Diamond Schmitt Architects

Diamond Schmitt Architects is an architectural firm founded in 1975 and located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The firm currently employs 137 people.

History

Born in South Africa, Jack Diamond arrived in Canada in 1964 as Founding Director of the University of Toronto’s Master of Architecture program. From 1968-1975 he was principal in the firm of Diamond and Myers. In 1975 he established A.J. Diamond Architects, which by 1989 had evolved into the partnership of A.J. Diamond, Donald Schmitt and Company.^[1]

Canadian born architect Donald Schmitt studied architecture at the University of Toronto, and has been in practice with Jack Diamond since 1978. Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt are the founding principals of Diamond Schmitt Architects Incorporated.^[2]

Architects

In addition to the founding principals, Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt, there are 16 principals, 3 senior associates, 13 associates, 92 registered graduate and student architects; and a support staff of 20.

Principals: Sydney Browne, Gregory Colucci, Martin Davidson, David Dow, Robert Graham, John Featherstone, Helen Kabriel, Michael Leckman, Matthew Lella, Jarle Lovlin, Gary McCluskie, Birgit Siber, Matthew Smith, Jon Soules, Mike Szabo and Michael Treacy.

Senior Associates: Duncan Higgins, Ana Maria Llanos, Peggy Theodore.

Associates: Walton Chan, Leonardo de Melo, Branka Gazibara, Dan Klink, Sarah Low, Michael Lukasik, Jennifer Mallard, Dale McDowell, Jessica Shifman, Joseph Troppmann, Antra Roze, Sybil Wa and Gary Watson.

Selected projects

Since the practice was founded in 1975 the firm has completed a wide variety of projects worldwide that include:

• 1980: Betty Oliphant Theatre, The National Ballet School of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada^[3]
• 1981: Metro Central YMCA, Toronto, Ontario
• 1983: Berkeley Castle renovation (19th century complex of industrial buildings; former offices of Diamond and Schmitt), Toronto, Ontario
• 1990: The Jerusalem City Hall, Jerusalem, Israel, (with Kolker, Kolker and Epstein Architects, Jerusalem)
• 1994: University of Toronto Earth Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
• 1994: Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
• 1996: York University Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2000: Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, Ontario
• 2001: Davenport Chemistry Research Wing, Lash Miller Laboratories, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2001: St. Michael’s Hospital, Cardinal Carter Wing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2002: Canadian Chancery, Prague, Czech Republic (with Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Architects, Prague)
• 2002: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Ontario,
• 2002: Los Alamos Civic Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
• 2003: Max M. Fisher Music Center (home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Detroit, Michigan, USA
• 2003: The Jewish Community Centre in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
• 2003: Cancer Research Institute, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada,
• 2003: Alumbrera House, Mustique, The Grenadines
• 2003: Gerstein Science Information Centre Master Plan and Renovations, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario,
• 2003: Queen’s University Residences (Leggett Hall, Watts Hall, Leonard Hall), Kingston, Ontario, Canada, (with Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Kingston)
• 2004: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel (with Kolker, Kolker, Epstein Architects, Jerusalem)
• 2004: Pierre Berton Resource Library, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
• 2004: University of British Columbia Life Sciences Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
• 2005: The Banff Centre Campus Master Plan and Implementation, Banff, Alberta, Canada
• 2005: The Esplanade, Medicine Hat Performing Arts and Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
• 2005: Ontario Science Centre, Weston Family Innovation Centre, Toronto, Ontario
• 2005: Computer Science and Engineering Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
• 2005: University of Guelph-Humber Academic Building, Toronto, Ontario
• 2006: Varsity Centre for Physical Activity and Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2006: Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City, Ireland ^[4]
• 2006: Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario
• 2006: McGill University Master Plan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2006: University of Windsor, Medical Education Building, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• 2007: Banff Centre Sally Borden Building, Banff, Alberta, Canada
• 2007: McGill University Life Sciences Complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2007: Harman Center for the Arts Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., USA,
• 2008: Life Sciences Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (with Provencher Roy Associés, Montreal)
• 2008: Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
• 2008: Cambridge City Hall, Cambridge, Ontario
• 2008: Grand Theatre Renovation, Kingston, Ontario
• 2008: Lakefield College School Recreation Centre, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada
• 2009: University of Ontario Institute of Technology Master Plan and academic buildings, Oshawa, Ontario
• 2009: Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario
• 2009: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Richmond Hill, Ontario
• 2010: Charles & Myrtle Walker Novi Public Library, Novi, Michigan, USA
• 2010: Evergreen Brick Works Centre for Sustainability (Don Valley Brick Works), Toronto, Ontario, Canada^[5]
• 2010: Santa Fe Community College Health and Sciences Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA (with Studio Southwest Architects, Albuquerque, N.M.)
• 2010: TEDCO’s Corus Entertainment Building "Corus Quay", Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2011: Centennial College Library and Academic Building, Progress Campus, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
• 2011: University of Toronto Scarborough Instructional Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2011 : Montreal Symphony House, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Joint venture with SNC Lavalin and Aedifica Architects, Montreal)^[6]
• 2011: Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA (with H2L2 Architects, Philadelphia)
• 2011: Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (with Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Kingston)
• 2011: Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario
• 2011: University of British Columbia Faculty of Law building, Vancouver, British Columbia
• 2011: Algonquin College Centre for Construction Excellence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• 2011: Ryerson Image Centre, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario Canada
• 2012 : University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall Academic Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• 2013 : The Mariinsky Theatre New Opera, St. Petersburg, Russia
• 2013: Hospital for Sick Children Research Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2013: Bridgepoint Health Chronic Long-term Care Complex, Toronto, Ontario
• 2013: Regent Park Residential Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2014: Old main academic building at the Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
• 2014: Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada

Work in progress

• Robarts Library Revitalization, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Obzor Luxury Beach & Spa, Black Sea Residential Resorts, Obzor, Bulgaria (with Urbiarch, Obzor)
• 250 Delaware Avenue, mixed use high rise in Buffalo, New York.
• FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
• Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
• Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Awards

Diamond Schmitt Architects has received numerous regional, national and international awards for excellence in design. The firm was recognized in 2009 by Deloitte LLP, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, KPMG, and the Queen’s University School of Business as being one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.^[7]

Canadian Governor General’s Awards for Architecture

• Village Terrace, Toronto, Ontario, 1985^[8]
• Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, 1986^[8]
• Metro Toronto YMCA, Toronto, Ontario, 1986^[8]
• Earth Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 1994^[8]
• Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 1994^[8]
• York University Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, 1996^[8]

Ontario Architect's Association Awards

• 2007: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts ^[9]

BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards

• 2004: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel^[10]
• 2007: The Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario, Canada^[11]
• 2008: Shakespeare Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA^[12]

External links

• Official Website
• Industry Canada Profile

References

1. ↑ Abel Joseph "Jack" Diamond at The Canadian Encyclopedia
2. ↑ Robinson, John. "Architecture for the People." Toronto Star, 26 April 1987
3. ↑ "Betty Oliphant Theatre." . . National Ballet of Canada,
4. ↑ "New Order of the Garter." Irish Times, 4 November 2006
5. ↑ "An ever changing face at the Brick Works." World Architecture News 23 November 2007
6. ↑ "Diamond and Schmitt Architects to design new 2,100-seat concert hall for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra." Canadian Architect 2 july. 2009
7. ↑ Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies
8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Governor General’s Medals Recipients
9. ↑ Ontario Architects Association Awards Listing
10. ↑ Architectural Record Awards 2004
11. ↑ Architectural Record Awards 2007
12. ↑ Architectural Record Awards 2008