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 Alison Brooks.

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

The ticket price is all inclusive. It includes wine, gratuity, and tax as well as any additional Eventbrite fees.

About Alison Brooks:

Alison Brooks, Founder and Creative Director of Alison Brooks Architects, is one of the UK’s most highly awarded and internationally acclaimed architects. A native of Ontario, she moved to London in 1988 and established her practice in 1996. Her diverse portfolio of built works reflects a commitment to generous, inclusive city-building and a uniquely sculptural design language inspired by the cultures and communities her projects serve.

Amongst over 100 awards for design quality her firm was awarded 2020 Dezeen Architect of the Year, BD Housing Architect of the Year, 2021 Civic Trust Award and RIBA House of the Year. Her numerous teaching positions include the Architectural Association, Harvard GSD, ETSAM and Cornell AAP. She has recently been elected member of the AA Council and the British School at Rome.

About Alison Brooks Architects:

Alison Brooks Architects, established in 1996 by Canadian architect Alison Brooks, is a London-based studio recognized as one of the UK's most influential and internationally acclaimed design practices. The firm employs cultural research as a catalyst for community engagement and innovative architectural expression, resulting in a uniquely sculptural design language across diverse projects, including large-scale masterplans, mixed-use developments, higher education buildings, private residences, and public arts facilities.

The practice's commitment to generous and inclusive city-building has earned it over seventy awards for design excellence, such as the 2020 Dezeen Architect of the Year, 2024 Architizer A+ Best Medium Firm, and 2024 BD Private Housing Architect of the Year. Notably, Alison Brooks Architects is the only UK practice to have won the three most prestigious RIBA building awards: the Stirling Prize, the House of the Year, and the Stephen Lawrence Prize. Recent significant projects include the flagship towers 'Cadence King's Cross' and 'One Ashley Road' in London, as well as 'The Passages,' a high-density urban quarter in Vancouver, BC, and the mixed-use 'Western Curve Tower' in Toronto's zero-carbon waterfront Quayside neighborhood.

More about Alison Brooks Architects at Alison Brooks Architects

Tickets

$90 - The ticket price is all inclusive. It includes wine, gratuity, and tax as well as any additional Eventbrite fees.

Location

Terroni Adelaide
57 Adelaide Street, Toronto, ON

Event Schedule

7:00 - 10:00pm BEAT Dinner

Note that Alison will be lecturing at TMU DAS on February 13th at 6:30 PM. Learn more here.

Menu

APRISTOMACO
Served Family Style

Funghi Assoluti
oyster mushrooms baked with parmigiano, bread crumbs, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic,balsamic vinegar, arugula

Caprese
seasonal tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, basil, extra-virgin olive oil, oregano

PIZZE
Served Family Style

Pizza di Sofia
tomato, mozzarella, sweet genoa salame

Da Dó a Dà
tomato, mozzarella, goat cheese, eggplant, roasted red peppers

PRIMI
Served Family Style

Garganelli al Limone
spinach, capers, Parmigiano Reggiano shavings, lemon, extra-virgin olive oil

Rigatoni alla Bolognese
traditional Bolognese ragù (pork & beef), parmigiana

DOLCI

Tiramisù
mini espresso soaked savoiardi, mascarpone

*all olives have their pits
*please advise of any allergies as not all ingredients are listed

Join us for a delightful evening of fun, games, and celebration as SOSA X BEAT X BAIDA come together to cap off the year with a bang!

Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) invites you to join Game Night at 401 Richmond, Urban Space Gallery.

Games have a powerful way of uniting people from all walks of life, transcending language, culture, and experience. We see games as an opportunity to reinforce the principles of diversity and inclusion, break down barriers and foster connections, all through a playful spirit with laughter and shared experiences.

Event Highlights:

[Team Games]
Fun and competitive games for everyone to enjoy!

[Networking and Nibbles]
Mingle with fellow architects, designers, and enthusiasts. Enjoy light refreshments and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for diversity and inclusion in our profession.

[Prizes and Surprises]
Exciting prizes await the champions of the games. Plus, there are a few surprises in store to make this evening even more memorable!

This event is a celebration of our shared commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the world of architecture and design. Join us for an evening of laughter, camaraderie, and shared experiences that will warm your heart as the year comes to a close.

Mark your calendars, bring your game face, and let's make this a night to remember. We can't wait to see you there!

Please note this is a ticketed event.

General Admission: $20

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 Elizabeth Whittaker.

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

About Elizabeth Whittaker

Elizabeth Whittaker AIA
Founder/Principal, MERGE architects
Associate Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Elizabeth Whittaker is an Associate Professor in Practice of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she has been teaching Core Architecture Studios since 2009, and was the Lead Faculty in Architecture in the Design Discovery Summer Program from 2011-2015.

Elizabeth is also founder and principal of MERGE architects, based in Boston since 2003. Her work at MERGE aims at developing contemporary craft, transforming typologies, and addressing social ecologies throughout the US. Her practice operates at multiple scales through commercial, institutional, retail, private residential, multi-family housing, graphic and furniture design. The office works side-by-side with teams of fabricators, artists, craftsmen and engineers to produce an architecture that embraces the art of making within a larger agenda: to re-define the urban and social boundaries in and around the city. The work combines both digital fabrication and the hand made by working through a cross-disciplinary as well a cross-production process.

The work of MERGE has been widely published both nationally and internationally and has received multiple awards including twenty-eight AIA/BSA awards. Elizabeth is the recipient of the AIA Young Architects Award, Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard, the Architectural League of New York ‘Emerging Voices’ Award, and the recipient of Architectural Record’s 2017 Women in Architecture ‘Next Generation Leader’ Award – an honor bestowed upon one female architect in the U.S. each year. She is currently serving as an Industry Advisory Group (IAG) member for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), advising on U.S. architectural projects throughout the world. Elizabeth was recently nominated for election to the AIA College of Fellows, the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor for contributions to the profession.

Elizabeth graduated from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design with Distinction where she received numerous awards during her graduate studies including the Araldo A. Cossutta Prize/Core Studio Prize, the Faculty Design Award, and the John E. Thayer Award for overall academic achievement. Elizabeth approaches architecture as a discipline embedded in both practice and academia. She has taught design studios in several Architecture programs including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University, and the Boston Architectural College. She is also a regular guest critic at several institutions including Columbia University, Yale University, MIT, University of Michigan, Rhode Island School of Design, and Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture.

About MERGE architects:

Merge is an architectural practice that uncovers opportunities for invention in the ordinary. Merge creates exuberant social spaces, experiment upon existing typologies, and develop contemporary craft methods to transform our cities, buildings, and interior worlds. Merge reimagines common materials, building types, and experiences through broad research and in-depth iteration. This method is applied across program, place, shape and scale; from master planning to furniture design, ground-up buildings to interior renovations. Merge engages a diverse team of designers, engineers, fabricators, clients, and communities to realize the latent potential of every project and site. Great design is distilled from a collective of many voices; it’s in their name.

Merge is driven by an unrelenting curiosity, optimism, and urgency to change our built environment for the better.

More about Merge at www.mergearchitects.com

Tickets

$90 - The ticket price is all inclusive. It includes wine, gratuity, and tax as well as any additional Eventbrite fees.

Location

Terroni Queen
720 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

Event Schedule

7:00 - 10:00pm BEAT Dinner

Menu

APRISTOMACO
Served Family Style

Funghi Assoluti
oyster mushrooms baked with parmigiano, bread crumbs, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic,balsamic vinegar, arugula

Caprese
seasonal tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, basil, extra-virgin olive oil, oregano

PIZZE
Served Family Style

Pizza di Sofia
tomato, mozzarella, sweet genoa salame

Da Dó a Dà
tomato, mozzarella, goat cheese, eggplant, roasted red peppers

PRIMI
Served Family Style

Garganelli al Limone
spinach, capers, Parmigiano Reggiano shavings, lemon, extra-virgin olive oil

Rigatoni alla Bolognese
traditional Bolognese ragù (pork & beef), parmigiana

DOLCI

Tiramisù
mini espresso soaked savoiardi, mascarpone

*all olives have their pits
*please advise of any allergies as not all ingredients are listed

About the Workshop:

Whether you're preparing for a presentation, a pitch, or just a meeting, your ability to confidently communicate is what will make a lasting impact with your audience.  By focusing on the fundamentals of speech structure, speaking confidently and body language management participants will learn how to deliver memorable presentations through the art of storytelling. Join us on October 9th for an interactive workshop designed to provide you with the tools you need to captivate your audiences.

Key Topics Covered

The workshop covered a range of topics, including:

• Structuring speeches and presentations: Learn how to organize your thoughts and create a clear and engaging message.

• Engaging the audience: Explore strategies for connecting with your audience and keeping them interested throughout.

• Crafting compelling messages: Learn how to develop strong and memorable messages that resonate with your audience.

• Speaking Confidently: Discover effective techniques for overcoming anxiety and delivering with confidence.

• Using body language effectively: Understand the importance of nonverbal communication and how to use body language to enhance your delivery.

This workshop was ideal for those who already have some experience with public speaking and are looking to improve their skills.

About Nina

Nina Boccia is a marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience creating dynamic and engaging content that connects to vision and values. She previously served as an associate editor at Azure Magazine and managing editor of its sister publication, Designlines, where she interviewed and reported on the best minds in design and architecture.

Through her work in arts, culture, and architecture in Toronto, she has held various leadership positions; creating and overseeing programming, marketing initiatives, and fundraising efforts. She has spearheaded and managed national marketing efforts including branding campaigns, partnerships, and content strategies.

Nina is passionate about sharing stories that are purpose-driven, facilitate important conversations, drive investment in community and culture, illustrate the transformative power of design, and champion the people creating meaningful impact. Outside of her work at the firm, Nina sits on the advisory board for BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto) and is the President-Elect of the Ontario chapter for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).

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 Workshops qualify for 1 OAA Structured Learning hour

We were honored to have the Women of Blackwell, Brooke Guzar, Renèe Mackay-lyons and Elishua Ben-Choreen conduct a BEAT Talk on Monday, September 9th, 2024. This session was held in-person at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design,  building, University of Toronto, room DA330 . 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 the Session

At this BEAT Talk, we heard from engineers at Blackwell: Brooke Guzar, Renée MacKay-Lyons, and Elishua Ben-Choreen. They each shared their experience navigating a career within engineering and the broader design consultant field. The speakers expanded on their unique trajectories in engineering roles and management positions; discussing the challenges they've faced, and the amazing projects and initiatives they've worked on along the way.

Location

Room DA330
John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto
1 Spadina Cres, Toronto, ON, M5S 2J5 

Event Schedule

6:30pm Doors open
7:00-8:00pm BEAT Talk
8:00-8:30 pm Networking reception

About Blackwell

Since 1987, Blackwell has been a leading provider of structural engineering services to a diverse range of clients, including architects, designers, developers, and building owners. Under the leadership of the CEO, Brooke Guzar, Blackwell's team brings passionate dedication to defining problems and finding solutions, seeing every project as an opportunity.

More about Blackwell  https://blackwell.ca/

About the Speakers

Brooke Guzar, CEO, P.Eng

Brooke Guzar is a structural engineer with 15+ years of practice in various engineering areas, from moveable bridges to heavy industrial hard rock underground mining applications, sculptures, and high-end custom residential work. She led the Halifax office of Blackwell Structural Engineers for 6 years, developing a close relationship with local architects and designers on projects across Canada. In 2023, Brooke was selected as Blackwell’s first CEO, and she now leads the firm with a passion for strategic planning, employee engagement, and effective project delivery.

Brooke splits her time between the Toronto and Halifax offices.

Renée MacKay-Lyons, Associate, P.Eng

Throughout her 15-year career, Renée has adeptly merged her love for architecture with her passion for physics and mathematics. Now based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, she excels as an integral member of design teams across Canada, assisting clients in transforming their visions into practical and efficient structural systems. Renée is deeply interested in all building types, from public buildings to large institutional projects to custom homes. Her expertise spans mass timber, light wood framing, reinforced concrete, structural steel, and fabric and cable systems. As an Associate at Blackwell, she’s been a key team member on complex projects such as The LEAF at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg and the Trinity College Lawson Centre for Sustainability in Toronto.

Beyond her project work, Renée is an esteemed guest critic at various architecture schools and a sought-after speaker at conferences and public lectures. In 2023, she was a lecturer for the Timber Design course in the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering at Dalhousie University.

Elishua Ben-Choreen, P.Eng

Elishua was inspired to pursue engineering by her passion for creating positive built environments. Her 9 years of experience have allowed her to work on building projects from both the design consultant's and contractor's perspectives. After graduating from the University of Waterloo, she joined WSP in Ottawa to work on the structural design of Canada's largest heritage rehabilitation project—the restoration of Centre Block. One of the highlights of her time there was developing the in-situ masonry testing program and overseeing the investigative work on-site. In 2021, Elishua came to Blackwell as a Professional Engineer and shifted her focus to smaller-scale residential projects. Since then, she has worked on over 100 projects across the Greater Toronto Area. She continues to be energized by opportunities that bring her to site and allow her to problem-solve with the contractor and architect to meet design intent.

In the workplace today, it is important that we are known to others, and to ensure that others are aware of our resourcefulness. Networking can be one of the most powerful and productive activities an individual can do to launch and manage their career.

The upcoming BEAT MIX will take place on May 1st, 2024 and will specifically focus around issues architects and designers face when they make the decision to have children. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions related to better understanding practices in place at offices to facilitate parental leaves, navigating the field once returning to work, work from home policies, and shedding light on the financial, social and cultural dynamics of raising children while managing a career. This BEAT MIX will serve to cultivate a valuable opportunity for those interested in understanding how to manage the balance between thriving at work and home, as well as network and meet colleagues in similar stages of their career. 

BEAT MIX will include five invited featured guests who are stationed in breakout rooms. The featured guests will comprise of Partners and Principals from local design firms of various sizes, along with leaders in the professions. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with the featured guests and meet a succession of individuals in small groups throughout the evening. Our panel of featured guests has been curated to share their unique experience navigating parenthood and practice. 

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

Limited space available.

Tickets will be released at noon on Monday, April 15th, 2024.

Register online here

Fee: $20

Featured Guests Bios:

Olga Pushkar
Architect, OAA, FRAIC | Principal, KPMB

Olga is a principal of KPMB Architects and has a proven record in the design and delivery of projects recognized for architectural excellence and social impact across diverse sectors. She has played a leadership role in award-winning projects completed at renowned Canadian firms Ian MacDonald Architects, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and MJMA.

From 2000 to 2006, Olga was a core design team member of KPMB. She was a key contributor to the Governor General’s award-winning Project Grand Jeté for Canada’s National Ballet School. Olga also worked on the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre at the University of Waterloo, where she was responsible for stakeholder engagement and programming during schematic design.

Olga rejoined KPMB in the Fall of 2020. Her skills in project management combined with her extensive knowledge of materials and systems for constructability and durability have been integral to the realization of holistic and sustainable architecture. Her experience is enriched by her history of local and international participation in non-profit organizations that provide affordable homes and shelters.

Francis Guanlao
Lic. Tech, LEED | Partner, RAW Design

As a partner at RAW, Francis brings a wealth of experience across diverse sectors including residential, adaptive re-use, healthcare, and heritage conservation. With 20 years of experience, Francis takes the helm in overseeing RAW projects during the working drawing and construction phase. He provides invaluable guidance to RAW’s team and clients, navigating through the life cycle of the project. Francis also assists in maintaining the quality control and contract admin standards at RAW. Apart from the work at RAW, he served on the board of the OAAAS from 2018-2022. Furthermore, in his spare time he is an avid cyclist who enjoys the city by bike or on gravel roads and singletrack.

Stephanie Hosein
Architect, OAA | Associate, Omar Gandhi Architects

Stephanie is a registered Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and an Associate at Omar Gandhi Architects. She attended Dalhousie University and received the AIA Henry Adams certificate and RAIC High Honour Roll upon graduation from the Master of Architecture program. Stephanie is driven and detail-oriented, naturally taking on a leadership role in any project she is involved in. Her wide range of project experience in both new construction and adaptive re-use includes commercial, hospitality, residential, offices and higher education. Project credits include leading the firm’s restaurant projects (Prime Seafood Palace and Lady Marmalade) and multiple single-family residential projects, including Teph Inlet.

Stephanie is a founding member of Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) and currently sits on the Advisory Committee. Past BEAT contributions include Executive Committee Chair (2021-2023), Sponsorship Chair (2019-2021) and co-organizing the annual Forum, focused on creating awareness and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in the field of architecture and design. She also volunteers her time mentoring through the OAA internship program and post-secondary institutions.

Siobhan Sweeny
Architect, OAA | Sweeny &Co Architects Inc.

Siobhan is an Architect, mother, and Toronto creative who is deeply passionate about thoughtful city building and advocating for housing in urban communities. She graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree, receiving a double major in Architecture Studies in Design, and in Fine Art History. She also has her Master of Architecture from the John H. Daniel’s School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Design.

Siobhan is a fastidious and spirited team player who deeply believes that architecture and design can make the world a better place. She has experience in office, residential, hotel, retail, and education sectors. She is also a brand ambassador for Sweeny&Co Architects, active in public discourse and efforts to communicate the company’s philosophy and message.

When she is not designing, you can find her parenting her two-and-a-half-year-old and four-month-old baby, seeking out the city’s latest food hall or art exhibit, and championing good city development.

Kyra Clarkson
Architect, OAA, FRAIC | Founder, Kyra Clarkson Architect Inc.

Kyra is the founder of Kyra Clarkson Architect Inc., a design-oriented architecture studio with a focus on creating warm, modern houses that sit thoughtfully in the fabric of the city. Their work aims to bring natural daylight into the core of projects, create fluid connections between interiors and landscape, and exhibit an elegant simplicity in all details. Their work has been published in the Globe and Mail, Canadian Architect, Designlines, Monocle and Dwell.

Kyra is also a co-founder of MODERNest Inc., an architect-driven development company with a commitment to building well-designed contemporary houses in Toronto. She runs this business with her husband, Christopher Glaisek.

Kyra enjoys participating in architecture reviews and has lectured on the topics of Architect as Developer and Infill House Alternatives. Sitting on a ULI technical advisory panel, she provided strategic advice to the City of Toronto, which shaped the 2023 multiplex zoning by-law Amendments. Kyra is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Toronto Society of Architects. She sits on the BEAT Advisory panel and was elected to the College of Fellows of the RAIC in 2022.

We were 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 was 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.

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

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 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 were honoured to feature Eladia Smoke as our special guest.

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

We were honored to have Eladia Smoke | KaaSheGaaBaaWeak, Principal Architect at Smoke Architecture Inc. conduct a BEAT Talk on Thursday November 16th, 2023. This session was in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University and was held in-person at Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Sciences.

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 

The 5th BEAT Forum focused 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 explored different perspectives on how to create a collaborative and productive work environment for all stakeholders throughout the construction process.

The Forum was divided into two parts, a panel discussion in the morning and afternoon workshop after lunch. Our panel included 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 commenced with short presentations from our panelists followed by a moderated panel discussion and question period. Our panelists offered 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 included a hands-on workshop that focused on aligning values among stakeholders that work on construction sites. This workshop was 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 qualifies 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 were honored to have Lauren Abrahams, senior urban designer at Public Work conduct a BEAT Talk on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. This session was held in-person at Public Work office in Toronto.

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

At this Talk, Lauren shared her thoughts on the dynamic, landscape-based process of making places to enhance our ever-evolving experience of public life in the city. She traced 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 reflected on the hybrid nature of our lives, and the need to design hybrid places and governance to support and sustain our cities.  She invited 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 were 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 was held in-person at LGA Architectural Partners office in Toronto..

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

At this Talk, Janna Levitt shared her insights on her career path and the work done at LGA Architectural Partners. She spoke 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.

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

BEAT X SOSA // MIX  included 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 encouraged 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.

__

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.

__

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.

__

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.

__

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.

___

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.

___

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 were honored to have Heather Dubbeldam, founder of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, host our first BEAT Talk session for the year, on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023.

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

Heather Dubbeldam shared lessons learned from her varied career and the challenges of managing a practice while balancing parenthood, research and advocacy work. Heather discussed 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 highlighted 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 were 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 were 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

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 were 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. The in-person event was held at the office of Diamond Schmitt Architects and was simulcast online via Zoom.

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

We were fortunate to 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 also elaborated 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) helf 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 were 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

We heard from Sue Jean Chung as she shared her story, experiences, and challenges she overcame as an Asian Female architect and founder. 

The session focused 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 was held in a hybrid format, tickets were 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 were 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 were honored to have Lemay host the BEAT Talk session on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022.

We heard from Lemay Associates, Senior Project Director Gail Shillingford, Principal Design Director Patricia Lussier, and Regional Director and Associate Grace Coulter Sherlock as they discussed what it takes to navigate the architecture and design world in a position of leadership, as women. Each speaker shared their respective personal career trajectories and experiences navigating motherhood while balancing leadership roles across Lemay’s pan-Canadian studios. Gail, Patricia and Grace discussed 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: