The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture Winners

Ginkgo Sustainability is proud to announce its collaboration efforts with two of this year’s winners of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture 2022.

 

The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture is a prestigious celebration and recognition of outstanding design in new projects built by Canadian Architects every second year. Initially, this started in 1950 with the Massey Medals. The Canada Council for the Arts and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada established and continued the tradition of this renowned competition.

 

The first winner is The Idea Exchange Old Post Office, where we worked to install a green roof for this project.

It is located in Galt, Ontario, by architect RDH Architects (RDHA). The Idea Exchange Old Post Office’s multipurpose gathering area cantilevers out over the Grand River.

“The project goal was to transform a dilapidated heritage post office into Canada’s first “bookless” library. They offer all age groups free access to an array of public spaces for learning, making, performance, and other creative endeavours. It also aimed to establish a new community hub with a contiguous café for meeting and socializing.” 

The meticulously restored heritage building has a strong presence in downtown Galt, Ontario. Ginkgo Sustainability aided in repairing a lost opportunity to establish a solid human and environmental connection. Moreover, we installed and maintained the green roof that wraps around the edges of the building above the glass enclosure area, providing a sustainable and biophilic aspect to the design.

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The second winner is 60-80 Atlantic Avenue by architect BDP Quadrangle located in Toronto, Ontario, in Liberty Village.

60 and 80 Atlantic are linked office buildings comprising the adaptive reuse of a historic building and a contemporary expansion; the project offers sustainable, modern workspaces and urban connectivity within a quickly gentrifying landmark neighbourhood.

80 Atlantic links to 60 Atlantic, creating a three-walled public gathering space for office workers, neighbours and passing pedestrians. Universal accessibility is provided by the sloping plaza between the two structures. Additionally, the interior has a ramped entrance corridor at 80 Atlantic, visible through its glass façade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further, 60-80 Atlantic Avenue incorporates various green roof designs across the building. Including a range of growing mediums from sedum to wildflowers for a diversified aesthetic and meeting of biodiverse needs.

Ginkgo Sustainability is proud to have been a part of these incredible projects. We continue to strive to connect the living and built environments.

 

For information and a complete list of all the winners of the 2022 Governor General’s Medal’s in Architecture award, visit:

https://www.canadianarchitect.com/2022-governor-generals-medals-in-architecture/

 

For more information on how you can partner with Ginkgo on your next project, Contact Us!

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