Congratulations to Williamson Chong Architects! The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has named the Toronto firm the recipient of its 2014 Emerging Architectural Practice Award. Williamson Chong is the firm of Associate Professor Shane Williamson, Betsy Williamson, and Daniels Faculty alumnus Donald Chong.

“The firm is consistently producing innovative projects that contain quality detailing and craftsmanship including a focus on the use of wood,” said the RAIC jury.

The RAIC Emerging Architectural Practice Award aims to recognize the principals of an emerging architectural practice that have consistently produced distinguished architecture. The award recognizes the achievements of the principals for the quality of their built work, service to their clients, innovations in practice and public recognition.

From the RAIC’s press release:

Established in 2011, the seven-person office of Shane Williamson MRAIC, Betsy Williamson MRAIC, and Donald Chong was recognized for an award-winning practice which combines teaching, research and community involvement.

Projects range from experiments with new technologies for wood fabrication to a master-plan proposal that reimagines a former sand-and-gravel quarry in Haliburton, Ontario as a sustainable village designed to produce food for the local area.

Built projects include a house on a 12-foot-wide lot in Toronto which reflects the firm’s interest in the innovative use of brownfield and marginal sites. The Galley House aims to show how a slender detached housing type can be viable in terms of square footage while not shortchanging itself on natural light and amenity.

“We are honoured to have been selected for the Emerging Architectural Practice Award, which recognizes our work to date but, more importantly, speaks to the potential of our design and research to significantly contribute to architectural discourse and the built environment in Canada,” said Shane Williamson. “As the second recipient of this award, we would like to thank the RAIC for providing such a unique vehicle to support the trajectories of early-career architects and offices.”

Williamson Chong will receive the award at the 2014 Festival of Architecture, held in Winnipeg from May 28 to 31, 2014 by the RAIC and the Manitoba Association of Architects.

RAIC’s Emerging Architectural Practice Award is part of a string of prominent awards that the firm has received in recent years. In 2012, Williamson Chong was awarded the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture which is allowing the firm to research advanced wood construction and emerging manufacturing technologies around the world. Earlier this year, the firm won a 2014 Emerging Voices Award from the Architectural League.

Clicl here to download a PDF of RAIC's press release.