Canada’s National Arts Centre is delighted to congratulate the design team at Diamond Schmitt Architects who tonight received the 2017 Ottawa Urban Design Award for their work on the stunning rejuvenation of the NAC building.  The prestigious Toronto-based firm received their award – under the category of Urban Infill (low rise) – during a ceremony in one of the NAC’s new spaces.

At $110.5 million, the National Arts Centre project represents the biggest investment in cultural infrastructure by the Government of Canada to mark the sesquicentennial. The new building, which opened over two phases this year on Canada Day and October 4^th, features improved performance spaces, public areas for education and events, full accessibility for people with mobility challenges, and a magnificent glass atrium and signature architectural feature – the “Kipnes Lantern” located over the Centre’s Elgin Street entrance – that are more transparent and inviting.

“Thanks to the brilliant design by the team from Diamond Schmitt, led by principal architect Donald Schmitt and project lead Jennifer Mallard, the NAC today embraces the heart of our Nation’s Capital, and emerges from its original concrete structure into an open and modern public building,” said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “Congratulations to the entire design team for this well-deserved honour.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Carl Martin Communications National Arts Centre 613 947-7000 x560 carl.martin@nac-cna.ca