Media Release
For Immediate Release
November 3, 2026
OAA Unveils 2026 Queen's Park Picks: Nine Buildings Nominated by MPPs for Showcasing Collaboration that Powers Innovation
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), which regulates architecture in the province, has revealed the nine projects comprising the 2026 Queen’s Park Picks. For the 11th year in a row, the OAA invited Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to nominate a building within their riding that highlights the community’s unique architectural heritage, celebrates the rich legacy of architecture in Ontario, and aligns with this year’s theme, Collaboration Powering Innovation.
The theme is the same one used for the 2026 OAA Conference in the Waterloo Region earlier this year, and it speaks to a central challenge for the profession. To achieve a resilient, adaptive, and functional built environment, we must examine the tools for better co-creating with project team collaborators, clients, citizens, and municipalities. The theme also reflects the Association's commitment to regulating the practice of architecture to protect the public interest, and it highlights the essential role of adaptability in design, urging the profession to create sustainable solutions for a rapidly changing world.
“For 11 years, Queen's Park Picks has given MPPs a way to spotlight some of the buildings that matter most to their communities,” says Lara McKendrick, president of OAA Council, the Association’s governing board of directors. “This year's theme, Collaboration Powering Innovation, speaks to the heart of how great buildings come to life. Resilient, adaptive spaces are never the work of one person. They happen when Architects, clients, engineers, municipalities, and the people who use these buildings come together. The nine Queen's Park Picks show what that collaboration can achieve, and we're grateful to the MPPs who continue to celebrate the architecture in their communities.”
By embracing forward-thinking and resilient design, our built environment can effectively respond effectively to climate change, societal shifts, and the evolving needs of communities. From heritage restorations to modern builds, these projects embody a forward-thinking design philosophy rooted in sustainability and resilience, ensuring they meet the needs of Ontarians today and for generations to come.
Earlier this year, 28 MPPs from all political parties submitted 41 nominations from across Ontario. A jury of Architects then selected the nine projects that make up the 2026 Queen's Park Picks, which fall within seven Local Architectural Society regions (Niagara, Toronto, London, Ottawa Regional, Northwestern Ontario, Hamilton/Burlington, and St. Lawrence Valley):
- 48 King West Hotel in Brockville
Architect: W. & W.R.L. Blackwell (1922)
Renovation Architect: Cora Lia Taraciuk (2019)
Designers: Brandy Gould, Rob Thompson (2019)
Nominated by the Hon. Steve Clark, MPP (Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes)
- Art Gallery of Hamilton in Hamilton
Architect: Trevor Garwood-Jones (1977)
Renovation Architect: Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (now KPMG Architects) (2005)
Nominated by MPP Robin Lennox (Hamilton–Centre)
- Dominion of Canada Building in Port Stanley
Architect: Government of Canada, Department of Public Works (1930)
Renovation Architect: Philip Agar Architect Inc. (2024)
Nominated by the Hon. Rob Flack, MPP (Elgin–Middlesex–London)
- Limberlost Place in Toronto
Architect: Moriyama Teshima Architects in a joint venture with Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
Nominated by MPP Chris Glover (Spadina–Fort York)
- NCC River House in Ottawa
Architect: Colborne Powell Meredith (1914-25)
Renovation & Addition Architect: Provencher_Roy (formerly GRC Architects), (2019-2023)
Nominated by MPP Lucille Collard (Ottawa–Vanier)
- Queen’s Park in Toronto
Architect: Richard A. White (1893)
Renovation and Addition Architect: Edward James Lennox (West Wing, 1913); George Wallace Gouinlock (North Wing, 1913); Diamond Schmitt with ERA Architects (Visitor Centre, 2021)
Nominated by the Hon. Doug Ford, MPP (Etobicoke North)
- Ridley College: Iggulden Building and Evans Athletic Centre in St. Catharines
Architect: Marani, Lawson & Morris (1939)
Renovation & Addition Architect: Centerbrook Architects and Planners with LGA Architectural Partners
Nominated by MPP Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines)
- Science North in Sudbury
Architect: Raymond Moriyama Architects (now Moriyama Teshima Architects) with Townsend, Stefura, Baleshta and Nicholls Architects (now Bélanger Salach Architecture)
Nominated by MPP Jamie West (Sudbury)
- York Region Administrative Building in Newmarket
Architect: Douglas Cardinal (1994)
Annex Architect: WZMH Architects (2021)
Nominated by MPP Dawn Gallagher (Newmarket–Aurora)
The Queen’s Park Picks program serves as a vibrant platform to honour and promote outstanding architectural achievements within the province. By inviting MPPs to share architectural gems from their riding, it fosters a deeper appreciation for the vital role the architectural profession plays in shaping Ontario's communities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
The OAA’s Policy Advisory Coordination Team (PACT) reviewed the nominations to create a shortlist of outstanding projects, all exemplifying thoughtful design philosophies that prioritize long-term sustainability and community place-making.
Tonight, on November 3, a celebration with MPPs and their staff will take place at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The event is scheduled to include remarks from the Honourable Michael Tibollo, Associate Attorney General of Ontario; MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, Official Opposition Critic of the Attorney General; MPP Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario; and MPP Lucille Collard, Liberal Critic for the Attorney General. Public engagement will continue after the event through the OAA Website and social media.
For more on each of the buildings chosen this year, as well as to see previous selections, visit oaa.on.ca/QPP or follow the OAA on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Further Information
OAA President Lara McKendrick and others may be available for phone or email interviews. Additional information and high-resolution photos are also available. Contact Daniele Alcinii, OAA Communications Specialist, at 416-449-6898, ext. 306.
About the Ontario Association of Architects
The Ontario Association of Architects is a self-regulating organization under the Architects Act, a statute of the Government of Ontario. It is dedicated to promoting and increasing the knowledge, skill, and proficiency of its members, and administering the Act, to serve and protect the public interest.