: Architecture : Interior Architecture : Landscape Architecture and Planning :

Our design for the regional headquarters for Ottawa-Carleton (now the Ottawa City Hall) began with studies of the site and the way people moved through it, revealed by footprints in the snow. We analyzed the angle of the sun throughout the year and studied the rain and snowfall and how the wind swept over the site in winter.

In Saudi Arabia, we designed the Saudi Arabian National Museum using natural, passive methods of ventilation, such as massive walls, shading devices, courtyards, and arcades, to provide energy conservation and human comfort in the hot arid climate. The Museum's curving west wall is a minimalist foil to the highly articulated form of the historic palace opposite, as well as a gesture of respect to Mecca. Yet the curve of limestone was inspired by the wind-swept sands of the desert.

More recently, as the world becomes increasingly oriented towards technology, we strive to achieve a balance between humanity, nature, and technology. In projects like Seneca College's advanced technology campus at York University, light, spaciousness, and uninterrupted vistas create a feeling of humanity that celebrates and inspires learning.