Photo Credit (Above): Scott Norsworthy
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Architecture Practice: Suulin Architects Inc. (now Suulin Inc.)
Chosen by a jury of respected design experts, the 20 projects comprising the OAA’s 2026 Design Excellence Finalists represent a diverse range of building types, including sustainably designed community centres, innovative housing solutions, revitalized academic and cultural facilities, and transformative public spaces. These finalists serve as the shortlist for the OAA’s 10 Design Excellence Winners, which will be announced next month and honoured at the OAA Conference in the Waterloo Region in May. The biennial OAA Design Excellence Awards program offers Ontario practices the opportunity to display the transformative influence of architecture, promoting broader public recognition and appreciation for the field. The following media statement has been supplied by the submitting project team:
Built as a church circa 1910, 225 Brunswick also served as a synagogue, art school and an office in the 1980s, gradually having a diminished presence in the community. The renovation and 1.5-storey addition retain the original roofline while adding density, creating space for seven unique apartments. Landscape features improve daylighting and connect each unit to the public realm via a buffer of planted outdoor space. Double-height living rooms recall the airy worship space.
225 Brunswick is a restored neighborhood landmark that strengthens the urban fabric by reinvigorating social networks through a deeper physical connection.
Photo Credit: Scott Norsworthy
Photo Credit: Scott Norsworthy
Photo Credit: Scott Norsworthy
This blOAAg post is part of a series exploring the OAA’s 20 Design Excellence Finalists for 2026, as selected by our jury.