Complete Profile

Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated

Last Updated: 2008-11-21
	Legal Name:   Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
	Operating Name:   Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
	Mailing Address 300-384 Adelaide St W TORONTO, Ontario M5V 1R7	Location Address 300-384 Adelaide St W TORONTO, Ontario M5V 1R7
	Telephone: (416) 862-8800
	Fax: (416) 862-5508
	Email: info@dsai.ca
	Website URL: http://www.dsai.ca

Contact Information

ROBERT GRAHAM
	Title:   Principal
	Area of Responsibility:
	Telephone:   (416) 862-8800
	Fax:   (416) 862-5508
	Email:   rgraham@dsai.ca
A.J. DIAMOND
	Title:   Director
	Telephone:   (416) 862-8800
	Fax:   (416) 862-5508
DONALD SCHMITT
	Title:   Director
	Telephone:   (416) 862-8800
	Fax:   (416) 862-5508

Company Description

Diamond and Schmitt Architects have received national and international recognition for programming studies, renovations and new buildings that achieve design excellence, display a deep understanding of the communities where they are located and are innovative in the way in which user satisfaction is achieved. Diamond and Schmitt Architects is comprised of 14 principals, 78 architectural staff and 19 support staff. The firm has received international recognition for planning projects and building design excellence. We pride ourselves on understanding the contexts in which we operate and are committed to innovative design solutions. Working with colleges and universities, health care institutions, government and private clients, the firm has designed public places and master plans, spaces for exhibition, medical and research facilities, performing arts centres, academic buildings, mixed-use and commercial projects. In 2004 Diamond and Schmitt Architects was named among Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Mission: The firm seeks to achieve a high standard of excellence. Popular success has been achieved by unremitting attention to user needs and aspirations. Critical recognition has been achieved through commitment to design from first principles. We take pride in designing buildings which support both the ideals and the functional requirements of its users. Design Excellence: The firm has received over 120 medals and regional, national and international awards for design excellence. These include six Governor General's Medals and Awards. More important than awards, however, is the ability to design from first principles and create architectural excellence commensurate with the stature of the institution. Project Management: The early planning stages of a project are particularly critical to the outcome, and we have developed an approach that ensures we have all the important information at hand and all the crucial systems in place before design development gets underway. Once preparations are complete, we take great care to maintain strict control over the design, documentation and construction processes, especially with respect to schedule, costs, and quality.
Country of Ownership:	Canada
Year Established:	1975
Exporting:	Yes
Primary Industry (NAICS):	541310 - Architectural Services
Primary Business Activity:	Services
Total Sales ($CDN):	$10,000,000 to $24,999,999
Number of Employees:	120

Product / Service / Licensing

Service Name:	ARCHITECT - FEASIBILITY STUDY (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - URBAN DESIGN (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - HEALTH CARE - HOSPITALS
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - HEALTH CARE - OTHER
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - EDUCATION - UNIVERSITIES
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - EDUCATION - OTHER
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - COMMERCIAL (LOW RISE)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - OFFICE BUILDING - LOW RISE
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - OFFICE BUILDING - HIGH RISE
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - HOTELS/TOURISM
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - SPORTS FACILITIES
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - RESIDENTIAL - SINGLE FAMILY (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - RESIDENTIAL - HIGH RISE
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - RESIDENTIAL - LOW COST
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - GOVERNMENT (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMMING (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - MASTER PLANNING (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - SITE ANALYSIS
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - PROJECT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - INTERIOR DESIGN (Exporting)
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - ENERGY ANALYSIS
Service Name:	ARCHITECT - OTHER (SPECIFY)

Technology Profile

Computer technology is a rapidly changing and developing field. Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated maintain a leading position in utilizing, adapting and developing computer programs for the work of the firm. Remarkable three dimensional modeling programs allow both the members of the firm and clients to test and refine options for site planning, landscape, building massing, shadow studies, plan configurations, construction systems, interior layouts, furniture arrangements, colours, textures and even lighting. Designs refined in this manner can then be transferred to production drawings. The computer drawings have the ability to be linked to costing systems and building specifications. As a result, coordination with mechanical, electrical and structural engineering is achieved with speed and precision. The firms data bases can be used to produce management systems and other forms of information and control throughout the life of buildings, landscape or urban systems. Besides the workstations used in technical fields, the office uses a network of personal computers for project planning and management, graphic production and information storage. In our commitment to remain on the leading edge of technological development we continue to explore and develop techniques that allow us to provide the best possible service in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and planning.

Market Profile

Alliances: Financial: Domestic, Foreign Sales/Marketing: Domestic, Foreign
Geographic Markets:
Export Experience:
China Cuba Israel	Japan Malaysia United Kingdom United States

Sector Information

Key / Major Clients:

City of Toronto Government of Canada Canadian Opera Corporation Detroit Symphony Orchestra University of Toronto University of British Columbia York University University of Western Ontario McGill University University of Michigan Drexel University Israeli Foreign Ministry Public Works and Government Services Canada National Ballet of Canada

Success Stories:

“So this is what superlative looks like up close. This building is the essence of superlative – it is the largest building to have ever been built on this campus; it is the most technically advanced; it is the most magnificent. But most of all it is the greatest example of the realized potential of universities, government and private donors working together to achieve that which none of us could have accomplished alone.” Dr. Martha Piper, President University of British Columbia Life Sciences Centre

Testimonial:

"Dozens of meetings and hundreds of hours later the architects, design team and builders have created something that is of the highest quality and has improved the visual impression of the building from the outside as well as the inside. Our recruiting efforts to attract the next generation of scientists (faculty and students) has been made so much easier and our graduate program has never been healthier. The pleasure of the safer, functional, cheerful, bright and beautiful Davenport Research Laboratories (with 7 fumehoods for every six co-workers) has, after only six months, almost erased from our collective minds the conditions that we once considered normal. Within two weeks of the move my co-workers were up and running and we have never looked back. Now every reaction is run in a fumehood, every product purified in a fumehood and solvents removed in fumehoods. It’s easy to forget it is an organic chemistry lab without the sensory reminders (read smells!). The architects did a wonderful job of making the space attractive visually with many details that make a difference without being obvious but the real test has been made when the researchers set out to run experiments. I have been very gratified to watch the quality and quantity of our research improve as we learn to utilize all the features that were designed into the space. In-house nitrogen and in-house vacuum system, dedicated equipment rooms and solvent distillation rooms are just a few of the new features we have grown to enjoy. Lunch/computer/group rooms round out the standard suite of space for every faculty member in the DB. Our offices have beautiful views over the campus and the huge windows we all enjoy make it a pleasure to work" Mark Lautens Astra Zeneca Professor of Organic Synthesis Department of Chemistry, Davenport Research Laboratories University of Toronto

International Capital Projects:

Corporate Expertise: ----------------------- Architecture and Urban Planning Corporate Language Capabilities: ----------------------- Chinese, Czech, English, English or French, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Korean, Russian Project: Israeli Foreign Ministry Country: Israel Contribution: The plan is designed to meet the particular requirements of the Foreign Ministry of Israel. The 40,000 square meter building is also intended to be a prototype of secure office design in a Middle Eastern context. The foundation of the design is efficient and flexible office space. Configuration, column and window spacing, raised accessible floors and core design have all been planned to meet the highest standards of office accommodation, and to accept the widest range of office layouts. This has been achieved while satisfying structural economies and providing universal heating, ventilating, air conditioning, power and telecommunications distribution. Security measures have been incorporated throughout, including an innovative blast resistant wall assembly for the main reception space. Project: Black Sea Resort Development Country: Bulgaria Contribution: A total of 8,000 resort condominiums, comprising 700,000 square meters in construction area, are being developed within four separate properties along the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea. Sites - Shabla, Kavarna, Biala and Obzor, will be distinguished in the marketplace by offering superior site planning, interior design, and building and grounds design, while maintaining competitive unit pricing. Sea views are maximized, with over 80 to 100% of the units provided with seascape or coastal views. While site planning varies to exploit the unique opportunities of each site, unit plans are kept simple, efficient and standardized. The Black Sea project represents an opportunity to significantly intensify the usage of a sought-after coastal area, while still retaining the qualities that originally rendered it desirable. Amenity spaces such as swimming pools, restaurants, lounges, fitness centres and commercial establishments support the residential uses on each property. Construction will be phased within individual sites as well as from site to site. The Black Sea project represents an opportunity to significantly intensify the usage of a sought-after coastal area, while still retaining the qualities that originally rendered it desirable. Project: Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia Country: Vancouver, Canada Contribution: The University of British Columbia (UBC) Life Sciences Centre is a 550,000 square foot research-oriented academic building located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The facility is also the new home to the undergraduate medical programme at UBC with associated anatomy teaching labs designed for an expanded class size of 256. In addition to laboratories and faculty offices designed to accommodate 110 principle investigators and their staff, two large auditoria provide lecture space for seven hundred students. The building complements and augments an existing medical complex on the campus. The building is configured around two large five storey atria that are fully sky lit to allow day lighting of all spaces adjacent to them. The building accommodates 2900 persons including principal investigators, research assistants, graduate students, medical students and professors, facilities and administration staff. This project used a risk management project delivery method and was completed September, 2004. The UBC Life Sciences Centre is the largest post-secondary research facility in British Columbia. In addition, it is one of the largest buildings to go through the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Design) Certification process becoming LEED Gold certified in 2006. It is the first laboratory facilitiy to be designed and constructed using sustainable and “green” principles at every stage to completion. Project: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Country: Toronto, Canada Contribution: The new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is situated on a tight site in downtown Toronto. Flanked by tall high rise buildings and sitting on top of the city’s subway system, the new opera house, in a mere 5 months since its inaugural performance, has become an urban landmark in the city. The transparency of the façade of the Centre is paramount to the success of the architectural concept for the building. The objective was to produce a façade that was incredibly transparent and yet provided comfort from the heat and glare of the western sun. This University Avenue façade, nearly twenty metres high and fifty metres long, contains the City Room, multiple levels of lobby and stair as well as a 200-seat amphitheatre. A grand glass staircase, with a horizontal run of almost 27 meters and a rise of 8.8 metres, connects the upper levels of the lobby with the city room. The edifice is the longest spanning glass stair constructed in the world. The intimate 2,000 seat, 5 ring auditorium is modeled on the traditional European horseshoe configuration. Built to the extremely demanding N-1 criteria for acoustic quality, the Four Seasons Centre is the first structurally isolated performance facility in Canada. Project: Computer Science and Engineering Building, University of Michigan Country: Detroit, Michigan Contribution: The Computer Science and Engineering building accommodates faculty offices, research labs, and teaching spaces on the North Campus of the University of Michigan. The 102,000 square foot structure will meet the needs of approximately 900 undergraduates, 300 graduate students, and 51 faculty members currently spread throughout multiple facilities. It includes computing labs, classrooms (60 seat and 120 seat), conference rooms, and student project space all in a wireless environment. All Computer Science and Engineering faculty and staff, student offices and labs will be housed in the new building. High indoor environmental quality is a key feature of the building. Each office is placed on the perimeter of the building, naturally lit, and has an operable window. Daylight is into the building by using transom windows in corridors, and through the extensive placement of skylights that cover a four-storey atrium space and a long linear stair. One of the primary goals of the project was to bring together all CSE faculty into one building to foster interaction in a stimulating environment. The visibility afforded by the generous central atrium space, around which all labs and offices are organized, will provide a great sense of community among the CSE faculty, students and staff and encourage positive interaction within and among research groups.