Shim-Sutcliffe Architects facts for kids

Shim-Sutcliffe Architects is a Canadian architecture and interior design firm based in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded in 1994 by University of Toronto professor Brigitte Shim and her partner Howard Sutcliffe.

Education and early career

Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe met at the University of Waterloo where they both received degrees in environmental studies (1981) and architecture (1983). Although Shim-Sutcliffe was officially established in 1994, the founders had previously collaborated since the early 1980s. They mostly worked on small scale, architectural furniture until they worked on Laneway House in 1993. The firm has since grown to a staff of 8, and has won many national and international awards for their work. The project types range from residential, to religious spaces, to commercial spaces, located locally as well as internationally.

Awards

The firm has won "every major Canadian design award", including 14 Governor General's Awards.

• 1992 Governor General Award for Architecture: Garden Pavilion and Reflecting Pool, Don Mills, Toronto
• 1994 Governor General Award for Architecture: House on Horse Lake, Haliburton, Ontario
• 1994 Governor General Award for Architecture: Laneway House, Toronto, Ontario
• 1996 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence: Ledbury Park, Toronto, Ontario
• 1996 Governor General Award for Architecture: Craven Road House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2001 Wood Design Award of Merit: Moorelands Camp Dining Hall/Kitchen, Lake Kawagama, Ontario
• 2001 Wood Design Award of Honour: Muskoka Boathouse, Lake Muskoka, Ontario
• 2002 Governor General Award for Architecture: Moorelands Camp Dining Hall, Lake Kawagama, Ontario
• 2003 City of Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Award of Excellence for 'Visions and Master Plans' for Site Unseen Laneway Architecture and Urbanism in Toronto
• 2004 Governor General Award for Architecture: Weathering Steel House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2004 Governor General Award for Architecture: Muskoka Boathouse, Lake Muskoka, Ontario
• 2004 Chicago Athenaeum and Museum of Architecture and Design - Good Design Award: HAB Collection
• 2006 Wood Design Award of Honour: Craven Road Studio, Toronto, Ontario
• 2009 North American Wood Design Award: Integral House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2010 Governor General Award for Architecture: Ravine Guest House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2010 Governor General Award for Architecture: Craven Road Studio, Toronto, Ontario
• 2010 Governor General Award for Architecture: Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
• 2011 Faith and Form Religious Art and Architecture Award of Merit: New Facilities for Congregation Bet Ha'am, Portland, Maine
• 2012 American Institute of Architects Honor Award: Integral House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2012 Governor General Award for Architecture: Integral House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2012 North American Wood Design Award of Honor: Integral House, Toronto, Ontario
• 2014 Governor General Award for Architecture: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2014 Faith and Form Religious Architecture - New Facilities Award: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2014 City of Toronto Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2015 Design & Health International Academy of Design and Health, Award for International Health Project: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2015 Design & Health International Academy of Design and Health, Award for Sustainable Urban and Built Environment: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2016 Governor General’s Medal for Architecture: Wong Dai Sin Temple, Markham, Ontario
• 2017 Toronto Urban Design Award (TUDA) of Merit, Private Buildings in Context - Low Scale: Urban Infill in the Village of Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario
• 2021 "RAIC Gold Medal Award"

Notable Projects

• 1988: Garden Pavilion and Reflecting Pool
• 1989: House on Horse Lake
• 1994: Laneway House
• 1995: Craven Road House
• 1999: Muskoka Boathouse
• 2000: Moorelands Camp Dining Hall
• 2001: Weathering Steel House
• 2004: Ravine Guest House and Reflecting Pool
• 2004: Corkin Gallery
• 2006: Craven Road Studio
• 2009: Integral House
• 2013: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto
• 2015: Wong Dai Sin Temple
• TBD: Ace Hotel Toronto

Shim-Sutcliffe Architects also debuted specialty furniture and lighting items for their clients. Most well known is the HAB Collection that is currently manufactured and distributed by Nienkämper. Another popular item from the pair is the Firefly lamp which is meant to resemble fireflies in a mason jar that glows even after the lamp is turned off.