The Mayor’s Prizes in Architecture recognize exceptional architectural projects that enhance and contribute to the quality and well-being of the public; provide important social and economic benefits to a community, and recognize the importance of environments that are designed to support the diversity and inclusiveness of communities.

“As architects, we tell stories.  Our medium is the built form.  Our projects reflect who we are as a community and capture a moment in our communities’ history,” said Spyro Trifos, President of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects.  “It is our thoughtful designs that can make people feel respected and more connected to their community.  The three projects being recognized demonstrate how progressive architectural design contributes to the Halifax Regional Municipality,” Trifos added.

In the residential category, the Stanley Street Development, designed by architect Eric Stotts (Sessional Instructor, School of Architecture), was recognized for its energy and efficiency benefits by using prefabricated building elements that enhanced speed and economy.

There were two projects recognized in the mixed-use, commercial, institutional category.  The first one was Island View School in Eastern Passage designed by EXP Architects Inc. (Stephen Outerbridge (MArch’90), Greg Robinson (BArch’72)).  This LEED Grade 9 to 12 school not only takes full advantage of its ocean views but was recognized by the jury as being a vehicle for building and strengthening a sense of community and connection to place.  The second was the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute.  Designed by Fathom Studio (Chris Crawford (MArch’06, Abby Smith (MArch’17), Rebecca MacKenzie (MArch’12)), this African cultural institution reused an existing space that emphasizes flexibility for multi-use and creates an identity by re-interpreting cultural roots, giving strength and dignity to the community it represents, raising the profile of the institute.

The 2019 jury was chaired by Saint John, New Brunswick native Jay Verspyck, a senior design leader at Shepley Bulfinch Architects in Boston; Marie-Paule Macdonald, a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and the Order of Architects of Quebec and Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture; and Greg Snow (MArch’92), partner of Gibbons Snow Architects located in St. John’s, Newfoundland Labrador.