The Schulich School of Business at York University (2003) was awarded to Hariri Pontarini Architects in joint venture with Young + Wright Architects for a submission that interpreted the client?s aspirations in forceful and realistic design concepts. Hariri Pontarini had only completed a single previous project at a university?the McKinsey & Company Headquarters, a project a quarter of the size, on the University of Toronto campus. But the York University procurement process identified the firm as the best fit for having demonstrated their ?experience? was a progressive and evolutionary process?one ready for the next step, according to Monica Contreras, who was on the client side. ?For me, it is still a successful process, even almost 22 years after the decision,? she says. The learning complex was awarded the 2006 Governor General?s Medal in Architecture, the OAA?s Design Excellence Award and the Toronto Construction Association?s ?Best of the Best? Award. Photo by Ben Rahn / A-Frame For architects responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), one of the most consistent head-scratchers is detailing a firm?s portfolio: not on independent merit, but according to requirements given by an RFP. ?Project Experience? is almost always a required section in proposals, with associated page limits, word counts, and necessary details. The need to submit ?profiles for three similar projects completed within the past ten years? (or something very close to this) should be relatively ...