© VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre / Perkins+Will

Peter Busby has worked mainly in Vancouver. His iconic works reflect his concept of social responsibility and his commitment to sustainable architecture. Among his realisations are the visitor centre for VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, 'Dockside Green' ecodistrict in Victoria, and the Centre for Lake Conservation at Laurentienne University in Sudbury (Ontario).

The jury recognised "his work as a pioneer in sustainable design and his international influence in this field, which have ensured him a privileged place in the history of Canadian architecture, as much for design as for innovation."

The medal will be presented to him during a ceremony at the RAIC architecture festival that will take place in Winnipeg, on 28 - 31 May 2014.

Sustainable design doesn't usually get the gold medals in architecture. Look at the Pritzkers and you have to pretty much go back to 2002. That's why it is such a pleasure to see that Peter Busby got this year's Gold Medal from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Peter has been featured on TreeHugger for his Centre for Interactive Research and Technology (Called North America's greenest building at the time),Smart Condos, and the Van Dusen Botanical Garden Centre in Vancouver. He's now managing Perkins + Will in San Francisco.

Among the jury comments:

''Mr. Busby was awarded the RAIC Gold Medal for his pioneer efforts in bringing sustainable design and development to the forefront of the practice of architecture... Through his on-going efforts, the importance of a more responsible approach to building and urban development has become part of the mainstream of architectural practice and education.... His pioneering work in sustainable design and his international influence in this regard has ensured a permanent place for Mr. Busby in Canadian architectural history, for both design and innovation.''

> via raic.org