Diamond Schmitt Architects is a Canadian architectural firm founded in 1975. It is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm was founded by architects Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt.Robinson, John. "Architecture for the People." Toronto Star, 26 April 1987.

History 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.

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. 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's Faculty of Architecture.

Apart from the firm's founding principals, there are also 19 other principals, 12 senior associates, 37 associates, 8 directors, 129 registered graduates and student architects, and a support staff of 43.

Works + Buildings designed either in part or in full by Diamond Schmitt Architects Building name Image Location Yearsbuilt Notes CanadaBahen Centre for Information TechnologyToronto, Ontario2002–2003Located on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto.The Image CentreToronto, Ontario2008–2012Formerly the Ryerson Image Centre, located at Toronto Metropolitan University.Environmental Science and Chemistry BuildingToronto, Ontario2013–2015Located on the Scarborough campus of the University of Toronto.Senate of Canada BuildingOttawa, Ontario2014–2018Interior renovation.Robarts CommonToronto, Ontario2017–2022Addition to Robarts Library on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto.York University Markham CampusMarkham, Ontario2020–2024A new campus of York University in Markham.Oak HouseToronto, Ontario2021–2025Student residence on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto.TMU School of MedicineBrampton, Ontario2024–2025A new satellite campus of Toronto Metropolitan University in Brampton.ĀdisōkeOttawa, Ontario2020–presentNew joint facility between Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada.Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences ComplexToronto, Ontario2024–presentBuilding to house the new Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health on the Scarborough campus of the University of Toronto.Atlantic Science Enterprise CentreMoncton, New Brunswick2024–presentClinical Support and Research Centre Vancouver, British Columbia2024–presentLocated at St. Paul’s Hospital.New Brunswick MuseumSaint John, New Brunswick2024–presentMcGill Sustainability ParkMontreal, Quebec2025–presentFormerly the New Vic Project, located at the Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University.Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary GalleryToronto, OntarioPart of the Art Gallery of Ontario.James and Louise Temerty BuildingToronto, OntarioWill house the Temerty Faculty of Medicine on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto. United StatesBuddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and SciencesLubbock, Texas2017–2021

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.

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

Ontario Architect's Association Awards

2024: David Geffen Hall 2022: Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences 2020: Senate of Canada Building in joint Venture with KWC Architects Inc 2007: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

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

References

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