Toronto, ON
Pat Hanson is the founding principal of gh3*, a Canadian architecture and urban design practice recognized for its thoughtful integration of infrastructure, landscape, and the public realm. Over the course of more than three decades, Hanson has developed a body of work that challenges conventional distinctions between architecture and civic systems, advancing projects that reveal the environmental and social processes shaping contemporary cities.
Hanson’s work is characterized by clarity of form, strong conceptual frameworks, and a commitment to design excellence across diverse project types, including institutional, infrastructural, and residential commissions. Through her leadership, gh3* has built an interdisciplinary studio culture that combines architecture, urbanism, and landscape strategies to address complex programmatic and environmental conditions. Many of the firm’s projects transform utilitarian infrastructure into expressive civic architecture, making visible the ecological systems that support urban life.
Central to Hanson’s approach is an interest in layered public engagement and the role of architecture in shaping collective experience. Projects such as the Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool in Edmonton demonstrate this philosophy through the integration of natural filtration systems and public recreation, merging environmental performance with social space. Similarly, the Stormwater Facility in Toronto reinterprets water infrastructure as a civic landmark, expressing technical processes through precise architectural form.
Throughout her career, Hanson has maintained a strong commitment to architectural education and mentorship. She has taught since 1991, including long-standing roles at the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, influencing generations of emerging designers while advancing discourse around equity and interdisciplinary practice. Her professional leadership also extends to design review panels and advisory initiatives supporting diversity within the architectural profession.
Hanson’s work has received widespread recognition, including five Governor General’s Medals in Architecture and numerous national and international awards. In 2024, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her significant contributions to Canadian architecture. Across projects ranging from infrastructure to public landscapes, her work continues to demonstrate how architecture can elevate technical systems into meaningful civic experiences while reinforcing connections between environment, community, and design
JURY COMMENT(S)
Her work is recognized as a powerful and conceptually rigorous body of architecture that consistently elevates infrastructural and utilitarian typologies into poetic and dignified public spaces. Through pure and expressive forms, refined detailing, and a deep commitment to user experience, her projects transform even the most challenging programs, such as bus terminals, swimming pools, and other public infrastructure, into elegant and inspiring works of architecture. She brings beauty and meaning to the everyday, demonstrating that everyone deserves access to well designed public space.
2026 Annual Awards Jury
