The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is hosting an anonymous Landscape Design Competition aimed at revitalizing the grounds of its Toronto headquarters as an extension of its Renew + Refresh initiative. In addition to showcasing design excellence, teams—led by OAA or Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) members—are asked to submit designs that create a welcoming and inclusive arrival experience, incorporate public art, promote sustainability and water use in the health of the environment, and embrace the Don River watershed context. Given the substantial societal impact of the built environment, the Association celebrates sensitive, responsible, and innovative design that supports resiliency and inclusivity. Ultimately, this competition is an opportunity to think about how we can take steps to heal our relationship with the land and its original caretakers.
The winning team will secure the contract for the redesign, emphasizing the significance of architecture and the allied arts in societal well-being.
Juries play a vital role in the design competition process. They bring a diverse range of experience and expertise to the critical task of rigorously evaluating the submissions provided by each participating design team and ultimately determining which are the most deserving of recognition and the award of the contract to implement the design work. The highly qualified jury selected for this competition includes three landscape architects, one architect (and past President of the OAA), and a lieutenant governor appointee to the OAA Governing Council.
Jury Chair, Susan Speigel, BA, B.Arch., (EQ. M.Arch), OAA, FRAIC (architect with SSA Studio and OAA Vice President)
Susan Speigel is a seasoned architect with more than 30 years of varied experience in cities like Sudbury, Ottawa, New York, Neuchâtel, and Toronto. Early in her career, she co-founded Villa Villa, an all-women firm where she gained initial experience in the industry. Transitioning through tech ventures, she established Susan Speigel Architect Inc. (SSA) in 1993, a practice specializing in architecture, landscape, and urban projects for non-profits, public housing, and private residences.
Actively promoting equity and inclusion, Susan has led innovative initiatives in social housing and community spaces. As an educator at George Brown College's Institute Without Boundaries, she merges disciplines in architecture, urbanism, and ecology with activism, having led research in support of mobile-home parks as affordable housing. Since 2017, Susan has served as the Professional Advisor for the Thunder Woman Healing Lodge in Toronto—the city's first Healing Lodge for Indigenous women in conflict with the law. Her commitment to driving positive change in the architecture profession is evidenced in her various roles with the Ontario Association of Architects, culminating in her presidency from 2021 to 2023. Susan is an active member of OAA Council and currently serves as an OAA Vice President.
The chosen jury is scheduled to convene in early June to review all submissions. Following their evaluation, they will award a preferred candidate with the contract to carry out the project. Additionally, two submissions will be recognized with honourable mentions.
Final submissions for the Landscape Design Competition, which are due by May 16, will be showcased anonymously at the OAA Headquarters during Doors Open Toronto 2024 on May 25 and 26, and continuing to June 21. Guided tours of the building interior will be offered daily during the Doors Open event, offering visitors a unique glimpse into net-zero design solutions.