Archinect - News

Canadian housing pioneer and RAIC Gold Medalist Jerome Markson passes away at 94

2023-11-21T12:28:00-05:00

Jerome Markson, the 2022 RAIC Gold Medalist and modern social housing pioneer whose influence was felt widely across Canada, died in Toronto on Saturday, November 18, The Globe and Mail reported. He was 94 years old.

Markson will be remembered as a progressive architect who affected the post-1970s immigration boom in Greater Toronto through humane and uplifting designs for The Smith Residence (1955), Market Square Condominiums (1980), Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie (1962), and Alexandra Park Public Housing (1965), among others.

“His work epitomizes a deep caring towards those who will use and enjoy his projects as well as the communities in which they exist. Many architects will offer praise by referring to colleagues as an ‘architect’s architect’. Jerome Markson is certainly deserving of the title ‘planner’s architect’ — quite possibly a more difficult and exceptional achievement within the profession,” the jury citation for last year’s RAIC Gold Medal states concisely. ...

Progressive modernist Jerome Markson has been awarded the 2022 RAIC Gold Medal

2022-04-01T20:22:00-04:00

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada has announced Jerome Markson as its 2022 Gold Medal Winner. The Toronto-based modernist is well known throughout Canada for his award-winning designs and contributions to the fields of architectural education and design theory.

Markson’s social housing projects are often considered to be the basis for the development of what is now considered to be one of the most diverse cities in the world. His designs for healthcare facilities as well as cultural centers and further civic projects contributed a considerable amount to the visual language of his native country throughout his vaunted six-decade career.

Markson's Market Square Condominiums in Toronto. Image copyright Fiona Smith via RAIC.

Writing on the RAIC’s website, the jury commended Markson for his “lifelong commitment to humanism, inclusivity and generosity, teaching us valuable lessons about urban housing and its critical relationship to city building.”

“His work epitomizes a deep c...

Check out this new map of Canadian Architecture award winners since 1968

2021-08-26T14:59:00-04:00

Looking for some Maple-flavored architectural inspiration? You’re in luck now, thanks to a new interactive map published by The Atlas of Research on Exemplarity in Architecture and the Built Environment in collaboration with Canadian Architect magazine.

The new map showcases a comprehensive list of the more than 500 winners of the magazine’s annual award since 1968. Featuring both built and unrealized projects, the list was compiled thanks to data collected by M.Arch students at the Université de Montréal.

The project was funded in part by the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence Social Sciences as well as the Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The full database can be accessed here.

Architecture duo Brigitte Shim and A. Howard Sutcliffe awarded 2021 RAIC Gold Medal

2021-03-29T18:58:00-04:00

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) recognizes two Canadian architects as recipients of the 2021 Gold Medal Award. The annual award is the highest honor bestowed to individuals for their long-standing contributions to Canadian architecture.

This year's recipients are Brigitte Shim and A. Howard Sutcliffe of Toronto-based architecture and interior design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects.

Image courtesy of RAIC

"The poetic quality and independence of their design work, their thoughtful and holistic consideration of site, materiality, typologies, the senses, and their inventiveness have made Shim and Sutcliffe exemplars of architectural practice in Canada," writes Phyllis Lambert, Founding Director Emeritus of the Canadian Centre for Architecture. "To me, it is clear that they are abundantly worthy of being awarded the Gold Medal of the RAIC and stand as strong exponents of Canadian values."

Widely celebrated for their illustrious careers, the power couple has received praises...