The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI) has been awarded five years of funding from the Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Stage II Funding Program.

Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) at U of T are cross-divisional, interdisciplinary research networks that address grand challenges, and associated research questions, that lead to transformational societal impact. 

BSMI will provide a pan-Canadian platform to advance research in the bioeconomy by building decision frameworks to realize the advantages of sustainable natural resources; studying policy options that can enhance Canadian competitiveness in the green economy; examining cross-industry business models that enable private enterprises to innovate and deliver new value to consumers and the community at large; and building change making scenarios that enable new, effective work processes and practices.

The BSMI Initiative Lead Rasoul Yousefpour is an associate professor of forestry at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design and Director of the Mass Timber Institute (MTI). Professor Yousefpour studies forest decision processes to find the most desirable adaptation strategies. His work investigates the economics of ecosystem services as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with forecasting their future provision under global change and social demand dynamics. Yousefpour’s research program connects forest ecosystem processes and functions to management oriented and economy-based solutions in wood manufacturing and housing sectors. His research applies ecological economic approaches, which are data-driven and process-based, to optimize forest sector contribution to society.

Learn more about the BSMI

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.”

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. 

Republished at U of T Celebrates

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

John Ecker, Chair, Board of Directors, Ontario Heritage Trust, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Amory Ngan, City of Mississauga, forestry manager, and the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at the April 17 Ontario Heritage Trust awards ceremony (photo by Dahlia Katz courtesy of the Ontario Heritage Trust).

City of Mississauga, forestry manager, Amory Ngan, an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the Institute of Forestry and Conservation at U of T’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, leads the team being recognized with the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.

The Ontario Heritage Trust works to preserve and celebrate Ontario’s cultural and natural heritage and keep it and meaningful for future generations. The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards recognize volunteers, professionals and organizations for their heritage contributions.

The City of Mississauga is Ontario’s first municipality to use goat grazing for invasive plant species management. In 2025, the project "Prescribed Grazing for Invasive Plant Control, Mississauga," was expanded to cover five wetlands, woodlands and parks throughout the city. The approach combines traditional grazing with modern monitoring to tackle invasive plant species, reducing herbicide use, preventing seed spread while reaching difficult terrain.

“This recognition celebrates innovative work to protect Ontario’s natural heritage,” says John Caspersen, director of forestry programs at the Daniels faculty. “It’s inspiring to see Amory and the City of Mississauga forestry team honoured, and the impact of their work recognized across Ontario.”

Ngan accepted the award on behalf of the City of Mississauga’s forestry division at the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards on April 17.

Republished at U of T Celebrates

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

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Peter North and landscape architecture graduate Rebecca Martin (MLA 2025) of U of T's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design have been recognized by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA). 

North, who joined Daniels in 2006, received the 2026 CSLA Teaching Award, recognizing an individual who has made substantial and enduring contributions to the advancement of landscape architecture education. North’s teaching, research, and design work considers the role of regenerative landscape technologies in contemporary landscape design, specifically within urban environments. He is a co-founder and partner in the award-winning North Design Office, with work ranging from site-specific art installations and private residences to urban public spaces. He is a graduate of U of T’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program and the Harvard Graduate School of Design master’s program.

Martin received 2026 CSLA Student Award of Excellence (thesis or practicum category) for her master of landscape architecture thesis, Opaque Ground: Reimagining Human-Soil Relations in the Lower Don. Her thesis was also recognized with an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The project proposes an urban soil survey, followed by the creation of experimental gardens in existing soil along a 10-kilometre trail in Toronto’s lower Don Valley sub-watershed. Martin's faculty adviser was Associate Professor Alissa North. 

“Congratulations to Pete North and Becky Martin, the 2026 national winners of top CSLA faculty and student awards,” says Elise Shelley, an associate professor and director of the MLA program at Daniels. “These achievements reflect the strength of teaching and research here at the Daniels MLA program and our role in advancing innovative, resilient ecological approaches to landscape architecture.”

The University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards recognize graduating students whose exemplary leadership contributions have significantly impacted the university and the U of T experience of their peers.

"Recipients exemplify service, integrity and a commitment to enhancing the student experience here at Daniels and across the campus," says Robert Levit, acting dean of the Daniels Faculty. "Their efforts help build a stronger and more connected community. I congratulate the recipients and thank all student leaders for their invaluable contributions to student life."

Congratulations to the 2026 awardees:

Ambareen Fatima
Hon. BAAS with a minor in Urban Studies and a Certificate in Sustainability of the Built Environment

As co-president of the Future Living Lab (FLL) and in her roles as VP External and VP Equity with the Architecture and Visual Studies Students Union (AVSSU), Ambareen founded the Undergraduate Firm Fair, one of the faculty’s largest student-led professional initiatives. Along with the FLL Podcast, Ambareen led tri-campus initiatives to bridge gaps between Daniels and other faculties. She also led research labs, architecture competitions, panels and large-scale events to connect students with industry, research and community. Her work centres on advocacy, equity and building inclusive spaces that empower students to grow and thrive.

Mahroo Mansouri
Hon. BAAS (Design Specialist stream)

Mahroo served as Vice President of Communications for AVSSU, where she managed communications with students and external partners and led initiatives including the Women in Art and Design panel and the Humans of Daniels campaign to foster community and representation. She is also the co-president of the Women’s Student Association at U of T and has been actively involved in multiple Daniels clubs and mentorship programs.

Jacob Muller
Hon. BAAS (Design Specialist stream) with a minor in Jewish Studies and a Certificate in Sustainability of the Built Environment

AVSSU is the elected student government representing and advocating for the Daniels undergraduate student body. Jacob is recognized for his leadership within AVSSU over four years, culminating in his role as president in 2025/26. Jacob is further recognized for his leading contributions as a founding member of Scaffold* Journal, an annual, peer-reviewed design journal, and serving as its managing director in 2025/26.

Emily Sun
Hon. BAAS (Technology Specialist stream)

Emily is an active U of T leader and volunteer, leading initiatives with Applied Architecture Landscape and Design (AALD), a student group promoting a distinctly hands‐on approach to architecture, landscape, and design for both undergraduate and graduate students through tutorials and workshops. The collective supports Daniels students by building practical skills and fostering mentorship and connections with Toronto’s broader design community. Emily served as AALD vice president and most recently as president.

Julien Todd 
Hon. BAAS (Technology Specialist stream)

Julien is a co-founder of the Indigenous Student Coalition at Daniels, Black Architects and Interior Designers Association (BAIDA) student chapter and a mentor with Building Black Success through Design (BBSD), a Daniels outreach program for Black youth. A member of the from the Métis Nation of Alberta, Julien is a Bear Clan Leader for the Indigenous Students Association at U of T, committed to the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well-being of the Indigenous student body and community members.

The University of Toronto “Troitsky Team,” a group of undergraduate students from U of T's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design and the Faculty of Arts & Science, set a new competition record for ultimate load at the 2026 Troitsky Bridge Building Competition, en route to earning a second-place finish overall. With an impressive ultimate load of nearly 4,900 kg, eclipsing the previous all-time record of 3,700 kg, the team narrowly missed first place by a single point.

Held annually at Concordia University in Montreal since 1984, this year’s competition attracted 31 teams from 10 Canadian universities, with more than 220 student competitors competing over the February 27–March 1 weekend.

The seven-member team reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the competition, bringing together students from across disciplines at U of T. 

Explaining the contest’s broad appeal to students outside of engineering, fourth-year BAAS student Vicky Tan says:

“I actually got involved a couple years ago, starting in second year. A friend a year above me was involved in the club, then I started participating. And now, in my fourth year, I’m a design executive with the club. I think it’s a great competition to practice both hands-on building and design skills.”

Fourth-year BAAS student Hayden Wong is also a member of this year's record-setting team.

The club is already recruiting for next year and is open to students from all programs and faculties.

Read the full story by  Phill Snel on the CivMin department website

Supplied photo of U of T Troitsky Team bridge

Organized in collaboration with the Foolhardy’s Red House Restoration Project and the Town of Perth, the Tay Basin Landscape Ideas Competition invited creative proposals for the redevelopment of the Tay Basin site as a flexible and welcoming public square. Open to all Daniels students, the competition was also integrated into LAN3200: Landscape Architecture Competitions, a graduate seminar in the Master of Landscape Architecture program, taught by Professor Alissa North.

On Friday, March 27 the competition jury shared their thoughts on the student work, highlighting what they found most compelling in the submissions. Selected projects will move on to a public exhibition in Perth later this spring:

First Place           

TAY ISLAND SQUARE (#012)
By third-year master of landscape architecture (MLA) students Claire Leverton and Benjamin Dunn (pictured above)

Second Place     

AVENUE OF THE ARCHIVES (#007)
Second-year MLA student Katherine Gorelik (pictured above)

Third Place            

WATER AS COMMON GROUND (#003)
Third-year master of architecture (MArch) students Zhongzhu Li and Yunle Chen (pictured above)

Honourable mentions

PERTHITE PLAZA (#010)
Third-year MLA students Jaeyong Ahn and Suet Wing Lo

TAY BASIN LANDSCAPE DESIGN (#006)
Third-year bachelor of arts, architectural studies (BAAS) undergraduate Valeriia Puchnina

Submissions pictured above 

The competition thanks the jury members: 

— Robert Allsopp, Fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) and Partner Emeritus DTAH

— Alex Bozikovic, Architecture Critic, The Globe and Mail, Lecturer and Visiting Critic at the Daniels Faculty

— Victoria Gibb-Carsley, Executive Director, Perth and District Community Foundation 

— Noah Greer, Manager of Construction and Development Support, Town of Perth

— David Leinster, Principal, Landscape Architecture, The Planning Partnership  

— Cathy McNally, Director of Community Services, Town of Perth

— Adam Smith (Jury Chair and Competition Co-Coordinator), Architect, RAW Designs Inc.

— Gary Waterfield, Perth Councillor