As we shift into the fall and winter seasons, we have a number of events, symposia, and talks lined up. We look forward to having you join us as we share our ideas and projects.

October   November   December  

October

Paths to Practice: Architecture's Co-Op Employer Job Fair

This fall, we will be participating in the Paths to Practice: Architecture's Co-Op Employer Job Fair hosted by the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture and the Co-Operative Education Department. Representing SvN will be Carolyn Fearman, Senior Associate, Architecture, and Joseph Kan, Associate, Architecture.

We look forward to meeting and engaging with the next generation of architects and discussing potential opportunities at SvN!

Evergreen Conference

Living Streets: Making Room for Life Within Our Cities

When we think about urban public space, we typically imagine parks, plazas or greenways. But by size, a city's most significant category of public space is actually its streets, meaning that they contain the potential to truly define a city’s identity and to forge relationships between our many citizens, businesses, and cultures. Toronto has a vast network of over 5600 km of streets; this seminar will discuss the potential to use these as a platform for action, as an incredible asset that can be used to improve our City. The design of place-based streets can allow us to address deeper social engagement within and across communities, build climate resilience and improving our public health.

as part of the 2024 Evergreen Conference, Senior Associate Dennis Rijkhoff as he outlines how to set a practical agenda for improved street design through a greater understanding of bringing together policy, planning and urban design, architecture and landscape architecture, and public engagement to strengthen the resiliency of our urban environment. He will also be taking us through various Park(ing) Day activations that will be remounted as part of the conference.

mPact Transit + Community Conference

Community-Led Urban Design: Implementing in Sync with Transit Projects

Klaudia Biala, Senior Associate, Architecture and Urban Design, will discuss how to successfully integrate community-led urban design into transit projects. Klaudia will highlight innovative approaches that align placemaking with the stringent demands of infrastructure development.

What Could We Do with this Land? Agency Assets and Community Needs

Transit agencies have the potential to go beyond mobility services and create lasting community assets. Michael Matthys, Planning Lead, will share insights on how public land can be used for urban and social well-being, including food security, art, and cultural identity.

Regenerative Design in Transit-Oriented Communities

Aaron Budd, Principal and Director, Regenerative Practice, will join a discussion on how regenerative design can go beyond net-zero goals to enhance both environmental sustainability and community well-being in transit-oriented projects.

Where Next: Collaborate & Innovate - Tech for Streamlined Development

Terence Tourangeau, Senior Associate and Director of Digital Practice, will join a discussion on how collaborative technology can streamline development processes and address market challenges through tools like Ratio.City and in-house site analysis solutions.

Azure Human/Nature Conference

Environmental Stewardship and Indigenous Reconciliation: a Regenerative Approach to Campus Planning

The Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan has a foundation of deep engagement with First Nations, Indigenous communities, and campus and local communities. Together, they created a campus plan that embraces regenerative and nature-inclusive practices, mirroring Trent University’s teachings – as a leader in environmental and Indigenous studies – in their space.

Join Senior Associate and Urban Design Lead Lina Al-Dajani alongside Bob Goulais, President & Senior Principal at Nbisiing Consulting Inc as they examine how they worked to build trust, promote enduring relationships, and integrate traditional Indigenous wisdom, knowledge, and values into a new campus plan for the University in Peterborough, Ontario. The creation of the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan was a significant opportunity for the University to learn how to engage respectfully and collaboratively with First Nations, specifically to increase cultural capacity when engaging with First Nations; develop best practices and a protocol guide for future projects; to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing in a meaningful way; and approach this as a demonstration project for advancing broader goals of Reconciliation.

Cabin Communities: Housing the Unhoused

Alongside non-profit Two Steps Home, we are showcasing our prototype cabin that forms part of our regenerative solution to our city’s ongoing homeless crisis. This ambitious pilot program can supply transitional and temporary housing designed to be low-cost, rapidly built, and deployed on vacant lots. You'll be able to visit a fully realized cabin in the lot next to our studio.

November

ONPHA Conference

This fall, we are participating at the 2024 ONPHA (Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association) Conference where we will be showcasing our work in affordable housing. Visit us at our exhibitor booth or connect with us virtually on the ONPHA Events Platform to explore our projects and discuss how we are shaping the future of affordable housing.

CONNECT2024: Newcomers

We’ll be participating in TSA CONNECT 2024: Newcomers, an event dedicated to helping internationally trained professionals establish their careers in Canada.

Mariella Amodio, Associate, Architecture will join an inspiring lineup of featured guests sharing their journeys of transitioning their lives and careers to Canada. With insights from across the globe—including South Africa, Costa Rica, Italy, and India—these experts will dive into topics from career paths and job searching to translating international experience into Canadian practice.

December

State of Canada’s Cities Summit

Principal Pino DiMascio will be speaking at the 2nd Annual State of Canada’s Cities Summit in Ottawa. This year’s summit will focus on the critical need for infrastructure investment to shape thriving, resilient communities across Canada. Pino will join a distinguished panel of experts, including leaders from the National Capital Commission, Archive Design Studio, and Concordia University, to explore the intersection of infrastructure and community wellbeing.

The State of Canada’s Cities Summit is the preeminent urban event bringing together the most influential Canadians each year to address global, regional, and local challenges facing our cities.

Expanding our Bio-based Materials Knowledge

Hosted by SvN Architects + Planners in collaboration with the Toronto BioBuild Collective, this gathering will focus on advancing our collective knowledge of bio-based materials and their potential to transform the built environment. During the event, we will showcase our progress on the “Upfront Carbon Materials Catalogue,” introduce new additions to our bio-based materials library, and present recent academic collaborations with the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

This is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share insights, and help grow our bio-build community. We look forward to seeing you there!