August 20, 2025

Hosted by Jonathan Jacobs, Behind the Build is a podcast that dives deep into the stories of design professionals and their practices. In the episode, Principal Don Schmitt shares his path from his early days in northern Ontario to a career shaped by curiosity, travel, and a passion for creating meaningful spaces. 

Born in South Porcupine, a small mining town in northern Ontario, Don grew up surrounded by nature. As a teenager, he moved to Toronto and discovered the city’s architecture while attending high school near the University of Toronto. A pivotal moment came one Christmas with the gift of The Master Builders by Peter Blake, which chronicled the lives of Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, sparked a deep interest that shaped his future.

Discouraged by a guidance counselor about entering architecture, Don enrolled in general arts before transferring into architecture at the University of Toronto. He immersed himself in studio work and took a year off to travel solo across Central and South America. There, he explored historic cities and planning traditions like the Laws of the Indies, forming a lasting perspective on community and place-making, and deepening his understanding of how movement and spatial order shape both cities and buildings.

After graduating, he worked in London and Toronto before joining Jack Diamond’s practice. Five years later, he became a named partner. Don highlights several key projects that define both his work and the firm’s approach to architecture including one of his early major projects, the Central YMCA in Toronto, a complex civic building he delivered while still in his twenties. 

Other significant works include the Peter Gilgan Research Tower at SickKids Hospital, a 22-story facility designed to foster collaboration among 2,000 researchers through interconnected “neighbourhoods” and a central stairway that encourages informal interaction; the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, where a glass “city room” lobby transformed the opera house into a welcoming cultural landmark; and the expansion and renovation of the National Arts Center in Ottawa, reimaging the once-enclosed 1969 Brutalist structure into an open, welcoming cultural space. 

Additional notable projects include David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center in New York, the Canadian Senate Building in Ottawa, Bahen Centre for Information Technology at the University of Toronto, the restoration and expansion of Detroit’s Symphony Hall, and the ongoing revitalization of Ontario Place in Toronto, where the firm is leading the design of Therme.

Throughout the conversation, Don emphasizes the importance of deeply listening to clients and users to learn about their values, priorities, how they operate, and what frustrates them in their current space, to create environments that truly serve their needs and foster community. 

He also shares personal reflections on maintaining balance amid a demanding career through family life and outdoor activities like walking, skiing, and kayaking. 

Don remains deeply involved in design and continues to shape architecture that builds civic identity and brings people together. His career reflects a belief in architecture as a public act, grounded in curiosity, listening, and care. 

Listen to the full Behind the Build episode here.