Through his architecture, pedagogy, community service, and advocacy, Diarmuid Nash has proven himself to be one of the most accomplished and important architects in the nation. Looking holistically at the categories and nominations for all three Service Awards, the jury felt strongly compelled to recognize Diarmuid Nash with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award.

As well as being one of Canada’s leading architects, Diarmuid is also a connector and an ambassador for the entire national design community. A longstanding partner in Moriyama & Teshima Architects (MTA), he has shared his expertise in the planning, design, and construction of cultural landmarks with clients around the country and the world. Born in Ireland and raised in Winnipeg, Nash received his Bachelor of Environmental Sciences and a Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Manitoba. Soon after graduation, he moved to Japan, where he worked as a designer for the Shimizu Corporation and later collaborated with Raymond Moriyama on the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. Diarmuid returned to Canada to join Moriyama & Teshima Architects in 1988. Since then, he has been instrumental throughout the evolution of MTA’s human-centred modernism, which gives priority to civic engagement, individual experience, sustainability, and careful attention to context. A partner at MTA since 1998, Nash has played a leading role in many of the firm s most vaunted projects, including the Bata Shoe Museum, Canadian War Museum, Aga Khan, and Ismaili Centre (also with Maki and Associates). He has also led significant public buildings and spaces across the nation, including the City of Surrey’s City Hall and Civic Plaza; the Edmonton Federal Building’s Centennial Plaza; the Government of Canada Visitor Welcome Centre on Parliament Hill in Ottawa; UBCO Commons in Kelowna; and the University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre, now in progress.

Diarmuid’s list of accomplishments and landmark projects already far surpass what many would achieve in their lifetime. His architectural work, pedagogy, and advocacy have raised the profile not only of his own firm but also of Canadian architecture as a whole, through built works that connect and inspire people across the nation.

Publish Date : 2022/Jul/18