In light of COVID-19 and in the interest of public safety, the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) celebrated this year’s World Architecture Day and the annual Queen?s Park Picks event online to ensure exemplary structures continue to be recognized.
Traditionally, the OAA marks the occasion (which falls annually on the first Monday in October) with a reception at Queen?s Park for Members of Provincial Parliament to reveal the year?s Queen?s Park Picks. The event showcases outstanding examples of Ontario architecture through the nominations of MPPs across the province.
This year?s theme, ?Toward a Better Urban Future? strikes a particularly poignant chord. The OAA strongly believes architecture plays a central role in meeting the many complex and intersecting challenges facing communities, including economic recovery, improved healthcare facilities, and climate resilience. Foregrounding the positive impact of the built environment remains a central focus of the OAA?s mission in regulating the architecture profession to protect the public interest. It enjoys a long-standing, collaborative relationship with the provincial government and highly values their mutual investment in meeting the needs of Ontarians. ?We are thrilled to see MPPs continuing to share their excitement about Ontario architecture,? says OAA President Kathleen Kurtin, ?especially as we face many tough challenges across our province. I believe architects are well-positioned to make valuable, creativ...