Conference Highlights 2025

Reshaping Communities Draws More than 500 to Ottawa

The OAA held its annual Conference at the Westin Ottawa from May 14 to 16, 2025, bringing together more than 500 delegates from the architecture profession and beyond to network, celebrate, and explore the built environment’s role in Reshaping Communities. See below to learn more about the Conference events, and view photo galleries and videos.

Event Highlights

Crowd image of ORSA opening part at the Art Gallery of Ottawa

Opening Night Party

TUESDAY | MAY 14

The OAA Opening Night Party, hosted by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects at the Ottawa Art Gallery, kicked off Conference 2025.

Jan Knikker, partner and director of strategy at MVRDV delivers presentation

Opening Plenary

WEDNESDAY | MAY 14

For this year's Conference Plenary, Jan Knikker, partner and director of strategy at MVRDV, explored the Reshaping Communities theme through the work of the award-winning Rotterdam-founded architectural and urban design practice.

Crowd of individuals socializing and drinking

Happy Hour

WEDNESDAY | MAY 14

The Happy Hour allowed delegates to network, interact with sponsors, and learn about architectural tools and cutting-edge building materials.

Blueprint for Innovation: Ask the Experts Luncheon

WEDNESDAY | MAY 14

In this interactive luncheon, delegates engaged directly with product-knowledge experts in intimate roundtable discussions.

Group image of the SHIFT2025 Presenters and the moderator of the event, OAA VP Lara McKendrick

President's Reception & SHIFT2025 Celebration

THURSDAY | MAY 15

OAA President Ted Wilson hosted this reception honouring our winners and special guests. We also welcomed our valued sponsors and delegates. The reception was followed by the SHIFT celebration event.

Archifête

THURSDAY | MAY 15

The beautiful Tudor-Gothic Revival-style building, Canadian Museum of Nature, served as a backdrop for the OAA’s annual Archifête party in Ottawa.

Panel of panelist on a stage. One presenter is speaking on stage

ConEd and Experiential Learning

WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY | MAY 14- MAY 16

Conference sessions featured sponsored presentations and curated panels that combined in-class learning with experiential opportunities around the Ottawa region.

Closing Plenary: Reimagining Heritage: A Net-Zero Indigenous Cultural Space

FRIDAY | MAY 16

This session reflects on the Reshaping Communities theme by exploring the transformation of a heritage building as an Indigenous cultural space through extensive rehabilitation and addition.

Conference 2026

2026 OAA Conference Collaboration Powering Innovation banner featuring an exterior image of the Idea Exchange Building

Conference 2026: Collaboration Powering Innovation

NEXT YEAR'S CONFERENCE

The 2026 OAA Conference, taking place in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and will focus on the theme Collaboration Powering Innovation

2025 Conference Sponsors

The OAA would like to thank our generous sponsors for supporting the 2025 OAA Annual Conference.