her edited book Design and Construction of High-Performance Homes: Building Envelopes, Renewable Energies and Integrated Practice (Routledge Press 2012), was translated into Korean and awarded the 2015 Sejong Outstanding Scholarly Book Awards, from the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency.

SHIRLEY BLUMBERG | KPMB Architects

Toronto, Ontario

Shirley Blumberg is a founding partner of KPMB Architects and a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions to architecture and community. She has designed many of the firm’s noteworthy and award-winning projects that range in scale, from interiors to architecture and planning.

In addition to her academic and cultural projects, she has also focused on social justice work in affordable housing. She is currently working on such projects as the competition-winning Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, an affordable residential community in Toronto, and prototypical housing for the northern Indigenous community of Fort Severn in Ontario, Canada.

Several years ago, Shirley began a conversation with like-minded colleagues that became BEAT - Building Equality in Architecture Toronto - a grassroots initiative to promote equality for women in the profession that has since grown to include chapters across Canada.

NICOLE DOSSO | Vornado Realty Trust

New York, New York

Nicole Dosso, FAIA, Architect, Educator, Mentor. Nicole has spent her 25-year career working in New York City on complex projects demanding a high level of team coordination and collaboration that characterize her career as an architect and her portfolio of work. Projects include: 7 World Trade Center, One World Trade Center, Manhattan West, 35 Hudson Yards and Moynihan Train Hall.

As Vice President - Design & Construction at Vornado Realty Trust, Nicole is involved in several projects in the Penn Station District, set to be the epicenter of New York City. Her current projects include the adaptive reuse of the civic Farley Post Office, modernization of the 2 Penn building which includes Amtrak’s new entrance to Penn Station.

In 2012, Nicole was honored in the “40 under Forty” issue of Crain’s New York Business, and received an AIA Presidential Citation for contributions at the World Trade Center site. In January 2016, for recognition of her notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture, Nicole was elevated to The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects.

Nicole is currently serving on the New York State Board for Architecture, is the Board President of Professional Women in Construction, NY Chapter and is a member of the Advisory Board at Syracuse University School of Architecture.

SADIE MORGAN | dRMM Architects

London, United Kingdom

Sadie Morgan is a founding director of Stirling Prize winning architecture practice dRMM, alongside Alex de Rijke and Philip Marsh.

As a design champion Sadie undertakes advisory roles including chairing the Independent Design Panel for High Speed Two and as a commissioner for the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). She has been instrumental in setting up the NIC’s Design Group which places design at the heart of major infrastructure projects.

In 2019, Sadie was appointed as a board member of the UK government’s housing accelerator – Homes England. She recently founded the Quality of Life Foundation – an independent body aimed at raising wellbeing through improvement of the built environment.

Sadie lectures internationally on dRMM and the importance of infrastructure. In 2013 she became the youngest president of the Architectural Association. In 2016 she received an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University and was appointed professor at the University of Westminster.

In 2017, Sadie became a Mayor’s design advocate for the Greater London Authority and was named New Londoner of the Year by the NLA for her work championing design at the highest political level. Most recently she won ‘Female Architectural Leader of the Year’ at the BD awards and an AJ100 Contribution to the Profession award. In the New Year’s Honours 2020 she was awarded an OBE for services to design advocacy in the built environment.

ANNELISE PITTS | Cameron MacAllister Group

Brooklyn, New York

Annelise Pitts, AIA, is a passionate designer, researcher and advocate for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the architectural profession. As Research Chair for Equity by Design, she has led the group’s nationally-recognized research project, exploring equity in architectural practice through surveys on professionals’ career perceptions, experiences, and aspirations. Annelise is a licensed architect with nearly a decade of experience designing learning, gathering and living spaces. She recently joined Cameron MacAllister Group, where she applies both her research expertise and her experience as a working architect to her consulting practice, working collaboratively with clients to build a more just, equitable, diverse and inclusive profession, one firm at a time.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city in person and/or virtually. Hosts will share their learned experience.

We are honored to have FORREC host a virtual BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021.

Join us to hear from a panel of creatives from FORREC, an experience design company, including Leah Jaikaran, Director of People, Cindi Rowan, Studio Director – Landscape Architecture, Peter Marshall, Creative Director, Court Sin, Studio Director – Architecture, and Amir Maddah, Interior Designer. Learn about how FORREC is not only creating transformational places for its clients but how it is highlighting equity, diversity and inclusion to create a transformational workplace at FORREC.

About FORREC

FORREC is an experience design company that creates transformational places. Our creative house leads in the design of theme parks, water parks, mixed use + entertainment developments, resorts and visitor attractions globally plus, award-winning landscape architecture right here at home. Based in Toronto, FORREC has built projects in 20 countries, with a history that spans 30 years.

Cindi Rowan

Prior to joining FORREC, Cindi worked for several reputable firms as well as operated her own award-winning design practice in New Mexico and Colorado, creating vibrant places that transformed urban environments. Cindi has over 20 years’ experience in sustainable design, leading sustainability initiatives for local and global corporations to protect and restore nature. Her work explores the interaction of built form, public space, streetscapes and natural systems, creating a framework for meaningful human experience. Cindi excels in the unique design of significant public spaces and her passion is in the use of design and materials to tell the story of a place: establishing a built narrative that explores its history, stylistic identity, and future form.

Leah Jaikaran

Leah completed her Master of Science in Managerial Psychology from the University of Manchester with her dissertation focus on Diversity in the Canadian Workforce and received her Post Graduate Certificate in HR Management from Seneca College after a BSc from the University of Toronto.

Over the years Leah has successfully provided HR leadership to several businesses within the Entertainment, VFX/VR and Interior Design industry. To date, Leah’s experience and genuine curiosity have led her to become specialized in building an HR strategy that aligns with company goals and translates to a strong people experience and employer brand.

Peter Marshall

As an award-winning design director, Peter applies his creative eye to the world’s most exciting and compelling theme parks and attractions. At FORREC, Peter leads a dynamic inter-disciplinary team of designers, illustrators and modellers to envision and deliver next generation entertainment eco-systems.

An architect by training, Peter studied Architecture and Environmental Design at the University of Waterloo. Peter previously directed a studio of 20 designers specializing in architectural visualizations and interactive installations, and brought virtual worlds to life through art direction at the Rockstar Games videogame design studio.

Amir Maddah

Amir graduated as an Architect in 2004 in Iran. At the beginning of his career, Amir focused on modelling, 3d renderings and architectural and interior animations using Sketchup and 3D MAX.

In 2012 Amir moved to Canada and worked at several firms including Neff kitchen and Burdifillek as an intermediate designer focusing on high end retails and condominiums. In 2015 Amir switched his focused and went to film school where he studied Cinematographer/ photographer for one year. In 2016 Amir transitioned back into interior design while working at Esqape design focusing on condominiums. In April 2018 Amir joined FORREC LTD as an Interior designer where he is currently working on theme parks and water parks.

Court Sin

As Studio Director, Court continues to provide his expertise to FORREC’s architecture studio. As a highly collaborative project leader, he works closely with management to develop best practices for his Studio to produce extraordinary projects from any brief. Court has extensive knowledge in his field. His specialization in Third Place Theory, the space between home and workplace, led him to publish his first book in 2008. Entitled The One Third You Are Missing – Designing Third Places to Revitalize Downtowns, it focuses on the significance of designing authentic social places and is supplemented by thoughts from Ray Oldenburg and Will Alsop.

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

BEAT is thrilled to host our first ever virtual National Mix! Comprised of special guests from six of BEA's national chapters, this will be an opportunity for BEA members to come together and engage in a series of meaningful and inspired conversations across Canada. The ultimate goals of the event are to further highlight regional BEA initiatives, provide informal mentorship, and cultivate a virtual platform for networking.

The evening will feature six panelists who will meet in the virtual "main room" for a brief event introduction and event overview. Following this, there will be a series of breakout rooms where panelists will be paired together with a smaller audience to discuss regional initiatives, professional trajectories and field questions from the audience. All guests and attendees will then meet back in the main room for concluding remarks and questions.

The BEAT // MIX NATIONAL Schedule:
6:30pm - Introduction + Meet & Greet with Panelists
6:45pm - Break Out Session #1
7:00pm - Break Out Session #2
7:15pm - Break Out Session #3
7:30pm - Concluding Remarks + Q/A

BEAT encourages interns, emerging practitioners and seasoned professional to join this interconnected community to share information, advice and opportunities.

Limited space available.

While this event is free to attend, a ticket for entry will be required. Tickets will be released at noon on Tuesday, May 25th 2021.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Shallyn Murray, BEAA PEI
Architect , NINEYARDS

Shallyn was born and raised on PEI and graduated with a Masters in Architecture from Dalhousie University in 2012. Her background includes a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Dalhousie University and a diploma in Engineering from the University of Prince Edward Island. Shallyn opened Nine Yards Studio in 2017 with her partner Silva Stojak, a PEI based firm focusing on all things design with an emphasis on community involvement and collaboration. The firm received the RAIC Emerging Architectural Practice Award last year. Shallyn currently sits on the planning board for the City of Charlottetown, aiding in decision making for the future of Charlottetown and serves as the PEI Committee Chair for Building Equality in Architecture Atlantic (BEAA).

Anna Sampson, BEAA NS
Architect, IAH

Anna Sampson (She/Her/Hers) is a Senior Architect and Design Team Lead in the Building Design Group of the Nova Scotia Department of Infrastructure and Housing (IAH). Before joining IAH in 2019, Anna studied architecture at McGill University and worked in the Halifax office of Architecture49 for 10 years, where she was the Atlantic Practice Leader for Sports and Entertainment and focused on community recreation projects. Anna is currently the Executive Chair of the Atlantic Chapter of Building Equality in Architecture. She believes that Building Equality in Architecture can create positive change for the design of our buildings, towns and cities, and ultimately for the people of our communities.

Heather Dubbeldam, BEA Toronto
Architect, Dubbledam Architecture + Design

Heather is the principal of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, a multi-disciplinary studio committed to advancing an architectural and social agenda through built work and design research. Dubbeldam’s portfolio includes a diverse range of commercial, institutional, hospitality, mixed-use and residential projects. Her practice has been recognized by over 60 awards for both design and practice, including the Canadian Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, and her work has garnered wide recognition in national and international publications.

Heather has been recognized as a leading advocate for sustainable design and the betterment of our built environment. She is a LEED-accredited professional; the Director of Twenty + Change, a national organization dedicated to exposing the work of emerging Canadian architects; the Chair of the advisory board of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto); past chair of the Toronto Society of Architects; and past director of the Design Industry Advisory Committee, amongst many other boards and volunteer organizations. Heather is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC) and the editor and co-author of several architecture publications.

Liz Wreford, BEA Prairies
Principal Landscape Architect, Public City

Liz Wreford is the Principal Landscape Architect of Public City, an architecture and landscape architecture firm based in Winnipeg with projects across Canada. She has been recognized internationally for her projects Hygge House, Crokicurl, PARK PARK, and Manitoboggan, which was awarded two International Olympic and Paralympic Committee Awards for Exemplary Design of Recreation Facilities and the CSLA 2020 National Award of Excellence. Currently, she is leading a team shortlisted for the LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa. She has taught landscape architecture and environmental design studios at the Universities of Toronto and Manitoba. Liz is on the Board of Directors for the Winnipeg Arts Council and is co-Executive Director of Storefront Manitoba. In 2018, Liz founded Building Equality in Architecture Prairies to advance excellence and diversity across city-building professions in central Canada.

Lindsay Andreas, BEA Calgary
Associate Architect, Sturgess Architecture

Lindsay was born and raised in Saskatchewan, where she completed a double honours degree in psychology and art before moving to Alberta to pursue architecture. An Associate Architect at Sturgess Architecture, her work focuses on creating meaningful public spaces that connect people and place. Prior to taking maternity leave, Lindsay was the design lead and project coordinator for the 5 billion dollar Green Line Light Rail Transit expansion for the City Centre Stations and the project manager for STEPS, a multifamily development designed to address the lack of community and variability in rental housing. Lindsay has been involved in many community initiatives and participates in the university accreditation process for the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. Her work on the Edmonton Valley Zoo was recognized by Canadian Architect with an award of excellence.

Ana Maria Llanos, BEA Vancouver
Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects

Ana Maria Llanos leads the Vancouver studio of Diamond Schmitt and has over 20 years experience with the firm. Her work is focused on western Canada, including institutional, health care facilities, performing arts, residential, commercial, restoration and academic projects.

A commitment to design excellence is accompanied by rigorous project management skills and a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and on budget. She is a well versed in a wide range of delivery methods and has completed projects using IPD, Stipulated Sum, CM and P3 models.

Ana Maria was Project Architect for the recently completed Emily Carr University of Art + Design, a landmark for the City of Vancouver and a state-of-the-art facility for 3,800 students, faculty and staff. As Executive Architects for the large Oakridge Redevelopment, she is leading Diamond Schmitt’s involvement to deliver residential towers, the Civic Centre and the interior design of the retail areas.
She is a graduate of UBC’s School of Architecture and is rooted in the west coast lifestyle of British Columbia.

In February of 2020, Ana Maria was recognized at the 21st annual Influential Women in Business Awards by Business In Vancouver, and is shortlisted for the YWCA Women of Inspiration Award to be announced in June 2021.

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

We are honoured to have Ja Architecture Studio host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021.

About Ja Architecture Studio:

Ja Architecture Studio is a Toronto-based practice that combines the rootedness of a local architecture firm with the broad interests of an international design studio. From small residential projects that confront domestic sentiments and detail-level building constraints to ambitious international competitions that must draw upon the collective repertoire of the discipline, the trajectory of the practice is based on a method of simultaneously working at the opposing ends of the professional spectrum. Taken as a whole, the studio’s work invests in larger questions of the discipline, namely how iconographic, geometric, formal, and tectonic pursuits relate to broader contexts such as politics, construction, landscape, and urbanism.

Founded by a registered architect and a landscape designer, and supported by a passionate team of skilled architects, designers, and students, the studio has achieved a repertoire of built works, research projects, and award-winning competition entries. The latter includes fourth prize in the International Competition for the Bauhaus Museum in Dessau (2015); honorable mentions for their entries to both the Guggenheim Helsinki Competition (2015) and the International Competition for the Kaunas Concert Center (2017); and two Canadian Architects Awards (2015 & 2018). Ja’s work has been published widely and exhibited both nationally and internationally.

The two founding principles, Nima Javidi and Behnaz Assadi, continually strive to combine their professional work with their academic interests. As a Lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Behnaz’s focus on Landscape Urbanism has informed her teaching while Nima’s recent investigation into typological collage has become a primary interest in coordinating design studios at The Cooper Union’s Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture in New York City.

With conversations that range from the role of public art or international exhibitions with curators, to the wood joinery of a three legged chair with a local furniture maker, or the virtues of renaturalization urban plots with neighbours, the studio aims to investigate the core of architecture through operating at numerous points around its periphery, connecting the themes and interests within the studio with those of the world at large. This approach was not chosen for its assurance of success but as a means for investigating the merit and relevance of Ja’s ideas across as wide a variety of scales and contexts as possible.

“A line through scales

As we are all learning more about the problems and opportunities of virtual architecture conversations over Zoom, JA Architecture studio will try to host BEAT Toronto in the space somewhere between their office and the models, sometimes in the office and sometimes in their models. Join us!”

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here:

Photo Credit: Top Right to Bottom Right - Anton Kisselgoff, Vismo, Scott Norsworthy

BEAT is continuing to work in collaboration with local Architects to provide a platform for promoting equality within the profession, through networking and leadership opportunities.

BEAT Talks are a series of discussions held at the offices of Architects across the city. Hosts will share their learned experience.

We are honoured to have Amy Lin host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021.

About Amy Lin:

Amy Lin is a principal and co-founder of Suulin Architects. Amy received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from M.I.T. and her Master of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Following her studies, she spent 10 years in NYC, primarily as a design associate at Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects). There she had the privilege to see through projects such as the Clinton Presidential Center and the NY Standard Hotel. She met her Torontonian husband and partner, James Chavel, while he was working in NYC at Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects.

In 2008, they moved to Toronto where they worked for Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe as project architects for the new home of the Sisters of St. Joseph. After the completion of this project, Suulin Architects was incorporated in 2016. The practice began with modest projects of varying types and sizes which now include retail projects such as The Detox Market and larger projects such as multi-residential mixed use developments. In 2018, Suulin Architects was awarded Best Emerging Practice by the OAA.

Amy is a member of the OAA and AIA, licensed in both Canada and the US. She is also LEED certified, a certified Passive House Designer (PHI) as well as a Certified Passive House Consultant (PHIUS).

Connecting the Natural:

Moku (Japanese), or mu (Chinese), is the character for tree. In Chinese, two trees make a wood, and three trees make a forest. Suulin means forest. For us, this elemental character is not only found in our names, but also provides a starting point for our work - representing simply our commitment to building architecture that is connected to nature. The layering reflected in the architecture and habitat of a forest is also what we strive to achieve in our work. To weave an understanding of scale and detail with an underlying presence of the natural in order to create a timeless sense of place. We believe that enhancing and connecting our spaces to nature attunes people to their environments and deepens their self-awareness and connection to place.

Over the past six years we have worked towards integrating nature within our work which consists of the design of buildings inside and out, and a varied landscape that permeates through. We hope to create for our inhabitants an experience of space that is both beautiful and natural. My BEAT talk will explore a few of these projects as examples of the different ways we try to bring nature within the realm of architecture.

BEAT Talks qualifies for OAA Learning Hours.

Tickets are now available here: