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End of Year Show 2025/26

A Daniels tradition encompassing a wide range of projects, this exhibition showcases student work from across our degree programs in architecture, forestry, landscape architecture, urban design, and visual studies. The models, drawings, graphics and videos displayed in the third floor studio at 1 Spadina Crescent, demonstrate our students' approaches to the objects and environments they imagine, create and nurture.

Opens May 23 (Doors Open Toronto) and closes June 3, 2026

Existing Futures: Teaching Experiments in Maintenance, Media and Urban Occupation

Exhibition talk: Sunday, May 24, 5:00 p.m.  in the Daniels Building Main Hall  |  Larry Wayne Richards Gallery hours extended Sunday, May 24 until 6:00 p.m.

Curated by
University of Tokyo Associate Professor of Architecture Yusuke Obuchi
Daniels 2025/26 Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design

The future does not emerge from the constant pursuit of the new, but from reimagining what already exists.

This exhibition in the Larry Wayne Richards Gallery brings together teaching experiments and student work from three courses Obuchi taught at Daniels: “Radical Maintenance,” “Analog Machine: I Am Here” and “Urban Nomad.” Through acts of observation, repair, reconstruction, and fabrication, these projects explore how architecture can emerge from unrealized potentials already present in our environments, materials, and social conditions.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design endowment.

MVS in Studio Art Graduating Student Exhibitions

Architecture + Design Gallery
Daniels Building, 1 Spadina Crescent (Map)

Opening reception: Thursday, April 30, 6:00—8:00 p.m.

The Art Museum at the University of Toronto, in partnership with the Daniels Faculty, is pleased to present the graduating projects of the 2026 Master of Visual Studies (MVS) in Studio Art graduate students: Helio Eudoro, Rita Ferrando, Pamila Matharu, and Cullen Ritchie. The exhibitions mark the culmination of years of rigorous research and studio practice, offering a first public look at new bodies of work by each graduating student artist.

Closes July 15, 2026

Helio Eudoro, Shrine, 2026. Assemblage (detail), 30″ x 28″ x 24″. Image courtesy of the artist; Rita Ferrando, Modern Nature, 2026. Film still, 1.33:1, colour. Image courtesy of the artist; Pamila Matharu, Untitled 2, 2025. Colour photograph, variable dimensions. Image courtesy of the artist; Cullen Ritchie, Half Mile, 2026. Video still, 16mm film print, digitized, 02:30 mins, looping. Image courtesy of the artist.

MVS in Curatorial Studies Graduating Student Exhibitions

Opening reception: Wednesday, May 6, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Little and Often traces how our relationships to land, material, and community are sustained within disturbed landscapes and conditions of precarity. Working with seeds, soils, mushrooms, and plants, the artists in this exhibition foreground resilience as a collective, relational practice, continually shifting under constraint. Little and Often is curated by Chloe Gordon-Chow and features works by Maureen Gruben, Rachel Crummey, Miguel Caba, Rana Nazzal Hamadeh, and Meech Boakye and Bhavika Sharma.

Curated by Gia Liapi, Blind Spot explores the potentials of finding new uses for the tools already in our hands. Through video, installation, performance, and software, artists Shadi Habib Allah, Shu Lea Cheang, Jeremy Laing, Lou Sheppard, and Iris Touliatou examine how legibility and classification produce value to open conversations about alternative architectures to learn from and with.

The exhibitions are produced as part of the requirements for the Master of Visual Studies (MVS) in Curatorial Studies at the Daniel Faculty. 

All images courtesy of the artists (Little and Often): Rana Nazzal Hamadeh, Something from there, 2020. Still from video, 07:00 mins, Arabic, English (with subtitles in English); Maureen Gruben, Nuna Aliannaittuq, 2025. Process photo; 4,800 clay beads, cotton thread (size varies). Photo by Kyra Kordoski; All images courtesy of the artists (Blind Spot): Shadi Habib Allah, Did You See Me This Time With Your Own Eyes?, 2018. Single-channel HD, 07:00 mins. Image courtesy of the artist and Sylvia Kouvali, London / Piraeus; Shu Leah Cheang, UTTER, 2023. 36-minute video loop. Image courtesy of the artist.

Photo of the graduate design studio at top of page by Alice Xue Photography

Mason White, an award-winning scholar and designer, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

A faculty member at Daniels since 2005, White is an expert in architecture, urban design and the relationship between architecture, environment and society – with a focus on cold climates.

He will assume his new role on July 1, 2026 for a five-year term. His appointment was approved Wednesday following an extensive international search. 

“Having taught here for 20 years already, it is an incredible honour to have the opportunity to support our students, faculty and staff as they pursue even greater heights,” said White. “I’m really excited for the challenge ahead and for the future of this faculty, which brings together a remarkable diversity of perspectives across disciplines and practices.”

White is renowned for his research, architecture and design work in cold environments and across scales – from individual buildings to entire cities and regions. A founding partner of Lateral Office, an interdisciplinary design practice, White often collaborates with Indigenous partners on community‑empowering research and design projects.

He has held several leadership roles at Daniels, including director of the master of architecture and master of urban design programs, as well as the post-professional master of architecture and master of landscape architecture programs.

Trevor Young, U of T’s vice‑president and provost, congratulated White on his appointment.

“Professor White’s commitment to research and practice excellence will be key to the continued success of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design in the years ahead,” said Young. 

“His scholarly vision and collaborative focus will guide Daniels students and faculty in exploring innovative ways to shape the spaces and experiences that enrich our lives, and in responding thoughtfully to social and environmental challenges.”

Young also thanked Professor Robert Levit for his exceptional service as acting dean since August 2023.

A Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, White has served as a primary investigator and collaborator on several major arts and tri‑council grants – with more than $2.4 million in funded research – and has lectured and exhibited extensively across the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Asia. 

He is the founding editor of the journal Bracket, co-author of Many Norths: Spatial Practice in a Polar Territory, co-editor of Third Coast Atlas: Prelude to a Plan and has had his work and writing featured in major newspapers, magazines and journals.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Virginia Tech and Harvard University, respectively, White said Daniels’ evolution – from a school of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design to a faculty that also includes forestry and visual studies – puts it in a unique position to perform high-impact interdisciplinary work.

“There are powerful overlaps between disciplines that are all hosted under one roof here – literally,” said White, who has received multiple awards for his work – both personally and via Lateral Office.

“From realms like forestry and landscape architecture, whose connections are obvious, to less apparent – yet promising – links between urban design and visual studies, we can combine how these disciplines have traditionally worked while examining their shared interests.”

As dean, White said he is eager to strengthen relationships with Daniels alumni and foster new research partnerships at U of T and beyond – all while emphasizing collaboration, creativity and community engagement.

“We want to support and train design leaders who are collaborative and creative,” he said. “That means finding a balance between the technical skills that students need and the human, community‑facing leadership the world requires.”

Story by Rahul Kalvapalle republished from U of T News

Photo by Polina Teif

Designed for high school students, our summer program provides a comprehensive introduction to architecture and explores different ways of seeing, thinking and making.

We offer two 2-week courses in both July and August 2026 for ages 14 to 18.

New this year is a a 2-week portfolio design course for ages 16-18 (graduating high school in 2026 or 2027), ideal for students interested in applying to university programs in architecture and visual studies.

Learn more and register

The Art Museum is pleased to announce the online launch of the 2026 University of Toronto Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition! Every year, the Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition celebrates the diverse artistic excellence of undergraduate students enrolled in visual studies programs from across the University of Toronto’s three campuses.

This year's online showcase, guest curated by Dallas Fellini, Curator of Programs at Art Metropole, features artworks from 13 students, selected from dozens of applicants from across the University of Toronto’s Scarborough, Mississauga, and St. George campuses. Through diverse media, the works assembled here each pull on conceptual threads related to memory and perception, considering the ways that these phenomena can be mediated or distorted.

Congratulations to award recipients: Hafsa Murtaza, Mitsuko Noguchi, and Kiki Zhou. Awards were adjudicated by external juror Chiedza Pasipanodya, Executive Director of Xpace Cultural Centre.

Participating Daniels students: 

Cythial Edomwonyi, Threaded Memories
Architectural Studies

Aileen Kim, Beyond Play
Visual Studies

Alaya Le, Warm Plates
Visual Studies; Computer Science; Science, Technology, and Society

Sofia Lebovics, Holy, holy
Visual Studies

Award Winner — Mitsuko Noguchi, SISTERSISTER
Visual Studies

Amber Ramos, Weaving Transparencies
Visual Studies; Art History

Curatorial Statement

I am honoured to guest curate this year’s Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition. Celebrating the artistic excellence of undergraduate students enrolled in visual studies programs across the University of Toronto’s three campuses, this annual exhibition represents an opportunity for student artists to share their work within the context of an internationally renowned venue for contemporary art. I would like to send a heartfelt congratulations to the 13 students participating in this year’s exhibition, selected from dozens of applicants from across the three university campuses. Through diverse media, the works assembled here each pull on conceptual threads related to memory and perception, considering the ways that these phenomena can be mediated or distorted.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Art Museum staff, particularly Marianne Rellin, Micah Donovan, Barbara Fischer, and Noa Bronstein, for their collaboration in producing this exhibition. Thank you also to Kate Whiteway for her mentorship and support, to Hana Nikčević for her editing work, to Chiedza Pasipanodya for acting as this year’s guest juror, and to U of T faculty John Armstrong, Emmanuel Osahor, and Gareth Long.

– Dallas Fellini,
2026 Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition guest curator

Remarks from Daniels Associate Professor, Teaching Stream Barbara Fischer, Executive Director/Chief Curator of the Art Museum at U of T

It is my great pleasure to congratulate the three 2026 award winners, Mitsuko Noguchi, Hafsa Murtaza, and Kiki Zhou, as well as all of the artists selected to participate in the Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition this year, on their artistic achievements and thoughtful contributions to contemporary art.

For over a decade, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto has hosted the Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition, an annual celebration of the artistic excellence of undergraduate students in the Visual Arts programs at the University of Toronto. The exhibition brings together student artists from across all three of the University of Toronto’s campuses: St. George, UTSC, and the Art & Art History program jointly offered by UTM and Sheridan College.

This year’s Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition was juried by Chiedza Pasipanodya, Executive Director at Xpace Cultural Centre, and curated by Dallas Fellini, University of Toronto Visual Studies alumnus and Curator of Programs at Art Metropole. The exhibition came together with mentorship from Kate Whiteway, University of Toronto Visual Studies alumna and Assistant Curator at the Vega Foundation, and with support from faculty members John Armstrong, Emmanuel Osahor, and Gareth Long.

The Art Museum gratefully acknowledges the continued support of the Honourable David Peterson, former Chancellor of the University of Toronto, and his wife, the actress and writer Shelley Peterson, for whom the exhibition and award is named. For their support of the exhibition, we also thank the Office of the Vice-President & Provost.

View the 2026 University of Toronto Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition

Photo: Younes Bounhar

Brigitte Shim, professor in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and A. Howard Sutcliffe, founding co-partners of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, have been recognized with the Lifetime Design Achievement Award by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). 

The award, presented biennially by the independent regulator of the architectural profession in Ontario, honours architects for a career dedicated to excellence and innovation in architectural design, recognizing a legacy of outstanding work.

A faculty member at U of T since 1988, Shim leads core design studios, advanced design studios and elective courses for the architecture program. She is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy (RCA). 

Shim and Sutcliffe co-founded their practice in 1994 and have completed many significant projects for non-profits and public and private clients, including the Robertson Davies Library and St. Catherine’s Chapel at Massey College, U of T; the Wong Dai Sin Temple in Markham; and Integral House, a ravine residence in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood with a two-storey living room designed to accommodate musical performances.

Among many other honours, Shim and Sutcliffe are recipients of 14 Governor General’s Medals for Architecture, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal (2021) and an American Institute of Architects National Honor Award. In 2013, they were both appointed to the Order of Canada.

“Brigitte and Howard’s work reflects a lifelong commitment to design excellence, grounded in a deep understanding of place, research, and innovation,” says Robert Levit, acting dean of Daniels. “Their contributions have shaped both architectural practice and education at the highest level, leaving a lasting impact in Canada and beyond. The Daniels community congratulates them on this achievement and celebrates the continued evolution of their remarkable contributions.”

From the forthcoming OAA 2026 Awards Book: 

As partners in life and practice, Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe are among the few Canadian architects who have gained international recognition for the excellence of their buildings and landscapes. Since establishing Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in 1994, they have excelled at every stage of their careers, receiving 14 Governor General’s Medals and Awards for architecture, as well as an American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award and many other accolades. Shim and Sutcliffe have demonstrated to their peers and to the world at large that contemporary modernism can be not only highly sophisticated but also intimate, welcoming, and warm.

Jury’s Comments

“Their legacy is unparalleled. They reached a pinnacle few architects can achieve in creating places that are poetic, thoroughly considered, perfectly tuned to human habitation.”

“The quality of design speaks to their ability to understand context and vernacular. Their partnership combines the precision of a technician and the insight of a teacher.”

“Even their simplest and most modest projects are always elegant, still great architecture. This is the true test of the architect—creating beauty for modest means.”

Delia Pan (photo 1) and Devika Singh (photo 2) pictured with Timothy Chan, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives, their thesis supervisor Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Simon Rabyniuk, donor Peter Shannon Wilson, University Chief Librarian Larry P. Alford. Photo 3: The winners of the 2026 Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize: Devika Singh, Delia Pan, Parmin Sedigh Tonekaboni, Alex Drotenko, Sabrina Isabelle McLennon and Lorraine Pan (all photos by Paul Terefenko). 

In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, with more information at our fingertips than ever before, it can be easy – and tempting – to fast-track the research process. For students who choose to dig deeper, the results can be surprising, enlightening and even groundbreaking. The Peter and Patricia Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize celebrates these exceptional students who use U of T’s libraries to unlock exciting new pathways of scholarship. 

Now in its 10th year, the Wilson Prize was established through the generosity of Peter and Patricia Shannon Wilson, whose endowment honours their family’s deep belief in education and a lifelong connection to U of T, its staff, and its libraries.

“Here at U of T, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of research excellence and academic achievement, not only in Canada, but globally,” said University Chief Librarian Larry P. Alford in his remarks at the event. “The Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize is a testament to this commitment, and it’s clear that this recognition leaves a lasting impact.” 

At this year’s awards ceremony on April 17th at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, six winners and their supporting instructors spoke about their winning projects, connected by one common thread: a shared commitment to critical and innovative thinking, supported by library research. 

This year, two fourth-year architectural studies students from Daniels received a Wilson Prize: Delia Pan and Devika Singh were both supported by Assistant Professor Simon Rabyniuk. 

Pan’s thesis project “Between Renewal and Memory: A Resident-Centered Framework for Taiwan’s Aging Housing” explored urban renewal, gentrification, and housing accessibility in Taipei. Pan started with broader search terms and targeted filters, which led her to a key article via ScienceDirect. She also explored U of T’s Chinese and Japanese-language holdings to deepen her area of scholarship: “I’m grateful that U of T’s collections include texts from diverse cultures and languages,” she says. “This multilingual approach allowed me to engage with Taiwanese and Japanese scholars’ perspectives directly, rather than through translated intermediaries." 

Pan will begin her master of architecture at Cornell University this September.

Singh’s winning project “A Choreography of Things: The Making of Indo-Caribbean Identity” is a micro-history of the Guianese bottom house - a covered ground-level area common to Guiana’s Indo-Caribbean and Afro-Caribbean communities.

Singh met with librarians, including Eberhard Zeidler Library’s head librarian Cathryn Copper, to explore subject-specific databases and tools for interdisciplinary research. “These one-on-one consultations reframed the library as a collaborative research community rather than a passive resource,” Singh says. She also conducted interviews with her Guyanese father as part of her research and used library resources like architecture drawings and colonial records to supplement his memories.

Singh will pursue further graduate study in architectural history at the Architectural Association (AA) School in London, U.K. 

Simon Rabyniuk, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, at the Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize ceremony hosted by U of T Libraries at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (all photos by Paul Terefenko).

“The Wilson Prizes not only recognize extraordinary student work — they also highlight the guidance of faculty, librarians, and mentors who support students through every stage of the research process,” said Timothy Chan, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives in his remarks at the ceremony. “The generosity and vision of Peter and Patricia Shannon Wilson have opened doors for students to make meaningful contributions to academic life at U of T.”

Thanks to the support of the Wilsons, the mentorship of UTL librarians and the library’s vast repository of archival resources, collections and materials, this year’s Wilson Prize winners have developed the confidence, skills, and intellectual curiosity that will guide them through lifelong learning. After all, every great research journey begins with a question – and the library can be the key that unlocks the answer.

Read the full story by Alison Lang: A decade of discovery with the Wilson Research Prize

Photos by Paul Terefenko courtesy of U of T Libraries

Two projects from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design were selected by the Local Learning Studio's 2026 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Action global gallery. The work debuts at the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17-22.

Launched in August 2025 by an international consortium of academics and professionals, the Local Learning Studio (LLS) is a collaborative action-research initiative designed to accelerate the localization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in built environment teaching, learning and research. LLS cycle 1 features over 60 built environment projects by educators, emerging voices (students and recent graduates) and communities representing more than 20 countries. The action-research initiative is designed to continue through 2030.

Balikbayan: Home Away From Home

Emerging Voice category 
Julia Buli-e (MArch 2025)
Thesis advisor: Assistant Professor Karen Kubey

"Balikbayan" housing celebrates cultural identity in Toronto’s Little Manila. Addressing unaffordable, inflexible housing for Filipino immigrants, it reimagines accessible homes, adapting the traditional compound into a mid-rise fostering belonging and community resilience.

Architecture and the Right to Housing

Educator category 
Assistant Professor Karen Kubey
Research Assistants: Cassandra Santaguida, Usama Nasim, Sofia Munera Mora, Dima Ghazal, and Kodi Ume-Unyido

The "Architecture and the Right to Housing" series convened public keynote lectures and private workshops in Mexico City, Toronto, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, New York, and Los Angeles.

Clock wise from top left: Babits, Leckman, Stevens and Trocmé (photos courtesy of the awardees / RAIC)

University of Toronto bachelor of architecture alumni Chris Babits (BArch 1994), Michael Leckman (BArch 1988), Paul Stevens (BArch 1987) and Michel Trocmé (BArch 1983) have been named Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).

Awarded by Canada’s national organization for architects, established in 1907, the honour recognizes outstanding work in research, scholarship, public service, or professional practice in Canada and beyond.

Babits was recognized as a long standing partner of community focused firm FWBA, one of Western Canada’s oldest practices, where he leads and oversees a diverse portfolio of healthcare, seniors care and institutional projects.

Leckman, a principal at Diamond Schmitt, was honoured for his distinguished leadership in advancing the quality, sustainability and civic purpose of architecture in Canada.

Stevens (1963–2025), co founder of ZAS Architects + Interiors, was posthumously named Fellow for a distinguished global career that shaped some of Canada’s most celebrated civic and institutional spaces, including the Sam Ibrahim Building at U of T’s Scarborough campus.

Trocmé, a partner at Urban Strategies Inc., was cited for transformative contributions to the built environment, communities and meaningful service to the profession.

Fellows were inducted to the RAIC College on May 6 during the 2026 RAIC Conference in Vancouver, BC.

Daniels also celebrates current and former faculty instructors, guest critics, and practising alumni who also received annual awards: 

Fellows Shane Laptiste and Olivia Waiyen Keung; Michael Prokopov, RAIC Honorary Member; Pat Hason, founding principal of gh3, RAIC Gold Medalist; and Moriyama Teshima Architects, recipients of the RAIC Architectural Practice Award. 

How can Canada meet the simultaneous challenges of scaling up its infrastructure and housing to keep pace with population growth while also achieving ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

The third annual Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium, led by the Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment (CSBE) and sponsored by the University of Toronto and U of T’s School of Cities, explores solutions to building more housing and infrastructure with less greenhouse gas pollution.

MArch student, Cassandra Santaguida, took part in the symposium’s poster session, sharing research and case studies addressing the theme of reducing resource use and embodied GHGs in the construction sector.

Her thesis project, Farm to City (advisor, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Sam Dufaux) illustrated how Ontario’s 3.12 million tonnes of harvestable crop residues, corn stover and straw, could be used as materials for future construction projects.

Thesis statement:

In response to the current climate and political context, the project rethinks the bioregion as a framework for rural economies and as a site of repair. Across Ontario, agricultural residues go underused, while dormant rail corridors mark past rural–urban exchanges. The project proposes an agro‑residue manufacturing hub along a repurposed rail line, reimagined as a “material line,” to convert residues into low‑carbon building materials and to reconnect rural landscapes with urban centres. Integrating education and research, the site serves as a full‑scale demonstration, framing architecture as an extension of agricultural processes and linking cultivation to construction. Integrating education and research, the site serves as a full-scale demonstration, framing architecture as an extension of agricultural processes and linking cultivation to construction.

Santaguida plans to continue development of her thesis proposal throughout her professional career. 

With files from the Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium

Thesis project images courtesy of Santaguida

First launched in 2023, the IDEAS Impact Award initiative is a collaborative endeavour of the three Daniels student unions, the Architectural and Visual Studies Student Union (AVSSU), the Forestry Graduate Student Association (FGSA) and the Graduate Architecture Landscape and Design Student Union (GALDSU). This peer-recognition award seeks to recognize Daniels students for their contributions towards advancing Inclusion, Decolonial work, Equity, Accessibility and Sustainability at Daniels or in external communities.

Nominations were reviewed by the Student Impact Award Committee, which was composed of representatives from AVSSU, FGSA, GALDSU and the Office of the Assistant Dean, Equity Diversity and Inclusion. The mandate of the selection committee is to help Daniels advance values of equity and inclusion by ensuring that the candidates selected meet or exceed the award criteria. 

In addition to the IDEAS Impact Fellows, this year’s process also included an IDEAS identity mark competition. The selected design, created by third-year BAAS student Ivan Tsang (Specialist in architectural studies, comprehensive stream).

The artist statement describing this design reflects is primarily intended to reflect simplicity:

"Inclusion" is made obvious with the merging of the i and the D. More subtle details include all letters being different fonts, yet occupying the same boundaries as the others. All letters are different, yet each is needed to create the logo; like how diversity is important in our community. The openness of the frames suggest that said boundaries are not exclusive and open to discussion, and the extrusion of the i signifies an encouragement to leave the confines of the social norms. The enclosing circle can be interpreted as a wholeness and continuity, and creates an orbit-design with the i’s dot, suggesting that its members, values, and institution exists in a constant relation to broader systems and context.
 

This year’s Impact Fellows join the 2023 inaugural cohort and carry the lifetime title of Impact Award Fellow and grow the network of students recognize by their peers as social impact advocates and change makers.

Meet the 2026 IDEAS Impact Fellows:

Ashneet Sachdeva

The selection committee was struck by the body of work submitted in Ashneet’s nomination package that reflected their commitment to designing housing community models that “make room for difference without requiring people to shrink themselves to fit.” Ashneet's commitment to designing and organizing systems that reduce barriers, expand choice and make dignity and belonging tangible”. Ashneedt’s IDEAS Impact recognition highlights the Contour and The Hive, two projects developed over the course of their MArch studies. The Contour, was a housing project Ashneet co-developed with student partner Malak Saeed. The project centred on single parents and caregivers whose lives are shaped by time poverty, safety concerns and limited supportive infrastructure. The project embedded equity "as a design driver through dignity and privacy."  Ashneet’s second project, The Hive was a design for a behavioural heath centre focused on adolescents and young adults. A key element in the design was choice – designing environments where people can decide what feels comfortable, rather than being forced into a single way of occupying space.

Minghan Wei

The selection committee notes that Minghan’s submission affirms the importance of architectural approaches that prioritize social justice, community agency and ethical responsibility and their continued commitment to using design as a tool for meaningful, long-term social impact. Minghan’s work embodies the spirit of the IDEAS Impact Awards and “represents the kind of architect the discipline urgently needs—"one who listens first, questions inherited systems, and designs with communities rather than for them. Minghan’s IDEAS Impact recognition highlights a project addressing postcolonial heritage and tropical modernism in Zanzibar City, through which they came to understand architectural design not simply as a technical or aesthetic practice, but as a deeply political and ethical act—one that can either reinforce existing inequalities or actively work to undo them.