Masonry Magazine October 1968 Page. 16
Ontario Masons
Relations Council
AWARD WINNERS
Winning entries in the 1968 Ontario Masons Relations Council architectural awards competition reflect the scope of recent building throughout the province. A total of 50 buildings were entered in this year's competition-the fifth-by 34 architectural firms.
To be eligible to compete, buildings had to be other than detached or attached dwellings or apartment houses under four stories in height. They must have been erected during the past four years, be designed by architects, and meet a high standard of workmanship as well as design.
To make sure that these requirements are met, each building was visited in the final stages of judging. This is a unique practice, unknown in other architectural competitions. Its importance is noted in the report of the 1968 jury, which declares that "this tends to prevent making judgments colored by photographic tricks."
The jury this year was composed of George D. Gibson, professional advisor, James H. Acland and Jerome Markson, all Toronto architects.
For the Award of Excellence they selected the Greb Administration Building in Kitchener, designed by Jack Klein and Henry Sears. The jury report calls it "a signal achievement and brilliant structural solution in which the logic of the load-bearing wall has produced a column-free, dramatic building."
Six Awards of Merit were also made. These went to (1) Northern Electric Company Limited, Toronto Branch Laboratory, Bramalea: Gordon S. Adamson & Associates, (2) Thomas A. Stewart and Auburn Vocational Schools, Peterborough: Craig, Zeidler & Strong, (3) Gateway Boulevard Public School, North York: Raymond Mandel/Boigon & Heinonen Associates, (4) Church of Mary Immaculate, London: Murray & Murray, (5) Charles R. Sanderson Library, Toronto: Pentland, Baker & Polson, and (6) Central Services Building, University of Waterloo, Waterloo: Shore & Moffat and Partners, architects.
"It is interesting to note that after 4,000 years brick masonry is still a medium adaptable to a new world. This year's submissions prove that brick is a versatile material which may effectively be used as a structural element, as a skin or for textural reasons in a wide range of expressions.
"Fine detailing, logical massing and coherent structural statements were key features of the premiated designs. When compared to even 10 or 15 years ago it became evident to the jury that the quality of architectural design in this province is really humming."
The sponsor of the competition, the Ontario Masons Relations Council, is a unique example of labor-management co-operation. It is an organization representing, on an equal membership basis, the Ontario Region, Canadian Structural Clay Association, and the Ontario Conference of the Bricklayers, Masons & Plasterers International Union.
EXCELLENCE AWARD
Project: Greb Administration Building, Kitchener, Ontario
Architects: Jack Klein & Henry Sears.
General Contractor: Lavern Asmussen Ltd.
Mason Contractor: George & Asmussen Ltd.
MERIT AWARD
Cover Photo
Project: Thomas A. Stewart & Auburn Vocational Schools, Peterborough, Ontario
Architects: Craig, Zeidler & Strong
General Contractor: M. Sullivan & Sons
Mason Contractor: A. B. Dick
MERIT AWARD
Project: Gateway Boulevard Public School, North York, Ontar
Architects: Raymond Mandal/Boigon & Heinonen Associates
General Contractor: Mitchell Construction
Mason Contractor: Leader Masonry