March 18, 2026

Principal Michael Szabo has been named a Fellow of the RAIC by The College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). 

Fellowships are bestowed upon individuals through a nomination process in recognition of members for their contribution to research, scholarship, public service, and professional standing to the good of architecture in Canada. Michael has been recognized for his distinguished contribution through excellence in architectural design, design management and innovation, and his exceptional professional achievements.

Michael’s 30 years of practice are defined by a commitment to design excellence across a wide range of public and private building typologies. As a collaborative leader, he guides complex projects and multidisciplinary teams, maintaining design integrity through evolving program requirements, budgets, and timelines. His work balances high-level conceptual thinking with technical precision, reflecting a breadth of expertise that spans the research, educational, residential, and commercial sectors.

His commitment to shaping meaningful spaces that strengthen community and elevate the human experience is evident at the LEED Gold Certified Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning at The Hospital for Sick Children, where he realized a highly collaborative environment within a 21-story tower organized around focused research neighbourhoods and multistorey collaborative atriums.

Michael’s expertise in master planning has shaped transformative developments across Ontario, demonstrating a long-term dedication to realizing and preserving original design intent. At Ontario Tech University, he oversaw six buildings completed over a decade—an achievement marked by both consistency and long-term vision that received the RAIC Award of Excellence for Innovation in Architecture. At the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the SmartVMC Bus Terminal was recognised as a finalist for an OAA Design Excellence Award in 2022.

A passionate advocate for sustainable design, Michael’s portfolio advances architecture’s role in addressing global environmental challenges. His projects integrate ambitious green strategies not as add‑ons, but as fundamental drivers of design innovation. At the studio, he played a pivotal role in developing ecoMetrics, Diamond Schmitt’s proprietary software for tracking energy performance, which contributed to the firm receiving the Canada Green Building Council’s Green Pioneer Award in 2018.

His mentorship fosters collaboration, growth and a commitment to design integrity among emerging architects. His work consistently elevates the built environment through intelligence, empathy, and enduring architectural quality. 

Michael will be officially inducted to the RAIC College on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at a convocation ceremony during the 2026 RAIC Conference in Vancouver, BC.  

See the full list of 2026 Fellows of the RAIC here.