March 18, 2025

Toronto, ON - Diamond Schmitt is proud to have been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Architecture Companies of 2025, earning the ninth spot in the Architecture category. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy.

In Canada, Diamond Schmitt has been leading the charge on the innovative use of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) cladding over the past decade, demonstrating that sustainable design can positively contribute to the beauty of the built environment as much as it does to the preservation of our natural one.

"We’re honoured to be recognized by Fast Company. Exploring opportunities to incorporate renewable energy sources and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions our buildings create, is an intrinsic part of Diamond Schmitt’s design process," says Principal Don Schmitt. "This acknowledgement is recognition of our advocacy for designing sustainable buildings and the research and work the firm has been doing to shed light on the power of solar energy, and advancing Canadian standards on the use of BIPV in the building and construction industry."

The pioneering use of a custom BIPV rainscreen cladding in Canada at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae has been Diamond Schmitt’s most ambitious and successful use of BIPV to date, both from a technical and design standpoint. This project is what propelled the firm’s BIPV design development and expertise forward, and set new benchmarks for future projects. More recently Diamond Schmitt took its work in BIPV technology to the next level with the completion of the Innovation Village at Fanshawe College – a vibrant collaborative space bringing students, professors and professionals together to engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Featuring a custom designed photovoltaic cladding system that wraps all façades of the new facility, the Innovation Village's solar façade is estimated to provide about 18% of the building’s power requirements, with plans for future rooftop arrays potentially increasing this figure to 30%.

"There is limited precedent for BIPV use in Canada, but we believe this will change significantly in the near future.  It’s such a positive step to see Diamond Schmitt’s pioneering efforts recognized by Fast Company,” says Principal Sydney Browne who is a member of the CSA technical sub-committee, and actively engaged in developing Canadian Standards for BIPV modules and systems. “We’ve been collaborating with regulatory bodies and sustainability organizations to establish best practices that encourage the broader adoption of renewable energy solutions in construction, facilitating a shift towards more sustainable building practices across the industry."

As Diamond Schmitt continues to explore the potential of BIPVs and other leading solar technologies, more projects are underway. These include Ādisōke (2027), the new Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada joint facility, which features BIPV as part of its design and is paving the way for other similar infrastructure developments; the Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex at the University of Toronto – Scarborough Campus (2026) which will incorporate both integrated PV cladding and rooftop PV systems; and the Toronto Metropolitan University’s new School of Medicine which will demonstrate the potential BIPV holds for deep energy retrofits of existing structures, transforming the south wing of the former Bramalea Civic Centre by recladding the concrete Brutalist building with BIPV.

"Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future," said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. "This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward." 

The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Architecture Companies can now be found at: fastcompany.com

Learn more about Diamond Schmitt's research and use of BIPV systems in our Explorations piece Shedding a Light on Solar Energy.