Helmut Klassen has over twenty years of professional experience in architecture. Before joining Diamond Schmitt in 2016, he developed expertise in the typology of museums, galleries, and archives working with Lundholm Associates, the nationally recognized museum planning firm. He sees each project as a unique model of the evolving public role of museums and galleries achieved through meaningful design coupled with knowledge of fundamental design criteria for care and preservation of collections.

His experience includes work on functional programming, feasibility planning, and architectural design for collection-based museums, galleries, archives, and libraries across Canada. His project work at Diamond Schmitt includes the Ingenium Collections and Conservation Centre in Ottawa, a new collection facility for Reynolds-Alberta Museum, a strategic action plan for a new art gallery, museum, and performance complex for Vernon, British Columbia, the Ottawa Public Library – Library Archives Canada Joint Facility, the relocation of the City of Vancouver Archives in the iconic Central Library, and currently, the SAM Centre for the Calgary Stampede.