Diamond Schmitt Architects

Diamond Schmitt Architects is an award-winning Canadian architectural firm established in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The company was founded by the principal owners Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt in 1975. Diamond Schmitt Architects is also one of Canada's largest architectural companies, with over 300 architects working for the firm. The company has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and even New York.

Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryArchitecture
Founded1975
FoundersJack Diamond
Donald Schmitt
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
ServicesArchitecture, Urban Design, Master Planning
Websitewww.dsai.ca

The firm excels in architecture, urban planning and master planning. They are also recognized for their diverse portfolio in various aspects of architecture, from working on projects that specialize in different fields, from residential, cultural and civic buildings, to institutional projects like commercial buildings and healthcare facilities. The goal of the company is to design human-oriented spaces, and to enhance the communities and lives of the people with those spaces. Diamond Schmitt Architects strive to understand the nature of the people who live or work in the buildings they design.[1]

History

In 1964, Jack Diamond was the Founding Director of the University of Toronto's Master of Architecture program. Diamond worked closely with Barton Myers, an American and Canadian architect, and is currently the president of Barton Myers Associates Inc. Myers established his own practice with Diamond in Toronto in 1968. Starting this year, the architects founded their new firm Diamond and Myers. The two eventually split in 1975. Diamond Schmitt Architecture would not officially begin until 1974 when Jack Diamond established his own firm, A.J Diamond Architects.

It was around this time that the partnership between Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt began. Schmitt studied architecture at the University of Toronto where Diamond had worked, continuing his education until 1978. After thirteen years of A.J. Diamond Architects, in 1989, the firm had developed further when Jack Diamond partnered with Schmitt.[2]

Founding

Abel Joseph "Jack" Diamond was born in 1932 in South Africa, and had arrived in Canada in 1964, the same year he started working for the University of Toronto. In 1970, Diamond had begun renovating a ceramics manufacturing plant, and adding living spaces on one of the floors.[3] Five years later, Diamond established his company A.J Diamond architects, and three years later he would form his partnership with Donald Schmitt and Company.

Donald Schmitt was born 1951 in South Porcupine, a small mining town in northern Ontario. He went to high school at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) and studied afterwards at the University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture.

Apart from the firm's founding principals, there are also 19 other principals, 9 senior associates, 37 associates, 8 directors, 129 registered graduates and student architects, and a support staff of 43.[4]

Principals: Sydney Browne, Gregory Colucci, Martin Davidson, David Dow, Robert Graham, Duncan Higgins, Michael Leckman, Matthew Lella, Ana Maria Llanos, Jarle Lovlin, Jennifer Mallard, Gary McCluskie, Derek Newby, Matthew Smith, Mike Szabo, Nigel Tai, Peggy Theodore, Michael Treacy and Sybil Wa.

Selected projects

Since the practice was founded in 1975, the firm has completed a wide variety of projects worldwide that include:

Work in progress
  • David Geffen Hall, New York, New York, United States
  • Robarts Library Revitalization, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Obzor Luxury Beach & Spa, Black Sea Residential Resorts, Obzor, Bulgaria (with Urbiarch, Obzor)
  • Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, United States
  • Lethbridge Crossings Leisure Complex, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
  • Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Redevelopment, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Awards

Diamond Schmitt Architects has received numerous regional, national and international awards for excellence in design. The firm was recognized in 2009 by Deloitte LLP, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, KPMG, and the Queen’s University School of Business as being one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.[9]

Canadian Governor General’s Awards for Architecture
  • Village Terrace, Toronto, Ontario, 1985[10]
  • Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, 1986[10]
  • Metro Toronto YMCA, Toronto, Ontario, 1986[10]
  • Earth Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 1994[10]
  • Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 1994[10]
  • York University Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, 1996[10]
  • Bridgepoint Hospital, Toronto, Ontario 2016[10]

Ontario Architect's Association Awards
  • 2020: Senate of Canada Building in joint Venture with KWC Architects Inc[11]
  • 2007: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts[11]

BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards
  • 2004: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel[12]
  • 2007: The Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario, Canada[13]
  • 2008: Shakespeare Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA[14]

References
  1. Jain, Vanshika (19 November 2021). "An Inside look at the Studios of Diamond Schmitt Architects". Rethinking the Future.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Abel Joseph "Jack" Diamond". The Canadian Encyclopedia.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "A drink with architect Jack Diamond". Toronto Star. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014.
  4. "Studio". Diamond Schmitt Architects. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020.
  5. "Betty Oliphant Theatre." . . National Ballet of Canada,
  6. "New Order of the Garter." Irish Times, 4 November 2006
  7. ""An ever changing face at the Brick Works." World Architecture News 23 November 2007". Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  8. "Diamond and Schmitt Architects to design new 2,100-seat concert hall for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra." Canadian Architect 2 july. 2009
  9. Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Governor General’s Medals Recipients Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "StackPath".
  12. Architectural Record Awards 2004
  13. Architectural Record Awards 2007
  14. Architectural Record Awards 2008
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