Toronto Society of Architects

They say the best way of learning is by doing, which is why next Friday, April 4 at the Toronto Central YMCA we are excited to be hosting a special in-person, hands-on workshop on Total Energy Use Intensity and how to calculate it—a critical skill for any architect looking to improve building performance! ⚡🌱💻 We all know measuring energy efficiency is critical to improve our future designs. After all, how can we make things better if we don’t know the performance data of what we have already built or understand how our design decisions might be affecting our ability to reach key performance targets?  But getting those numbers can often be an arduous and complex task, meaning it often gets relegated to specialists or not done at all. In comes OBJECTIVE v3, a made-in-Ontario open source Building Code Review, Targeting and TEUI measurement tool specifically designed for architects to better understand energy use—both targeted and actual. And who better to teach you how to use the calculator than the people behind its development? This jam-packed half-day workshop will be led by architect and building science lecturer Andy Thomson from the OpenBuilding team. By the end of this session you will have: ⚡ Learned about why and how to use OBJECTIVE v3, ⚡ Completed a TEUI case study using information from real buildings, ⚡Engaged in hands-on, interactive demonstrations highlighting fundamental building science concepts. As always, this workshop is open to everyone and highly discounted (over 50% off!) for TSA Members! It is also eligible for 4 OAA Structured Learning Hours with the Ontario Association of Architects, meeting the requirements of mandatory Climate Action education. Learn more & get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/gZWvZdpS The TSA Technical Lecture Series is made possible thanks to the generous support of ROCKWOOL North America. #TorontoSocietyofArchitects #architecture #architects #TEUI #totalenergyuseintensity #sustainability #madeinOntario

From our first-ever Portfolio and Resume Clinic to record-breaking attendance at our walking tours program, 2024 was another memorable year for our Society and now you can read all about it in our 2024 Annual Report! Brief but jam-packed with information, our Annual Report highlights the many events, initiatives and programs that made 2024 such an incredible year, as well as the over 300+ volunteers who made it all possible. Included in the report is information on our Society's finances, and key performance metrics in areas like reach and audience, and shout outs to our generous sponsors. New this year is a section celebrating all recipients of TSA scholarships, an initiative that now includes 7 schools in the Greater Toronto Area. So take a read and learn more about the work of the TSA! https://lnkd.in/g56J2P4c

Looking to take on a more active role with the TSA? We’re currently working on some exciting initiatives for spring/summer 2025 and need your help to make them happen!  Join us as a #TSAVolunteer, grow your network, and together we can further our mandate of bringing people together to discuss, learn and explore around our shared passion for the built environment. This season’s call includes a number of recurring public outreach initiatives, including our highly anticipated Walking Tours and Doors Open programming, our Pride Toronto Street Fair booth, and new opportunities like our Paper City Facilitators—the perfect role if you love working with kids! No matter where your interests lie, we’re sure you’ll find a TSA initiative that is right for you. Visit our Call for TSA Volunteers at the link below to learn more about all of our current positions, including information regarding time commitment, the application process, and more. Deadlines to apply vary by opportunity. https://lnkd.in/gAMcupjr Have questions about these opportunities or volunteering with the TSA in general? Join us at our Volunteer Information Session tomorrow (Wednesday, March 12) at 12:00 PM to get your questions answered by the TSA Team! #TorontoSocietyofArchitects #CallforVolunteers #volunteers #architecture #architects Ontario Association of Architects

A toast to so many accomplishments in the long path to practice, and to all the many milestones that come after! 🥂 Last week we were proud to host our first-ever Milestone Party, a new event celebrating the many professional milestones on the long path to practice and licensure—from getting degree accreditation from the CACB to passing the ExACs, not to mention finally earning that long-awaited license. With plenty of food and drinks, and surrounded by friends, colleagues and mentors, we had the opportunity to celebrate so many achievements and learn how we can better support those embarking on this long journey. We want to take the opportunity to say thank you to the over 120 attendees who joined us for this new initiative—it wouldn’t have been much of a party without you!—, as well as to the Initiative Leads, event volunteers and TSA staff who worked throughout the night (and for many weeks and months before) to make this inaugural Milestone Party such a success. Thank you as well to Becoming Architects Canada / Devenir architecte Canada (BAC-DAC) for working with us to conceive this event, and of course to the Ontario Association of Architects for their financial support. For now, one final cheer for all those celebrating professional milestones this year! We can’t wait to celebrate even more accomplishments next year. 📸Yianni Tong #torontosocietyofarchitects #networking #architecture #partylikeanarchitect #architect #torontoarchitects

The topic of #artificialintelligence (AI) is everywhere. 🤖💻 Every day there seems to be a new tool out there that promises to leverage AI to make our jobs easier by automating repetitive tasks, processing vast amounts of information, and even assisting us in planning and decision making. Architecture is no exception, and with projects growing in complexity and timelines getting tighter, it is important to better understand how AI can play a role in our practices and assist us in our day to day tasks. Join us next week on Tuesday, March 11 at 12:00 PM for a discussion with Alexander Spiridon Michalatos and Andrei Molchynsky, founders of BUILDCHECK, as they introduce us to the basics of AI—what it is and what it isn’t—and its potential to reshape the way we design, review, and build. Our speakers will break down key AI concepts, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision (CV), and machine learning, and explore AI’s capabilities, impacts, and of course limitations, using real-world applications in the AEC industry. As always, this lecture is open to everyone and is FREE for TSA Members! It is also eligible for 1 Structured Learning Hour with the Ontario Association of Architects. Get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/g_H-EErf The TSA Technical Lecture Series is made possible thanks to the generous support of ROCKWOOL North America. #TorontoSocietyofArchitects #architecture #architects #AI #torontoarchitects

Passed the ExACs? Finished your hours? Got licensed? Finally got your degree accredited by the CACB? No matter the professional milestone, we want to celebrate YOU and all your amazing accomplishments! 🎉 On Tuesday, February 25, join the Toronto Society of Architects and Becoming Architects Canada / Devenir architecte Canada (BAC-DAC) for our first-ever Milestone Party—a special event celebrating the many professional milestones in the long (and often challenging) paths to licensure and practice. Celebrate the old-school TSA way—with plenty of food, drinks and great conversation—and meet other emerging professionals navigating their own paths. And while you’re here, we’ll also pick your brains on how we can better support you and those yet to come on their professional journeys. So no matter the industry milestone or where you are in your professional journey, come join us for a fun evening of celebration and community building as we raise a glass to the many achievements worth celebrating! This event is free for TSA Members and BAC-DAC Members, but is open to all! Spaces are limited, so make sure to get your tickets today. https://lnkd.in/gdRDN6N8 This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Association of Architects. #careermilestones #architecture #partylikeanarchitect #networking #architect #torontosocietyofarchitects

Our first TSA Technical Lecture of 2025 is just around the corner!🗓️ Join us next week on Tuesday, February 25 at 12:00 PM when Ali McMurter of Creative Matters Inc. will introduce us to the world of natural fibre, biodegradable carpets—a more sustainable alternative to one of North America’s most specified flooring finishes. With interior spaces more likely to undergo numerous renovations throughout a building’s lifetime, what we specify on the inside can often have big repercussions on a building’s overall environmental impact. Carpet, for example, is commonly specified in North American offices and homes—but 75% of them are made of petroleum-based derivatives and only 5% of them are recycled—meaning the vast majority of our carpets end up in landfills long term. Identifying more sustainable alternatives, including those easier to recycle and made of natural, biodegradable materials, is an important part of designing a more sustainable future. This upcoming lecture will explore the basics of biodegradable carpeting, and how it measures up in key metrics like cost, durability, and ease of use. The presentation will include an overview of carpet construction types, as well as best practices in terms of installation and maintenance. As always, this lecture is open to everyone and is FREE for TSA Members! It is also eligible for 1 Structured Learning Hour with the Ontario Association of Architects. Get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/gtV5xmq5 The TSA Technical Lecture Series is made possible thanks to the generous support of ROCKWOOL North America. #TorontoSocietyofArchitects #architecture #architects #sustainability #carpeting #interiordesign ARIDO - Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario

Last Wednesday was an amazing evening of inspiring conversations and new connections as we held our first TSA CONNECT session of 2025, exploring some of the many different career paths out there for those with an architectural education. Through fast-paced breakout sessions—followed by plenty of food and drinks—20 Featured Guests from across the industry shared about their own career journeys, reflecting on everything from landing their first job in architecture to the moment they found their own unique professional paths. Some of the advice we overheard more than once was the importance of keeping an open mind to new opportunities you may have never known existed, as well as always being authentic and true to yourself in anything you do. Thank you so much to our guests for generously sharing such great insights with all of us—we’re sure it will go a long way! We also wanted to take this opportunity to welcome Ria Al-Ameen as our newest volunteer TSA Initiative Lead. Ria opened the evening with a warm welcome to all our attendees, and she now joins Ana-Francisca de la Mora C., Kevin McIntosh, Varsha Kumar and Laura Salamanca-Moreno in leading our Career Development initiatives. Make sure to say hi next time you see her! Events like these are only possible thanks to the support of our community, and we want to take a minute to say thank you to those who made it possible, including our helpful Event Support volunteer team and TSA staff for a smooth running of the event, and of course to the over 130 attendees who made it such a memorable evening! Last but not least, thank you to our TSA CONNECT Program Sponsors Arcadis and Stantec for making this initiative possible. We’re already working away planning our next session of TSA CONNECT, so keep an eye out soon for more details! And don't forget to join us in our Milestone Party later this month where we will be celebrating the many career and industry milestones in the long path of becoming an architectural professional! 📸Yianni Tong #TSACONNECT #torontosocietyofarchitects #torontoarchitects #mentorship #careerpaths

Architectural education has sometimes been referred to as a “gateway curriculum,” opening the doors to a wide array of career paths related to the built environment that go far beyond traditional practice. But which path is the right one for you and what exactly are those possibilities?🤔 Join us on the evening of Wednesday, February 5 for our first TSA CONNECT of 2025, where we’re showcasing the wide variety of career paths those with an architectural or related education can pursue. Our Featured Guests have all carved their own unique paths, from traditional practice at all scales and specialties to working for client groups, municipalities, marketing and visualization, specifications writing, and so much more! Come out for a fun evening of making connections and learning more about some of the many industry career possibilities out there from our amazing Featured Guests: - Alistair Vaz, University of Toronto - Danny Roy, Brook McIlroy - Evan Saskin, Blue Lion Building - Heather Asquith, ASQUITH Architecture - Jennifer Adams Peffer, University of Toronto Scarborough - John Lee, Osmington Gerofsky Development Corp - John Plumpton (RevelHouse), RevelHouse| - Kaari Kitawi, City of Toronto - Mania Javadipour, DIALOG - Maria Nikolova, GHD - Megan Nicoletti, CodeNext - Natasha Brin, Adamson Associates Architects - Norm Li, Norm Li - Nyasha Harper-Michon, Archtivism - Phil Silverstein, Moriyama Teshima Architects - Rob Shostak, SvN Architects + Planners - Roman Romanov, Rick Hansen Foundation - Roxane Bejjany, KPMB Architects - Scott Norsworthy, Scott Norsworthy Photography - Scott Weir, ERA Architects Inc. So whether you’re a current student, a young professional, or are just looking for a change in direction, this session is an excellent opportunity to better understand how your architectural education and experience might translate into a unique professional journey that reflects your specific interests and goals! Tickets are sure to sell out soon, so make sure to get yours today! And as always this event is free for TSA Members (and student membership is free!). https://lnkd.in/d8xYqDyc #architecture #architect #TorontoSocietyOfArchitects #networking #CareerPaths #CareerDiversity #TSACONNECT Ontario Association of Architects Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) ARIDO - Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario RAIC - IRAC

In the world of design, most of the attention is given to the spaces and objects we create, but have you ever wondered what designing a better practice might look like? Behind every great space, there is a team of people who have been working tirelessly for months, if not years, to make it possible. How these teams work together, and under what conditions, has been an area of increased focus over the past few years. Particularly in the field of architecture, where many of the common pitfalls of creative disciplines also intersect with regulatory requirements and exceptions to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, there is an understanding that we must do better. On Tuesday, January 28 at 12:00 PM noon EST, join us and DesignTO for our virtual “IDEAS Forum: Labour in Architecture” where five speakers representing diverse organizational structures—including traditional practice, co-operatives, unions, and employee-owned models—consider the business of architecture as a project worthy of (re)design through fast-paced presentations. The presentations will be followed by a moderated Q&A. Come hear from our amazing lineup of speakers, including: - Hazel York, Hawkins\Brown - Jennifer Siqueira, RA, LEED ap, Bernheimer Architecture - Johanna Hurme, 5468796 Architecture Inc. - Reza Nik, SHEEEP - Yvonne Ip, Arise Architects Co-operative This virtual event is organized in partnership with DesignTO and is FREE and open to everyone! It is also eligible for 1.5 Structured Learning Hours under the OAA’s Continuing Education program. RSVP today: https://lnkd.in/g33H7H49 #architecture #designto #designto2025 #torontosocietyofarchitects #labourstandards #labourinarchitecture The Royal Architectural Institute Of Canada | L'Institut royal d'architecture du Canada Ontario Association of Architects Canadian Architect magazine AZURE Media