Winners Of The Governor General's Medals In Architecture

Media Release
Ottawa, May 11, 2004

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the winners of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.

The following built projects will be honoured:

• Brentwood Skytrain Station – Busby + Associates Architects (Vancouver, BC) Peter Busby, FRAIC
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology – Busby + Associates Architects (Vancouver, BC) Peter Busby, FRAIC
• Lore Krill Housing Co-op and City of Vancouver Parkade – Henriquez Partners Architects (Vancouver, BC) Gregory Henriquez, MRAIC
• Agosta House – Patkau Architects Inc. (Vancouver, BC) John Patkau, FRAIC
• Shaw House – Patkau Architects Inc. (Vancouver, BC) John Patkau, FRAIC
• James Stewart Centre for Mathematics, McMaster University – Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (Toronto ON) Bruce Kuwabara, FRAIC
• House in Erin – Ian MacDonald Architect Inc. (Toronto, ON) Ian MacDonald
• Muskoka Boathouse – Shim Sutcliffe Architects (Toronto, ON) Brigitte Shim, MRAIC & Howard Sutcliffe, MRAIC
• Weathering Steel House – Shim Sutcliffe Architects (Toronto, ON) Brigitte Shim, MRAIC & Howard Sutcliffe, MRAIC

“Architecture is art produced on the grandest possible canvas. An architect’s creations literally transform our landscape, reshaping empty space into buildings that fill particular needs and, in the best examples, inspire us by their presence,” said the Governor General. “By giving physical form to their architectural vision, this year’s winners have built a legacy that reflects Canada’s growing maturity as a nation.”

The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture recognize outstanding achievement in recently built projects by Canadian architects. This program, created by the RAIC, contributes to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increases public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society. These awards are administered jointly with the Canada Council for the Arts, which is responsible for the adjudication process and contributes to the publication highlighting the medal winners.

“The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts have forged a fruitful partnership that makes possible this important competition,” said Canada Council Director John Hobday. “The Council's involvement is consistent with our ongoing efforts to promote architecture as an art form and to better acquaint Canadians with the creativity of this country's architectural community.”

The recipients of this year’s Governor General’s Medals in Architecture will be recognized during the RAIC Festival of Architecture in Quebec City June 17-19, 2004. The 2004 Medals in Architecture are expected to be presented to the laureates this fall.

"The Governor General's Medals in Architecture - past and future - chronicle Canada’s architectural heritage as it is being created," said Bonnie Maples, FRAIC, RAIC President. “Like all fine art it must explore new forms, force a re-evaluation of the norm and dare to reflect its environment, even if only truly appreciated in retrospect. For architects, who may be expected to provide the familiar and the comfortable with technical and economic ease, this artistic exploration is a daunting, exciting and marvellous adventure.”

Descriptions, biographies and downloadable images of the architectural firms and their winning buildings are available at www.raic.org and www.canadacouncil.ca.

The 2004 winners of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture were selected by a Jury of the following distinguished architects: Christopher Macdonald, FRAIC (British Columbia); Markku Komonen (Finland); Brit Andresen (Australia); Daniel Pearl (Quebec); and, Stephen Teeple, FRAIC (Ontario).

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is a voluntary national association established in 1907 as the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada. Representing more than 3,200 architects, the RAIC provides the national framework for the development and recognition of architectural excellence.

McGraw-Hill Construction generously sponsors the RAIC’s awards programs.

The Canada Council for the Arts, in addition to its principal role of promoting and fostering the arts in Canada, administers and awards over 100 prizes and fellowships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences and engineering. Among these are the Killam Prizes, the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes, the Governor General’s Literary Awards and the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts, the Prix de Rome in Architecture and the Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement.

For more information and assistance arranging interviews, please contact:

Sylvie Powell, Manager of Communications
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
(613) 241-3600, ext. 205
spowell@raic.org

Donna Balkan, Senior Communications Manager
Canada Council for the Arts
(613) 566-4305 or 1 800 263-5588, ext. 4134
donna.balkan@canadacouncil.ca