March 3, 2020

Toronto – Diamond Schmitt is pleased to announce the expansion of its design and management teams with the appointment of fourteen Associates and advancements and two new Directors.

Four architects are promoted to Senior Associates: Walton Chan, Cecily Eckhart, Eric Lucassen, and Jessica Shifman. New Associates are Elena Chernyshov, Jessica Cheung, Chris Hughes, Dieter Janssen, Wen-Ying Lu, Giuseppe Mandarino, Judith Martin, Fernanda Rubin, Arne Suraga, and Jose Trinidad.

New Directors are Claudia Cozzitorto, Design Technologies Director, in Toronto, and Rod Maas, Technical Director, in our Vancouver studio.

“These promotions acknowledge the talent, breadth of experience and design depth in our studio across a wide range of projects,” said Donald Schmitt, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects.  

Walton Chan is working on the design of seven stations for Ottawa’s LRT Confederation Line expansion and condominium projects in Toronto. He recently completed the York Region bus terminal at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

Cecily Eckhart has extensive experience in laboratory design and is guiding the Laboratory Modernization for Environment and Climate Change at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, Ontario.

Eric Lucassen is at work on the National Research Council of Canada Centre for Advanced Material Manufacturing in Mississauga and a residential tower in Etobicoke. He previously completed the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Health Centre.

Jessica Shifman recently completed phase one of renewal at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto and is contributing to design competitions and work on the Ottawa LRT expansion.

Among the newly appointed Associates, Elena Chernyshov in the Vancouver studio is working on a rezoning project in Vancouver, a commercial project in Victoria, the Cameron Community Centre and Library in Burnaby and Oakridge Presentation Centre.

Jessica Cheung was on the core team for the rejuvenation of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and is currently project manager for the York University Markham Campus Centre.

Chris Hughes immersed himself in the design of the Senate of Canada Building – Ottawa’s former train station – and is now at work on the new Security Centre for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto.

Dieter Janssen focused on the customized detailing of the Senate Chamber and is currently project architect for the University of Guelph's MacKinnon Building renovation for their College of Arts and IICSI program.

Wen-Ying Lu relocated to our Vancouver practice in 2017 where she is project architect on four residential towers at Oakridge Centre. She has also worked on the redevelopment of Mirvish Village in Toronto.

Giuseppe Mandarino brings his experience from the Bridgepoint Active Healthcare design team to the Michael Garron Hospital project to transform an early 20th-century facility into a modern centre and a hub for an eastside Toronto neighbourhood. 

Judith Martin was active in the rejuvenation of the National Arts Centre with particular focus on the Kipnes Lantern and new public space. She is now working on the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.

Fernanda Rubin worked on the Senate of Canada Building and is currently working on Bristol Court, a residential tower in Mississauga and a cultural project in Calgary.

Arne Suraga is currently working on a Passive Haus residential project for Toronto Community Housing, the Carleton University Engineering Design Centre in Ottawa and Transit City residential towers in Vaughan.

Jose Trinidad has applied his computational design skills to numerous international competitions and current projects, including David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York and Buddy Holly Hall, which opens in 2020 in Texas.

Design Technologies Director Claudia Cozzitorto applies her architectural background to building information modelling (BIM) implementation at the firm. She has held national and local roles for the advocacy of BIM in architectural practice.

Rod Maas, Technical Director, at the Vancouver studio, brings a background in highly sustainable design on international projects to oversee technological implementation.  

Diamond Schmitt Architects is based in Toronto with studios in Vancouver and New York City. With the latest round of appointments, the firm comprises 19 Principals, 9 Senior Associates, 28 Associates, and architectural and support staff for a total of 282 people.