Born in South Africa, Jack Diamond arrived in Canada in 1964 as Founding Director of the University of Toronto’s Master of Architecture program. From 1968-1975 he was principal in the firm of Diamond and Myers. In 1975 he established A.J. Diamond Architects, which by 1989 had evolved into the partnership of A.J. Diamond, Donald Schmitt and Company.
Canadian born architect Donald Schmitt studied architecture at the University of Toronto, and has been in practice with Jack Diamond since 1978. Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt are the founding principals of Diamond Schmitt Architects Incorporated.
In addition to the founding principals, Jack Diamond and Donald Schmitt, there are 16 principals, 3 senior associates, 13 associates, 92 registered graduate and student architects; and a support staff of 20.
Principals: Sydney Browne, Gregory Colucci, Martin Davidson, David Dow, Robert Graham, John Featherstone, Helen Kabriel, Michael Leckman, Matthew Lella, Jarle Lovlin, Gary McCluskie, Birgit Siber, Matthew Smith, Jon Soules, Mike Szabo and Michael Treacy.
Senior Associates: Duncan Higgins, Ana Maria Llanos, Peggy Theodore.
Associates: Walton Chan, Leonardo de Melo, Branka Gazibara, Dan Klink, Sarah Low, Michael Lukasik, Jennifer Mallard, Dale McDowell, Jessica Shifman, Joseph Troppmann, Antra Roze, Sybil Wa and Gary Watson.
Since the practice was founded in 1975 the firm has completed a wide variety of projects worldwide that include:
1980: Betty Oliphant Theatre, The National Ballet School of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1981: Metro Central YMCA, Toronto, Ontario
1983: Berkeley Castle renovation (19th century complex of industrial buildings; former offices of Diamond and Schmitt), Toronto, Ontario
1990: The Jerusalem City Hall, Jerusalem, Israel, (with Kolker, Kolker and Epstein Architects, Jerusalem)
1994: University of Toronto Earth Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
1994: Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
1996: York University Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2000: Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, Ontario
2001: Davenport Chemistry Research Wing, Lash Miller Laboratories, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
2001: St. Michael’s Hospital, Cardinal Carter Wing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2002: Canadian Chancery, Prague, Czech Republic (with Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Architects, Prague)
2002: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Ontario,
2002: Los Alamos Civic Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
2003: Max M. Fisher Music Center (home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Detroit, Michigan, USA
2003: The Jewish Community Centre in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
2003: Cancer Research Institute, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada,
2003: Alumbrera House, Mustique, The Grenadines
2003: Gerstein Science Information Centre Master Plan and Renovations, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario,
2003: Queen’s University Residences (Leggett Hall, Watts Hall, Leonard Hall), Kingston, Ontario, Canada, (with Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Kingston)
2004: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel (with Kolker, Kolker, Epstein Architects, Jerusalem)
2004: Pierre Berton Resource Library, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
2004: University of British Columbia Life Sciences Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
2005: The Banff Centre Campus Master Plan and Implementation, Banff, Alberta, Canada
2005: The Esplanade, Medicine Hat Performing Arts and Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
2005: Ontario Science Centre, Weston Family Innovation Centre, Toronto, Ontario
2005: Computer Science and Engineering Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
2005: University of Guelph-Humber Academic Building, Toronto, Ontario
2006: Varsity Centre for Physical Activity and Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
2006: Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City, Ireland
2006: Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario
2006: McGill University Master Plan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2006: University of Windsor, Medical Education Building, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
2007: Banff Centre Sally Borden Building, Banff, Alberta, Canada
2007: McGill University Life Sciences Complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2007: Harman Center for the Arts Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., USA,
2008: Life Sciences Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (with Provencher Roy Associés, Montreal)
2008: Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
2008: Cambridge City Hall, Cambridge, Ontario
2008: Grand Theatre Renovation, Kingston, Ontario
2008: Lakefield College School Recreation Centre, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada
2009: University of Ontario Institute of Technology Master Plan and academic buildings, Oshawa, Ontario
2009: Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario
2009: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2010: Charles & Myrtle Walker Novi Public Library, Novi, Michigan, USA
2010: Evergreen Brick Works Centre for Sustainability (Don Valley Brick Works), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2010: Santa Fe Community College Health and Sciences Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA (with Studio Southwest Architects, Albuquerque, N.M.)
2010: TEDCO’s Corus Entertainment Building "Corus Quay", Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2011: Centennial College Library and Academic Building, Progress Campus, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
2011: University of Toronto Scarborough Instructional Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2011 : Montreal Symphony House, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Joint venture with SNC Lavalin and Aedifica Architects, Montreal)
2011: Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA (with H2L2 Architects, Philadelphia)
2011: Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (with Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Kingston)
2011: Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario
2011: University of British Columbia Faculty of Law building, Vancouver, British Columbia
2011: Algonquin College Centre for Construction Excellence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2011: Ryerson Image Centre, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario Canada
2012 : University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall Academic Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2013 : The Mariinsky Theatre New Opera, St. Petersburg, Russia
2013: Hospital for Sick Children Research Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2013: Bridgepoint Health Chronic Long-term Care Complex, Toronto, Ontario
2013: Regent Park Residential Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2014: Old main academic building at the Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
2014: Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
2015: FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
2015: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
2016: 250 Delaware Avenue, mixed use high rise in Buffalo, New York
Robarts Library Revitalization, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Obzor Luxury Beach & Spa, Black Sea Residential Resorts, Obzor, Bulgaria (with Urbiarch, Obzor)
Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Diamond Schmitt Architects has received numerous regional, national and international awards for excellence in design. The firm was recognized in 2009 by Deloitte LLP, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, KPMG, and the Queen’s University School of Business as being one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
Village Terrace, Toronto, Ontario, 1985
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, 1986
Metro Toronto YMCA, Toronto, Ontario, 1986
Earth Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 1994
Richmond Hill Central Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 1994
York University Student Centre, Toronto, Ontario, 1996
Bridgepoint Hospital, Toronto, Ontario 2016
2007: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
2004: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel
2007: The Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2008: Shakespeare Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA
