IMPORTANT: Please read before registering.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The 2024 OAA NOW Lecture

Thursday, November 28

6 to 9 pm1.5 Structured Learning Hours

OAA Headquarters

It’s the long-awaited return of the OAA’s NOW Lecture event! Register to join us at the OAA Headquarters in Toronto from 6 to 9 pm on Thursday, November 28 for an evening dedicated to discussing architecture.

Connect with your peers from the profession during a one-hour reception with hors d’oeuvres, and then take in two very different Continuing Education presentations. First, architect Craig Race, along with project managers Ryan Fernandes and Matt Hagen, will explore how their firm, Lanescape, works with clients to deliver laneway and garden suite housing projects. They will share some of the approaches that led to them winning the OAA’s Best Emerging Practice Award earlier this year. Then, Behnaz Assadi and Nima Javidi, founding partners of Ja Architecture Studio, will share their concept of "The Grounding Meadow"—the winning selection in the recent OAA Landscape Design Competition project—and discuss how interdisciplinary teams come together effectively.

Space is extremely limited, so secure your spot now. This event provides 1.5 hours of Structured Learning. Admission is $20 (plus tax) for OAA members and the public, and $10 (plus tax) for OAA Intern Architects, OAA Student Associates, and OAA Retired Members. Enjoy a complimentary drink with your ticket, check out recent Queen’s Park Picks projects, and take home copies of our recent Design Excellence and SHIFT Challenge publications.

Register before 11:59 pm on November 24! Only those who have registered in advance will be admitted into the event.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand zoning policy advocacy by learning how one practice successfully advocates for as-of-right zoning policies to facilitate the development of laneway and garden suites, and explore strategies for engaging with communities, planning professionals, and municipal leaders to drive policy change. 
   
   
2. Gain insight into the design-build approach for laneway and garden suites, focusing on sustainable and thoughtful development practices that align with urban housing needs and regulatory frameworks. 
        
3. Explore how projects can incorporate sustainable landscape design principles while honouring Indigenous communities through the use of culturally significant plants, enhancing biodiversity and ecological balance.
   
   
4. Understand minimalist design strategies that can allow natural water flow and ecological enhancement, creating a harmonious interface between urban spaces and natural environments.