August 19, 2024

Ottawa, ON – Diamond Schmitt is pleased to announce the appointment of Principal Nigel Tai to the City of Ottawa’s Urban Review Design Panel for a four-year term.

The Design Panel plays an important role in promoting design excellence in Ottawa, with a focus on enhancing the community as a key priority of the City’s Official Plan. The Panel provides objective peer reviews of projects within the City’s Design Priority Areas as part of the planning approval process.

Nigel Tai, a licensed architect and principal at Diamond Schmitt and has over 20 years of experience managing complex institutional projects across cities like Hong Kong, London, and Toronto. His work is driven by a deep commitment to community-focused design, ensuring that projects not only meet functional needs but also enrich the communities they serve. Currently, he is the Project Architect for the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at UTSC, a project that bridges the gap between the university and the surrounding community by providing essential healthcare services.

As a Certified Passive House Designer, Nigel specializes in sustainable designs that address both community and climate needs. His projects, such as the Ottawa Community Housing’s Gladstone Village and Toronto Community Housing’s Alexandra Park Passive House Pilot Project, focus on creating affordable housing neighborhoods with energy-efficient building systems that foster stronger, more resilient communities.

Nigel is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and is a LEED Accredited Professional and LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt Certified Professional. He brings a deep passion for harnessing the power of architecture to improve the world. His practice is committed to sustainable design principles and innovative approaches that improve the environment and the communities they serve.

Read more about the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel members here.