This year, the OAA’s biennial SHIFT Challenge recognizes how architectural thinking is uniquely positioned to respond to the critical concept of resiliency. As part of the 2021 Virtual Conference Week, the OAA will host a FREE event to celebrate five innovative ideas chosen by our jury of design and planning experts:

• Temporary Foreign Worker Communities: healthy, nurturing, and adaptable living spaces for those who help ensure Ontario’s food supply;
• Mining Scars of Single Industry Communities: phased remediation of a mining basin can transform an industry relic into a sustainable, thriving community resource;
•  Ontario Place: On-to-our Next Adventure: a plan to preserve the provincial landmark supports the needs of a new generation of communities; 
• K-Town: A Future: revitalizing diaspora commercial strips in urban areas while maximizing multi-use opportunities; and 
•  Mini-Midrise: a new prototype of midrise buildings on single, smaller lots that reimagines how this typology can be implemented on our cities' main streets.

The online event, open to the public via the OAA’s YouTube channel, begins at 4:30 pm on Thursday, May 20. Additional online events that showcase the individual SHIFT ideas, as well as a special digital publication, are planned for the fall. To learn more about these projects, the SHIFT Challenge program, or the 2021 selections, please visit www.shiftchallenge.ca.