Donald Schmitt is a Canadian architect whose practice is built on the transformative power of design. As a Founding Principal of Diamond Schmitt Architects, he is committed to design that transcends convention and enriches everyday life. He is guided by functionality, innovation, sustainability and elegance.

Don is the Founding Chair of the Public Art Commission for the City of Toronto for which he was awarded the Civic Medal. He is currently a member of the Design Review Panel at the University of Toronto and McMaster University. He served on the Design Review Panel of the National Capital Commission for over a decade and at Waterfront Toronto. He has contributed to the evolution of significant civic and urban projects across Canada.

His completed 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; the Campus Master Plan and Academic Building, York University, Markham; the Waterworks, Toronto; Lazaridis Hall, at Wilfrid Laurier University; and the mixed-use, transit connected, pedestrian oriented SmartCentres Place in Vaughan, at 20 million square feet, North America’s most significant new urban neighbourhood.

His current projects continue to focus on architecture that connects institutional ambition with community values. These include Canada’s new Embassy in Mexico City, the Clinical Support and Research Centre at St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, the New Brunswick Museum, the planning of the new Performing Arts and Cultural Precinct in Vancouver, new Colleges at McMaster and Trent University and the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Don Schmitt is a Member of the Order of Canada.