Massey Medals for Architecture

Massey Medals were awards in Canadian architecture that were presented from 1950 to 1970. In 1950, Vincent Massey announced a "Scheme for the Award of Massey Medals in Architecture by the Massey Foundation" with the goal of recognizing “outstanding examples of Canadian achievement in the fields of architecture and thus to give encouragement to the members of the architectural profession and to promote public interest in their work".[1]

Working in consultation with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), awards were made in 1950, 1952, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, and 1970. The structure of the awards varied over the years (usage of project categories, gold and silver medals, inclusion of mentions as part of the results, recognition of consultants, etc.).

As Canada’s first national architectural awards program, the Massey Medals for Architecture program is regarded as an important step in elevating public awareness of modern architecture in the nation.[2] [3] [4]

Notable architects and architectural firms which received the award included:

In later year’s, criticism of the awards program’s selection of winners (with many considering mediocre projects being awarded instead of clearly superior projects) was exemplified by the November 1970 issue of The Canadian Architect whose feature article addressed this issue and cover featured an image of the award’s medal and the title, “If you failed to win this medal, turn to page 27.”  [5][6]

In 1982, the Governor-General’s Awards for Architecture was created to re-establish a major national architectural awards program.[7]

Further Reading

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  1. ^ "Massey Medals for Architecture". Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Journal. 28 (2): 34–38. February 1951.
  2. ^ "Toronto's modernist legacy: Uncovering the Massey Medals' architectural gems". The Globe and Mail. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  3. ^ Purdie, James (November 24, 1972). "Nostalgic reflections on three centuries of Canadian building". The Globe and Mail. pp. B2.
  4. ^ Price, Fred (January 10, 1972). "Wanted: a new blueprint for Canada's architects". The Globe and Mail. p. 7.
  5. ^ Novakovic, Stefan (2018-05-07). "Editorial: A Modest Proposal for Architecture Awards". Canadian Architect. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  6. ^ Moffat, Robert (2010-10-20). "Massey Medals for Architecture 1950-1970". Toronto Modern. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  7. ^ Moffat, Robert (2010-10-20). "Massey Medals for Architecture 1950-1970". Toronto Modern. Retrieved 2024-10-21.

1950 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - February 1951 - Serial 306 / Vol 28 / No 2

CATEGORY AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Educational Buildings Gold Medal Oshawa High School Oshawa, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Office Buildings Silver Medal Architects and Medical Offices Vancouver, BC Gardiner and Thornton
Recreation Buildings Silver Medal Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand Toronto, ON Marani and Morris
Ecclesiastical Buildings Silver Medal Central Christadelphian Church Toronto , ON John B. Parkin Associates
Industrial Buildings Silver Medal Faberge Perfumes (Canada) Limited - Office and Factory Etobicoke, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Apartment Houses Silver Medal Garden Court Apartments Toronto, ON Page and Steele
Hospitals and Clinics Silver Medal Humber Memorial Hospital Weston, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Miscellaneous Silver Medal Shipshaw No. 2 Power Development Saguenay River, QC J.C. Meadowcroft
Commercial Buildings Silver Medal York Township Hydro Electric System – Office and Garage York Township, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Group Housing No award
Municipal and Government Buildings No award
Residences up to $15,000 No award
Residences over $15,000 No award
Transportation Buildings No award

1952 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - January 1953 - Serial 329 / Vol 30 / No 1

CATEGORY AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Office Buildings Gold Medal Marwell Office Building Vancouver, BC Semmens & Simpson
Apartment Houses Silver Medal 130 Old Forest Hill Road Apartment Building Toronto, ON Gordon S. Adamson
Ecclesiastical Buildings Silver Medal Knox Presbyterian Church Goderich, ON Philip Carter Johnson
Educational Buildings Silver Medal Marmora High School Marmora, ON Craig & Madill
Residences Costing Up To $15,000 Silver Medal Residence of Dr. Harold Copp Vancouver, BC Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt
Residences Costing Over $15,000 Silver Medal Residence of Mr. John C.H. Porter Vancouver, BC Davison and Porter
Commercial Buildings Silver Medal Tilden Drive Yourself - Rental Office Vancouver, BC Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt
Recreational Buildings Silver Medal University of British Columbia - War Memorial Gymnasium Vancouver, BC Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt
Municipal and Governmental Buildings Silver Medal York Township Municipal Offices York Township, ON Shore & Moffat
Group Housing other than Apartment Houses no entry
Hospitals and Clinics no award
Hotels and Restaurants no award
Industrial Buildings no award
Transportation Buildings no award

1955 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - December 1955 - Serial 364 / Vol 32 / No 12

CATEGORY AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Group Housing other than Apartment Buildings Gold Medal Kiwanis Village Victoria, BC Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt and Charles E. Craig
Office Buildings Silver Medal B.C. Sugar Refinery, Limited Vancouver, BC Semmens and Simpson
Commercial Buildings Silver Medal Convenience Centre Don Mills, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Residences over $15,000 Silver Medal Hamilton House Peterborough, ON Blackwell, Craig and Zeidler
Residences up to $15,000 Silver Medal House of Mr. Gordon Smith West Vancouver, BC Erickson & Massey
Miscellaneous Silver Medal Ontario Association of Architects Offices Toronto, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Hotels and Restaurants Silver Medal Seaway Hotel Toronto, ON A. Elken & R.W. Becksted
Industrial Buildings Silver Medal Simpsons-Sears Industrial Development Etobicoke, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Ecclesiastical Buildings Silver Medal St. Anthony's Church Agassiz, BC Gardiner, Thornton, Gathe & Associates
Educational Buildings Silver Medal Toronto Teachers' College Toronto, ON Page & Steele
Apartment Houses no award
Hospitals and Clinics no award
Municipal and Governmental Buildings no award
Recreational Buildings no award
Transportation Buildings no award

1958 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - December 1958 - Serial 400 / Vol 35 / No 12

CATEGORY AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Recreation Gold Medal Stratford Festival Theatre Stratford, ON Rormthwaite & Fairfield
Educational Silver Medal Beamsville Central Elementary School Beamsville, ON Huget, Secord & Pagani
Commercial Silver Medal CKWX Radio Station Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Houses over 1,200 sq. ft. Silver Medal House in West Vancouver West Vancouver, BC Arthur Erickson & Geoffrey Massey
Miscellaneous Silver Medal Hog's Back Structures Ottawa, ON Hart Massey
Industrial Silver Medal Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation (Canada) Limited Factory Don Mills, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Municipal Silver Medal Ottawa City Hall Ottawa, ON Rother, Bland & Trudeau
Group Housing Silver Medal South Hill Village Don Mills, ON James A. Murray & Henry Fliess
Hospitals Silver Medal Workmen's Compensation Board Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre Downsview, ON Page & Steele and Thomas R. Wiley
Apartment Houses no award
Ecclesiastical no award
Hotels no award
Houses under 1200 sq. ft. no award
Offices no award
Transportation no award
Mention Airport Terminal Calgary, AB Clayton, Bond & Mogridge
Mention B.C. Electric Building Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Mention Bank of Nova Scotia / Bank of Montreal - Branches Don Mills, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention Blackwoods Beverages Bottling Plant Winnipeg, MB Waisman, Ross & Associates
Mention Construction Equipment Ltd. Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Mention Dining Lodge Dill Township, ON Fabbro & Townend
Mention Federal Building Don Mills, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention Georgian Manor, Home for the Aged Penetanguishene, ON Craig and Zeidler
Mention Hirshhorn Residence Bootlegger's Bay, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention Holt Renfrew Building Toronto, ON Gordon S. Adamson & Associates
Mention Langley Centennial Museum Langley, BC J. Calder Peeps
Mention Mandarin Gardens Motel Sudbury, ON Fabbro & Townend
Mention Manitoba Teachers' Society Headquarters Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener & Associates
Mention New Woodbine Racetrack Etobicoke, ON Earle C. Morgan
Mention Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery – Addition Regina, SK lzumi, Arnott & Sugyama
Mention North York Municipal Offices Willowdale, ON Sproatt & Rolph
Mention Pacific Great Eastern Railway Station Squamish, BC R. C. Hale & R. F. Harrison
Mention Peterborough Community Centre Peterborough, ON Craig and Zeidler
Mention Plastic Cabana Vancouver, BC Arthur Erickson
Mention R. Laidlaw Lumber Company Limited Weston, ON Pentland & Baker
Mention Rideau Towers Calgary, AB Peter Caspari and C. M. Bakker
Mention Sarnia & District High School Sarnia, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention Shaw Cottage Muskoka, ON Eugene Z. Lilitzak
Mention St. Augustine's School and Parish Hall Brandon, MB Waisman, Ross & Associates
Mention St. John Brebeuf Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener & Associates
Mention Stanrock Uranium Mines - Group Housing Blind River, ON Jerome Markson
Mention Steinbergs Store Montreal, QC Keith L. Graham Associates
Mention Summer House on Vancouver Island Vancouver Island, BC Watkins & Massey
Mention Tache Primary School Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener & Associates
Mention Toronto Parking Authority - Dundas Square Parking Garage Toronto, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention University of British Columbia - Arts Building Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Mention University of British Columbia - St. Mark's Residential College Vancouver, BC Gardiner, Thornton, Gathe & Associates
Mention W.H. Collins, Community Centre Elliot Lake, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Mention Warren Grade School Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener & Associates

1961 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - November 1961 - Serial 435 / Vol 38 / No 11

AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Gold Medal University of British Columbia - Thea Koerner House Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Silver Medal Bell Telephone Company of Canada Pickering-Ajax, ON Gordon S. Adamson & Associates
Silver Medal Chapel St Louis Le Roi St Boniface, MB Libling, Michener and Associates
Silver Medal Eglise St-Raphael Jonquiere, QC St Gelais and Tremblay
Silver Medal Executive House Apartments Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener and Associates
Silver Medal Imperial Oil Limited Research Building Sarnia, ON Shore and Moffat
Silver Medal Kipling Collegiate Institute Etobicoke, ON Gordon Adamson and Associates
Silver Medal Lapierre Residence St Catharines, ON James E. Secord and Saul Herzog
Silver Medal Moose Jaw Civic Centre Moose Jaw, SK Joseph Pettick
Silver Medal Niagara Parks Commission Foot Bridge Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Huget and Secord
Silver Medal Parkwood Terrace South Burnaby, BC Hale, Harrison, Buzzelle
Silver Medal Private Golf Course Toronto, ON Raymond Moriyama and Associates
Silver Medal Regent Park South High-Rise Apartments Toronto, ON Page and Steele
Silver Medal Richmond Hill Public Library Richmond Hill, ON Philip R. Brook
Silver Medal Rockland Shopping Centre Town of Mount Royal, QC Ian Martin and Victor Prus
Silver Medal Summer Residence Husavick, MB Waisman, Ross and Associates
Silver Medal Thompson Municipal Offices Thompson, MB Waisman, Ross and Associates
Silver Medal Town of Mount Royal Post Office Town of Mount Royal, QC Jean Michaud and R. T. Affleck of Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Michaud, Sise
Silver Medal University of British Columbia - Commons Block Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Silver Medal Winnipeg Hydro-Electric System Sub-Station No. 21 Winnipeg, MB Libling, Michener and Associates
Mention CIBA Building Dorval, QC Percy Booth
Mention Four Seasons Motel Toronto, ON Peter Dickinson and Associates
Mention John Meyer House West Vancouver, BC Wensley and Rand
Mention Salle Desjeunesses musicales Du Canada Mont Orford, QC Desgagne and Cote
Mention Willmington Park Community Centre North York, ON Jack Klein and Henry Sears

1964 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal - November 1964 - Serial 470 / Vol 41 / No 11

AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Silver Medal Bowring Park Footbridge St John’s, NL Blanche van Ginkel
Silver Medal C.G. Brown Memorial Pool Burnaby, BC McCarter, Nairne & Partners
Silver Medal Central Technical School Art Centre Toronto, ON Fairfield & DuBois
Silver Medal Church of St Gerard Majella St Jean, QC. Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Sise
Silver Medal Country Residence Bowen Island, BC Ian Davidson
Silver Medal Don Valley Woods - Phase 1 North York, ON Jack Klein & Henry Sears
Silver Medal Forrest Residence West Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners
Silver Medal Group Health Centre Sault Ste. Marie, ON Jerome Markson
Silver Medal Hart Massey Residence Rockcliffe, ON Hart Massey
Silver Medal Imperial Oil Limited Ontario Regional Headquarters Don Mills, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Silver Medal John Grinnell Residence West Vancouver, BC Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners
Silver Medal Lothian Mews Toronto, ON Webb Zerafa Menkes
Silver Medal Maltby Residence West Vancouver, BC Fred Thornton Hollingsworth
Silver Medal McGill University Laboratories & Dormitories Mont St-Hilaire, QC LeMoyne, Edwards, Shine and Charles Elliott Trudeau
Silver Medal Rayer Residence West Vancouver, BC Fred Thornton Hollingsworth and Barry Vance Downs
Silver Medal St Paul's College High School Tuxedo, MB Libling, Michener & Associates
Silver Medal Thomas J. Lipton Ltd Bramalea, ON John B. Parkin Associates
Silver Medal Toronto International Airport Control Tower Malton, ON John B. Parkin Associates; W. A. Ramsey, Chief Architect, Air Services, Government of Canada

1967 Awards

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Published: RAIC Journal (Architecture Canada) - June 1967 - Serial 501 / Vol 44 / No 6

AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Medal 1965 Tokyo International Trade Fair - Canadian Pavilion Tokyo, Japan Erickson/Massey
Medal Ceterg Office Building Don Mills, ON Fairfield and DuBois
Medal Confederation Centre Charlottetown, PE Affleck Desbarats Dimakopoulos Lebensold Sise
Medal Dominion Astrophysical Observatory - 16" Telescope Housing Victoria, BC Roger Kemble (as consultant to Chief Architect Department of Public Works, Ottawa)
Medal Don Valley Woods - Phase Two North York, ON Klein and Sears
Medal Etobicoke Public Library - Richview Branch Etobicoke, ON Dunlop, Wardell, Matsui, Aitken
Medal Expo 67 - Administration & News Pavilion Montreal. QC Irving Grossman
Medal Expo 67 - Habitat 67 - Phase 1 Montreal, QC Moshe Safdie & David, Barott, Boulva
Medal Frank B. Mayrs House Lucerne (South Hull), QC Barry Leonard Padolsky
Medal G.E. Melchin and H. Melchin Summer Homes Windermere, BC Gordon L. Atkins
Medal Grant Sine Public School Cobourg, ON Craig, Zeidler & Strong
Medal Mimico Centennial Library Mimico, ON Banz-Brook-Carruthers-Grierson-Shaw
Medal Ottawa Station Ottawa, ON John B. Parkin Associates, Architects and Engineers
Medal Peel Subway Station Montreal, QC Papineau, Gerin- Lajoie, Le Blanc
Medal Pickering Municipal Building Pickering, ON Craig, Zeidler & Strong
Medal Place Victoria - Stock Exchange Tower Montreal, QC Greenspoon, Freedlander, Dunne and Luigi Moretti
Medal Residence Des Missionnaires de Ia Consolata Cap Rouge, QC Jean-Marie Roy
Medal Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC Erickson/Massey / Rhone & lredale / Zoltan Kiss / Robert F. Harrison & Associates / McNab, Lee and Logan
Medal Smith Residence West Vancouver, BC Erickson/Massey
Medal St Mark's Shop Lumsden, SK Clifford Wiens
Medal Toronto International Airport - Automotive Service Centre Malton, ON John B. Parkin Associates, Architects and Engineers
Medal University of Montreal - Girls' Residence Montreal. QC Papineau, Gerin- Lajoie, Le Blanc
Medal University of Toronto - Scarborough College Scarborough, ON Page & Steele and John Andrews
Medal Upper Canada College - Stephen House Norval, ON C. Blakeway Millar
Medal Wayland Drew House Port Perry, ON Carmen Corneil
Special Medal Montreal Metro Montreal, QC

1970 Awards

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Published: RAIC Architecture Canada - October 12, 1970 - Serial 545 / Vol 47

AWARD PROJECT LOCATION ARCHITECT
Medal Canyon Manor North Vancouver, BC Wilfred D. Buttjes & Associates
Medal MacMillan Bloedel Building Vancouver, BC Erickson/Massey Architects and Planners and Francis Donaldson
Medal Coronation Swimming Pool Edmonton, AB Peter Hemingway / Consulting architect: G. Beatson
Medal Stanley Building Edmonton, AB Peter Hemingway
Medal Sitton Chapel Sitton, SK Clifford Wiens
Medal National Arts Centre Ottawa, ON Chief architect: Department of Public Works / Consulting architects: Affleck Desbarats Dimakopoulos Lebensold Sise
Medal Shell Canada Ltd. Research Centre Oakville, ON Shore & Moffat and Partners
Medal Chalet de Ski Mont Ste-Anne, QC Gauthier, Guite & Jean-Marie Roy
Medal Ilots St-Martin, La Petite Bourgogne Montreal, QC Jean Ouellet / Associate architects: Ouellet, Reeves, Alain
Medal Westmount Square Westmount, QC Greenspoon Freedlander Plachta & Kryton / Consulting architect: Mies Van Der Rohe
Medal Place Bonaventure Montreal, QC Affleck Desbarats Dimakopoulos Lebensold Sise
Medal Saidye Bronfman Cultural Centre of the YM-YWHA Montreal, QC Webb, Zerafa, Menkes
Medal Expo 67 - Man in the Community and Man and His Health Theme Pavilion Montreal, QC Erickson/Massey Architects and Planners
Medal Expo 67 - Quebec Pavilion Montreal, QC Papineau/Gerin-Lajoie/Le Blanc / Associate architect: Luc Durand
Medal Universite de Montreal - Garage Louis-Colin Montreal, QC Jean Ouellet / Associated architects: Ouellet, Reeves, Alain