Tyler Sharp

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) announces Tyler Sharp, of Toronto, as the recipient of its 2014 Young Architect Award.

Sharp, 40, graduated from the Dalhousie School of Architecture in Halifax, N.S. in 2002. While at Dalhousie, he completed a work-term with Vancouver-based Battersby Howat where he contributed to series of custom houses, including the award-winning Staehling Residence.

After graduation, Sharp joined the Toronto firm of KPMB where he was involved in the multi-award winning Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Arts in Toronto. He also played key roles in the design of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Headquarters in Toronto, the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, and the Governor-General’s Award winning Vaughan Civic Centre in Vaughan, Ont.

In choosing Sharp, the jury noted that he has shown design leadership and excellence. “His work is recognized for its detail and controlled built-resolutions,” the jury said. “His success demonstrates that individual creativity and talent can be exercised within a larger firm context as an option to developing a career as an individual practitioner.”

Sharp joined RDH Architects in Toronto in 2005, where his first project was the Bloor Gladstone Library in Toronto, which has received seven major design awards. He led the designs for the Hamilton Central Library and Farmers Market, the Waterdown Library and Civic Centre, the First Leaside Financial Headquarters, and the Guelph Civic Centre Skating Pavilion.

Over his two years at RDH, Sharp helped to transform the firm through a redesign of the office website, business cards, letterhead and major renovations to the office. Further to this, he has encouraged the development of a studio environment, an office design-library, a consistent design vocabulary for projects, and has helped to bring a new generation of young architects to the firm.

Sharp is now a design partner at RDH. His leadership shows “an individual architect can be an important component to the growth and re-invention of a traditional existing practice,” the jury noted.

Recent work has included the critically acclaimed transformations of the Lakeview, Port Credit and Lorne Park Branch libraries for the Mississauga Library System.

“The last decade has proven to be a very exciting, productive and transformative period for myself and the firm and it is extremely rewarding to be recognized for these efforts with such a distinguished honour,” says Sharp.

This award is to recognize an architect 40 years or younger for excellence in design, leadership and/or service to the profession. It is intended to inspire other young architects to become licensed and to strive for excellence in their work.

Sharp will receive his award at the 2014 Festival of Architecture, taking place in Winnipeg May 28 to 31.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, also known as Architecture Canada | RAIC, is a voluntary national association established in 1907. Representing about 4,600 members, the RAIC is the leading voice of architecture in Canada whose mission is to promote excellence in the built environment; to celebrate the richness and diversity of architecture in Canada; and to support architects in achieving excellence.

> via raic.org