Duncan Bates approaches architectural design through a critical understanding of the intersection between the built environment and its societal and geographic context. He believes in the cultural value of the spaces we occupy and brings that thinking to every project he leads. 

Since joining Diamond Schmitt in 2005, Duncan has made significant contributions as a design leader across master planning, design, production, and contract administration on a range of building typologies. Projects include the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning at Sickkids Hospital and the PwC-YMCA Tower at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Duncan was also the design and project lead for the award-winning Waterworks mixed-use building, overseeing the construction of the heritage adaptive re-use that incorporates a YMCA, considerable European-influenced retail spaces and 290 residential units in downtown Toronto.

Duncan is pleased to have led the competition-winning Baker District masterplan proposal for a new central library and 120-unit condominium building, a transformational project in downtown Guelph, located on an underutilized former surface parking lot adjacent to St. George’s Square. Duncan is now leading the design and project delivery for the proposed 88,000 sf Central Library, an anchor for the Baker District Redevelopment and the first Central Library to achieve certification as designed net-zero in North America. In addition to the central library, his recent work also includes the delivery of BC Children's Hospital Centre for Health Complexity, a first-of-its-kind facility in Canada serving children and youth with complex healthcare needs that require constant care.

As part of Diamond Schmitt's QA/QC Committee, Duncan is committed to advancing design quality and technical rigour across the firm's project delivery. Outside of his work with the studio, Duncan sits on a Region of Waterloo Design Review Panel and has previously participated as a jury member in the selection of public art for the City of Guelph in addition to being a guest critic at a number of post-secondary design institutions.

His diverse project portfolio continues to include project typologies of vastly varying scales across North America providing cultural and professional insights into a variety of markets. This experience helps inform his contextualized design response and reinforces his commitment to ensuring a cultural and societal significance to projects he leads.

Duncan graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2005.