August 28, 2026

Recognizing designs that reimagine what civic infrastructure can be, two Diamond Schmitt projects have earned Gold certifications at the 19th GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards

Waterworks, winner in the Commercial & Hospitality Building / Mixed-Use Building category, rehabilitates and expands a significant industrial heritage site in Toronto into a civic anchor that responds to rapid residential growth and the need for enhanced social and community infrastructure. Combining food-focused retail, the McDonald Family YMCA, social wellness facilities, family-oriented housing with 15 affordable units, and an existing youth shelter, the project creates a more inclusive and interconnected neighbourhood. 

New pedestrian pathways reconnect the site to the city, opening the historic block to its urban surroundings and integrating it into the surrounding fabric. Mixed-use density and proximity to transit support low-carbon living, while a green roof, expanded planting, shaded outdoor spaces, and new glazed openings enhance ecological performance and contribute to long-term community health.

The Toronto Paramedic Services Multi-Function Station 02, designed by Diamond Schmitt in collaboration with gh3*, has earned Gold in the Concept & Unbuilt category for redefining what an emergency services facility can be — operationally resilient, environmentally ambitious, and architecturally compelling. The project transforms a demanding suburban-industrial site into a resilient civic hub, serving as both an emergency response facility and a centre for education, recruitment, and professional development, while also housing critical post-disaster operations. A central skylit atrium brings natural daylight and spatial clarity to the administrative, education, and staff spaces, connecting with a vehicle bay sized for 40 ambulances and 20 emergency response vehicles.

Targeting Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon, the building's form is shaped directly by performance. A south-oriented roofscape maximizes photovoltaic generation, and a solar wall preheats make-up air to lower energy demand. Vestibules will conserve roughly 17% of total building energy, alongside geothermal heating, a high-performance triple-glazed envelope, and calibrated daylighting. Mass timber columns, beams, and CLT decking reduce embodied carbon and warm the interior, while rain gardens, native plantings, and a perimeter woodland will manage stormwater and offer paramedics restful outdoor space.

The People’s Choice Award voting is now open! Vote for Waterworks and the Toronto Paramedic Services Multi-Function Station 02.

Visit the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN website to view all laureates.