Donald Schmitt

Donald Schmitt is a well-known Canadian architect whose practice is built on the transformative power of design. As a principal of Diamond Schmitt Architects, he is committed to the design of architecture that transcends convention and enriches everyday life. He is passionate about functionality, innovation, elegance, and sustainability.

Don is the Founding Chair of the Public Art Commission for the City of Toronto for which he was awarded the Civic Medal and is currently a member of the University of Toronto Design Review Panel.  He served on the Design Review Panel of the National Capital Commission for over a decade and for many years for Waterfront Toronto.

His recent designs include the transformation of the National Arts Centre and the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa; the Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning at Sick Children’s Hospital; Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver; Lazaridis Hall at Wilfrid Laurier University; and the compact mixed-use, transit connected, pedestrian oriented SmartCentres Place in Vaughan, at 20 million square feet, one of North America’s ground breaking new urban neighbourhoods.

Donald Schmitt is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Notable Projects
David Geffen Hall — New York, New York, United States of America
Ādisōke — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The Drake Hotel Modern Wing — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
National Arts Centre Rejuvenation — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
SmartVMC District Master Plan — Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Senate of Canada Building — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Emily Carr University of Art + Design — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Image Centre and School of Image Arts — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Globe and Mail Centre — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Daniels Spectrum — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex — Calgary, Ontario, Canada
Waterworks — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
York University Markham Campus — Markham, Ontario, Canada
Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Peter A. Allard School of Law — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Lazaridis Hall — Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
St. Clair Place — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Etobicoke Civic Centre Design Competition — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Waterfront Innovation Centre Competition — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre — St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Peter George Centre for Living and Learning — Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Transit City Condominiums — Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
KPMG Tower, SmartVMC — Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
SmartVMC Bus Terminal — Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
PwC-YMCA Tower, SmartVMC — Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Charlie Condominium — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
High Park Condominium — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Centennial Library and Academic Building — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center — Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
UBC BioSciences Renewal Project — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Ingenium Centre — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Independent School Competition — , Ontario, Canada
Cor Van Raay YMCA — Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Windsor Law: Ron W. Ianni Building Transformation — Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Parkside Student Residence — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Environmental Sciences and Chemistry Building — Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Trades Renewal and Expansion Project — Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
DARE District, Algonquin College — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

View All Notable Projects