2025 Student Design Award Winners

Celebrating the Future of Architecture in Canada

The AIA Canada Student Design Awards Program recognizes outstanding student work in architectural design, with an emphasis on technical excellence, sustainable thinking, and inclusive design practices. Open to students enrolled in architectural or architectural technology programs across Canada, the competition offers a national platform for emerging talent to gain industry recognition and share bold new ideas.

Made possible through the generous support of the AIA Component Matching Scholarship Grant Program—a partnership between AIA Canada Society and the American Institute of Architects—this annual award program supports student growth and honours exceptional design achievements.

Winners are featured in the AIA Canada Journal, Canadian Architect Magazine, and here on the AIA Canada website. They are also invited to present their work in an upcoming AIA Canada Society webinar, amplifying their voices across the profession.

The 2025 award winners were announced at the AIA Canada Society Reception during the RAIC Conference in Montréal on June 1, 2025.

The 2025 awards were selected by a distinguished jury of professionals whose expertise spans architecture, urban planning, sustainability, and community engagement. Their thoughtful deliberation and commitment to excellence ensured a rigorous and inclusive review process that celebrates the best of emerging design talent in Canada.

Amit Price Patel
Architect (CA, CO, WA), Urban Planner, AIA, AICP, AIBC, NCARB, LEED®AP | Partner

At the heart of Amit’s work is a commitment to improving the overall quality of life in our cities and creating inclusive urban spaces that foster opportunity and human connection. These principles form the foundation of his work as both an architect and a city planner. Through design, Amit addresses disparities in economic history, issues of equity, and limited access to great architecture to create beautiful and sustainable places that allow all people to thrive.

Amit has led several award-winning, mixed-use infill urban buildings and neighborhood master plans that address the climate and housing crises faced globally. Amit’s current projects include the transformation of parking lots into a 35-acre high-density sustainable transit-oriented community, design guidelines and social housing for Indigenous communities, and a modular, mass timber prototype for mixed-use, multigenerational housing. Amit also recently taught a Master of Urban Design Studio at the University of California Berkeley on the topic of Urban Scarcity and Abundance. Prior to joining DIALOG, Amit was a Principal at SITELAB Urban Studio, and Urban Design Lead at David Baker Architects in the Bay Area.

Christopher Johnson
Intern Architect, Svedas Architects Inc.

Chris is registered as an Intern Architect at Svedas Architects Inc., and has been with the firm for two years. During his time at Svedas Architects Inc., Chris has been involved in projects in multiple phases ranging from schematic design to contract administration in construction projects across Southern Ontario. Chris’ day-to-day activities include managing project workflows, coordinating with lead consultants and project managers, drafting, and client relations.

Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Chris’ appreciation for the built environment started at an early age watching the area built around him in the West Brant neighbourhood. Chris combines his experiences and interests to create interactive and responsive spaces for community engagement around sustainability.

Throughout his academic and post-graduate journey, Chris was involved with the Canadian Architecture Students Association (CASA-ACEA) serving 5 years as a director, represented students on the OAA Comprehensive Education Committee to advance education opportunities and advancements in Ontario, and was a research assistant for the Living Atlas “Quality in Canada’s Built Environment” Laurentian University Research Cluster.

He completed his Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture where he was immersed in a tricultural mandate in Northern Ontario, completely unlike small Southern Ontario cities. His thesis focused on developing a set of adaptive guidelines and frameworks for the City of Toronto’s current urban development to reuse existing buildings in a more environmentally and socioculturally sustainable manner, looking at the pre-existing Toronto Weston Flea Market as a case study.

Meet the 2025 Student Design Award Winners