June 18, 2026

For the second consecutive year, Diamond Schmitt has been named a winner of The Architect’s Newspaper Best of Practice Award in the Architect (XL Firm) – Canada category!

“In terms of design and innovation, the work that Diamond Schmitt is producing—in the context of a very large firm—is at the upper level in North America,” says jury member Thomas Robinson.

Submissions were evaluated by a panel of esteemed jurors who analyzed each firm's internal office culture, community engagement, and broader social impact. A sense of place emerged as a winning through-line, uniting many of the winners and finalists.

This approach is evident in Diamond Schmitt's work, such as Ādisōke, shaped through extensive public and Indigenous consultation, and David Geffen Hall, where the transformation of a major cultural institution centred on accessibility, inclusion, and the lived experience of its diverse artists and audiences. This same sense of public responsibility drives the firm's work in emergency services—like the net-zero energy-ready Docksteader Reporting Station and the net-zero energy Toronto Paramedic Services Station—and social and affordable housing, such as Gladstone Village Phase 1, demonstrating how high-performance design can directly support public health, community resilience, and social equity.

Beyond integrating social responsibility, deep community consultation, and environmental innovation—including Building Integrated Photovoltaic Panels, Passive House design, adaptive re-use, and mass timber—across multiple sectors, Diamond Schmitt actively fosters leadership and continuous learning within the firm

Every year, The Architect's Newspaper celebrates companies, contractors, and consultants that are moving the AEC industry forward. Now in its sixth year, the Best of Practice Awards recognize North American firms that excel not only in exceptional design, but also in creating a better, more purposeful place for people to live and work.

View the list of the Best of Practice award winners and finalists at The Architect’s Newspaper.