Aga Khan Foundation Canada

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) announced on May 7th the winner of its 2010 People’s Choice Award: The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa, designed by Maki and Associates, with Moriyama and Teshima Architects.

The “People’s Choice” is the public’s favourite among this year’s 15 Design Excellence winners. The winners were posted online at www.oaa.on.ca and the public was invited to vote from March 26 to April 9, 2010. More than 7,400 people voted.

“Designed as a source of optimism, fascination and delight, The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat is an embodiment of the Aga Khan’s vision for a pluralistic global society and the development of civil societies. The building seems to express the values of the Aga Khan in an extremely powerful way. To this strong statement, details such as the delicate tracery create moments of mystery, like an intricate veil,” said the OAA Design Excellence Jury.

Fourteen new buildings in Fort Erie, Grey Highlands, Mississauga, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ottawa, Toronto, and Walsingham were also honoured with Design Excellence Awards. The OAA Awards advertises the excellence of both individual award winners and the profession as a whole; it fosters a greater appreciation of architecture and architects among all levels of society, professional and non-professional.