Lazaridis Hall at Wilfrid Laurier University is a campus landmark designed for academic collaboration and connection with the community. The LEED Gold–certified building integrates advanced sustainable systems with flexible learning environments that encourage interdisciplinary exchange, as well as a civic presence that supports equity, accessibility, and innovation in higher education, while responding to the demands of Waterloo’s growing technology sector.

Principal Don Schmitt will lead an architectural tour of Lazaridis Hall as part of the OAA Conference, where he will share key strategies on how the Hall has reframed Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus and established itself as the heart of academic life.

This tour will provide insights into how the building bridges the physical divide with the main campus and creates a sense of openness and accessibility. Participants will experience the building’s collaborative spaces, including the central light-filled atrium, and learn how architecture can model cross-disciplinary collaboration and climate action.

The 2026 OAA Conference, themed "Collaboration Powering Innovation," is taking place at the Kitchener-Waterloo tech hub. While the the opportunities and challenges posed by AI automation and energy modeling grab the headlines in Ontario’s Silicon Valley, this year’s theme explores how meaningful collaboration quietly powers creative decision-making relative to architectural quality, practice, and problem-solving.

Learn more and register here.