2012 Fellows - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Douglas Birkenshaw
Douglas Birkenshaw, an ‘83 graduate from the University of Waterloo, worked with
AJ Diamond and Assoc. during University, IKOY Architects in Winnipeg, then in
Toronto with Kleinfeldt Mychajlowycz Architects, Donald McKay & Company,
Pearce Birkenshaw & Company, and since 1993 with B+H Architects.
A design leader within B+H, Douglas has focused his career on Post-Secondary
Educational, Commercial including renewals and retrofits, Convention Centres,
Health Care, and Hospitality projects.
While Douglas’s focus has been on larger projects, including the 2 million square
foot Shanghai Sheraton Complex, his interest in architecture’s human scale has led
him to design prototype furniture for the likes of Teknion and Dupont Corian.
These skills are exemplified by his award-winning projects such as Queen’s
University’s Beamish-Munro Hall (2005 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Award of Excellence and one of three Canadian projects to represent Canada
at the 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference in Tokyo), Metro Toronto
Convention Centre’s South Building (1999 Ontario Association of Architects
Award of Excellence) and Sheridan Centre for Animation and Emerging
Technologies, Oakville (2000 National Post Design Exchange Silver Award).
Throughout his career, Douglas has generously articulated his vision to students as
a Guest Lecturer and/or Visiting Critic at the University of Waterloo, University of
Toronto, Ryerson University, and Queens University. In addition, he is a soughtafter
speaker to both professionals and the public in regards to his integrated vision
of sustainability and design excellence including his recent GreenBuild 2011 session,
“The Green Revolution of the CBD of Toronto.”
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