By Anne Swan

What an amazing event!

Last week the Dalhousie School of Architecture, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Association of Architects (NSAA), hosted the third biennial Keystone Awards.

The Keystone awards celebrate the contributions of architects and individuals involved in the Nova Scotia design, development and construction industries in areas other than design.

This event recognizes those in our design community who have contributed in other significant ways to the fabric of a community and its unique identity – something that both the School of Architecture and members of the NSAA believe is important to instill and nurture in our current and future generations.

This year we celebrated Michel Comeau, Wolfgang Thiel, Richard Kroeker and Fusion Halifax for their contributions. They join the list of previous award recipients to demonstrate the impact of architects, engineers, developers, and community organizations on the uniqueness of our community and society. We also held a student built furniture competition and silent auction, a request made by the student association in memory of their classmate, Lucas Austin.

Architecture provides a sense of identity. It leaves a mark on a community’s history. By its very nature, the practice of architecture gives back to the community. The Keystone Awards recognize the legacy this generation leaves on our community.

This concept of giving is also expressed through our coming together to support future generations as proceeds from the event support the School’s scholarships and bursary program. Proceeds also go to Habitat for Humanity, an organization much like Dalhousie and the NSAA – looking to create an environment in which people live, work and play – a place where people feel connected; a community they call their own.

This feeling of connectivity, of partnership, and of celebration is at the heart of what we call the “Keystone Experience”. This event would not be the success it is if it weren’t for the coming together of the industry, the School of Architecture and the Nova Scotia Association of Architects.

It is the tireless efforts of committee members who come together and work for two years to make this event one that is truly special and unique:

Diogo Burnay, Margo Dauphinee, Tom Emodi, Ron Burdock, Eugene Pieczonka, Jennifer Corson and Benjie Nycum.

The careful deliberations of jury members selected this year’s recipients from the nominations:

Christina Verissimo, Glen McMinn, Judy Obersi, Louie Lawen and Eugene Pieczonka.

The generosity of our sponsors made the evening possible:

Presenting Keystone Sponsor: Truefoam Ltd.

Cornerstone Sponsors: J.W. Lindsay Enterprises Limited, Westwood Developments, Bird Design-Build Construction, Campbell Comeau Engineering, IBI Architects Atlantic, Interface, Dexel Developments, Southwest Properties, Marco, Pomerleau, and Shaw Brick.

Supporting Sponsors:, SDMM Land Surveyors, F.C. O’Neill Scriven & Associates, Pinto Engineering, Strum Consulting, William Nycum & Associates, CBCL, M&R Engineering, and Stone Depot.

A special thank you to Megan Leslie (LLB’04) of World Wildlife Fund Canada (and former NDP MP) for guiding us seamlessly through a fabulous evening.

Until 2018…Cheers!