FEBRUARY 2014
H
business elite canada
51
F
or more than a centu-
ry, the members of the
Royal Architectural In-
stitute of Canada (RAIC) have
worked to enhance the quality
of life through design. From
repurposing treasured heri-
tage structures to designing
the next generation of energy-
saving buildings, to making
special places that promote
tourism to award-winning
buildings in which to learn,
heal, work and play.
Established in 1907, the RAIC
is the oldest architectural or-
ganization in Canada and will
celebrate its 110th anniversa-
ry in 2017. It became “royal”
in 1909 by permission of the
Queen. Today, the non-profit
group, with headquarters in
Ottawa, is recognized nation-
ally as the leading voice for
excellence in the built envi-
ronment.
“It is the glue that binds ar-
chitects across Canada into a
unified voice and a cohesive
and informed profession,”
says Wayne De Angelis, presi-
dent of the 12-member board
of directors.
Through a wide range of ac-
tivities, the RAIC champi-
ons sustainable construction,
demonstrates how intelli-
gent design can improve the
places we live and seeks to
address important issues of
society through responsible
architecture. There are cur-
rently about 4,900 members,
including licensed architects,
interns, students, faculty and
graduates of Canadian schools
of architecture and member-
ship is voluntary.
“We’re running quite strong
right now; we’re building our
membership,” says De An-
gelis, a Vancouver architect
previously working in Japan,
The Atrium - D’Ambrosio architecture + urbanism | All photos: © silentSama
