Diamond and Schmitt Architects
Encyclopedia
Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated is an architectural practice founded in 1975 and located in Toronto
, Ontario Canada. The firm currently employs 137 people.
, 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.
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 and Schmitt Architects Incorporated.
and Donald Schmitt
, there are 13 principals, 13 associates, 92 registered graduate and student architects; and a support staff of 19.
Principals:
Sydney Browne, Gregory Colucci, Martin Davidson, David Dow, Robert Graham, Helen Kabriel, Michael Leckman, Gary McCluskie, Birgit Siber, Matthew Smith, Jon Soules, Mike Szabo and Michael Treacy.
Associates:
Walton Chan, John Featherstone, Branka Gazibara, Duncan Higgins, Daniel Klink, Matthew Lella, Ana Maria Llanos, Jarle Lovlin, Sarah Low, Michael Lukasik, Jennifer Mallard, Antra Roze, and Peggy Theodore.
, KPMG
, and the Queen’s University School of Business as being one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario Canada. The firm currently employs 137 people.
History
Born in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Jack Diamond
Jack Diamond (architect)
A.J. "Jack" Diamond, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian architect.Born in Piet Retief, South Africa, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cape Town in 1956. He received a Master of Arts degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in 1958...
arrived in Canada in 1964 as Founding Director of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
’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.
Canadian born architect Donald Schmitt
Donald Schmitt
Donald Schmitt, MARCH, OAA, MRAIC, AIA, NCARB is a Canadian architect.Born in 1951 in South Porcupine, a mining town in northern Ontario, Canada, he went to high school at the University of Toronto Schools and studied afterwards at the University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture.Donald Schmitt...
studied architecture at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and has been in practice with Jack Diamond since 1978. Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt are the founding principals of Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated.
Architects
In addition to the founding principals, Jack DiamondJack Diamond (architect)
A.J. "Jack" Diamond, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian architect.Born in Piet Retief, South Africa, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cape Town in 1956. He received a Master of Arts degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in 1958...
and Donald Schmitt
Donald Schmitt
Donald Schmitt, MARCH, OAA, MRAIC, AIA, NCARB is a Canadian architect.Born in 1951 in South Porcupine, a mining town in northern Ontario, Canada, he went to high school at the University of Toronto Schools and studied afterwards at the University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture.Donald Schmitt...
, there are 13 principals, 13 associates, 92 registered graduate and student architects; and a support staff of 19.
Principals:
Sydney Browne, Gregory Colucci, Martin Davidson, David Dow, Robert Graham, Helen Kabriel, Michael Leckman, Gary McCluskie, Birgit Siber, Matthew Smith, Jon Soules, Mike Szabo and Michael Treacy.
Associates:
Walton Chan, John Featherstone, Branka Gazibara, Duncan Higgins, Daniel Klink, Matthew Lella, Ana Maria Llanos, Jarle Lovlin, Sarah Low, Michael Lukasik, Jennifer Mallard, Antra Roze, and Peggy Theodore.
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
- 1981: Metro Central YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, 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, OntarioRichmond Hill, OntarioRichmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, 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 TechnologyBahen Centre for Information TechnologyThe Bahen Centre for Information Technology is a building at the St. George campus of the University of Toronto. The university website bills it as a "state of the art facility for education of information technology professionals in electrical and computer engineering, computer science and IT...
, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, 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, MustiqueMustiqueMustique is a small private island in the West Indies. The island is one of a group of islands called the Grenadines, most of which form part of the country of St Vincent and the Grenadines....
, The Grenadines - 2003: Gerstein Science Information CentreGerstein Science Information CentreThe Gerstein Science Information Centre is the University of Toronto's flagship library supporting the sciences and health sciences. The largest science and health science academic library in Canada, Gerstein has a collection of over 945,000 print volumes of journals and books, and also provides...
Master Plan and Renovations, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, 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 BertonPierre BertonPierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
Resource Library, VaughanVaughanVaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario, Canada - 2004: University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
Life Sciences Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Canada - 2005: The Banff Centre Campus Master Plan and Implementation, BanffBanff, AlbertaBanff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, Alberta, Canada - 2005: The Esplanade, Medicine Hat Performing Arts and Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
- 2005: Ontario Science CentreOntario Science CentreOntario Science Centre is a science museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near the Don Valley Parkway about northeast of downtown on Don Mills Road just south of Eglinton Avenue East...
, Weston Family Innovation Centre, Toronto, Ontario - 2005: Computer Science and Engineering Building, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ann Arbor, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA - 2005: University of Guelph-Humber Academic Building, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario - 2006: Varsity Centre for Physical Activity and Health, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Toronto, Ontario - 2006: Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City, Ireland
- 2006: Four Seasons CentreFour Seasons CentreThe Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is a 2,071-seat theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada which had its grand opening Wednesday, June 14, 2006. The first actual performance however, commenced in September 2006 with the first Canadian production of Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen...
for Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario - 2006: McGill University Master Plan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 2007: Banff CentreBanff CentreThe Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
Sally Borden Building, Banff, Alberta, Canada - 2007: McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
Life Sciences Complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - 2007: Harman Center for the ArtsHarman Center for the ArtsThe Harman Center for the Arts is a complex consisting ofthe Lansburgh Theatre at 450 7th Street NW in Washington, D.C. and Sidney Harman Hall at Sixth and F Streets NW. Harman Hall is the latest addition to the existing Lansburgh Theatre to create the new "Center For the Arts". Construction began...
Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., USA, - 2008: Life Sciences Centre, McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (with Provencher Roy Associés, Montreal) - 2008: Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-LakeNiagara-on-the-LakeNiagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
, Ontario - 2008: Cambridge City Hall, CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Ontario - 2008: Grand TheatreGrand TheatreGrand Theatre, Grand Théâtre in French, Grand Theater or often The Grand is a common name for theatres throughout the world.It is also used in the title of The Grand Theatre, Volume One and The Grand Theatre, Volume Two albums by alt-country band Old 97's.-Canada:*The Grand *The Grand Theatre * The...
Renovation, Kingston, Ontario - 2008: Lakefield College SchoolLakefield College SchoolLakefield College School is a coeducational boarding school located north of the village of Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.The school's motto is Mens Sana In Corpore Sano...
Recreation Centre, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada - 2009: University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Ontario Institute of TechnologyThe University of Ontario Institute of Technology is located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The university shares its campus with Durham College. The university was founded in 2002 and accepted its first students in 2003, making it one of Canada's newest universities...
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, MichiganNovi, MichiganNovi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately northwest of the center of Detroit, and northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located...
, USA - 2011: Centennial College Library and Academic Building, Progress Campus, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
- 2011: University of Toronto Scarborough Instructional Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Work in progress (2010)
- Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (with Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Kingston)
- Hospital for Sick ChildrenHospital for Sick ChildrenThe Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
Research Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Vanier Hall Academic Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - Evergreen Brick Works Centre for Sustainability (Don Valley Brick WorksDon Valley Brick WorksThe Don Valley Brick Works also known as Evergreen Brickworks is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River valley in Toronto, Ontario. Currently the buildings sit mostly unused while the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds...
), Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, Philadelphia, PA, USA (with H2L2 Architects, Philadelphia) - Robarts Library Revitalization, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of British Columbia Faculty of Law building, Vancouver, British Columbia
- TEDCO’s Corus Entertainment Building "Corus Quay"Corus QuayCorus Quay, originally named First Waterfront Place, is an 8 storey commercial office tower located on a waterfront site in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The $160 million building is the first major development planned for the East Bayfront Precinct, and completed construction at the foot of Jarvis...
, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Boettcher Concert Hall (for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra), Denver, Colorado, USA (with Oz Architecture, Denver)
- L'Adresse symphonique (concert hall for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Joint venture with SNC Lavalin and Aedifica Architects, Montreal)
- Obzor Luxury Beach & Spa, Black Sea Residential Resorts, Obzor, BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
(with Urbiarch, Obzor) - Women’s College Hospital Site Master Plan, Toronto, Ontario
- Bridgepoint Health Chronic Long-term Care Complex, Toronto, Ontario
- Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario
- Santa Fe Community College Health and Sciences Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA (with Studio Southwest Architects, Albuquerque, N.M.)
- Regent ParkRegent ParkRegent Park is a neighbourhood located in Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Regent Park is Canada's oldest and largest social housing project; built in the late 1940s. Formerly the centre of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, it is bounded by Gerrard Street East to the north, River Street to the east,...
Residential Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - The Mariinsky TheatreMariinsky TheatreThe Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
New Opera, St. Petersburg, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... - Algonquin CollegeAlgonquin CollegeAlgonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a publicly funded English-language college and member of Polytechnics Canada located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The college serves the National Capital Region and the outlying areas of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec...
Centre for Construction Excellence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Awards
Diamond and 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 CommerceCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
, KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, and the Queen’s University School of Business as being one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
Canadian Governor General’s Awards for Architecture
- Village Terrace, Toronto, Ontario, 1985
- Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, 1986
- Metro Toronto YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, Toronto, Ontario, 1986 - Earth Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 1994
- Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 1994
- York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, 1996
BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards
- 2004: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel
- 2007: The Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 2008: Shakespeare Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA