Forty-year-old Toronto-based architect Tyler Sharp is the recipient of The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) 2014 Young Architect Award.
After graduating from the Dalhousie School of Architecture in Halifax in 2002, Sharp joined Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg 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, ON.
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. Sharp 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.
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. This award 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 from May 28 to May 31.