For Immediate Release
OTTAWA – The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is honoured to announce the recipients of the 2026 RAIC Architectural Practice Award, the RAIC Emerging Architectural Practice Award and the RAIC International Prize.
From a Toronto firm whose seven-decade legacy continues to evolve with boldness and craft, to a Vancouver studio redefining what community-centred practice can look like, to a London-based not-for-profit challenging the very foundations of how we build — this year’s recipients reflect the breadth and depth of architecture’s power to shape a more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful world.
Moriyama Teshima Architects – 2026 RAIC Architectural Practice Award Recipient
Founded in Toronto in 1958, Moriyama Teshima Architects (MTA) has shaped Canada’s cultural and civic landscape for over six decades, with landmark projects including the Canadian War Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, and the Toronto Reference Library. Today, the firm continues to evolve under a new generation of leadership, with a growing focus on mass timber and sustainable design.
“We are deeply grateful for this recognition from our peers and from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada,” said a spokesperson for the firm. “We carry a legacy of bold, passionate design from our founders, and we’re honoured to be recognized today, not for where we’ve come from, but for who we are now: a collective that continues to evolve and continues to push boundaries with courage in the pursuit of a more balanced and beautiful future.”
The 2026 jury unanimously recognized Moriyama Teshima Architects for a distinguished, consistent, and internationally significant body of work marked by dignity, restraint, craft, public engagement, and leadership within the profession.
Jury Members:
- Wayne Guy, FRAIC
- Sumayya Vally, Hon. FRAIC
- Stephanie Yeung, MRAIC
- Ted Watson, FRAIC
- Chris Woodford, MRAIC
Learn more about the award recipient, see pictures of their work, and read jury comments.
MOTIV Architects Inc. – 2026 RAIC Emerging Practice Award Recipient
Founded in Vancouver in 2017, MOTIV Architects is a people-centred studio working at the intersection of housing, innovative learning spaces, and food security. Certified as a B Corporation, the firm brings a strong ethical foundation to every project — making design accessible, community-rooted, and deeply responsive to the people it serves.
“This award is an incredible validation of our work in making design accessible, responsive and relevant in a world that needs design now more than it ever has,” said the firm.
The jury recognized Motiv for the clarity of its vision, its ethical foundation, and its ability to work across scales while maintaining a strong commitment to equity, social sustainability, and meaningful architectural intervention.
Jury Members:
- Wayne Guy, FRAIC
- Sumayya Vally, Hon. FRAIC
- Stephanie Yeung, MRAIC
- Ted Watson, FRAIC
- Chris Woodford, MRAIC
Learn more about the award recipient, see pictures of their work, and read jury comments.
Material Cultures – 2026 RAIC International Prize Recipient
Material Cultures is a London-based not-for-profit design and research organisation working to advance regenerative, socially just land and building systems. Through design practice, applied research, and education, they champion low-carbon, bio-based construction as a model for the future of the built environment.
“We are delighted to be recognised by the RAIC for our intersectional work on regenerative and socially just land and building systems. We are grateful to work alongside incredible collaborators, with whom we continue to discover new models of transformation.”
The selection committee praised Material Culture “for its research-driven practice, sustainable material innovation, and collective working model, and is recognized as emblematic of emerging architectural thinking. The selection committee noted that the work reflects a forward-looking approach grounded in sustainability and design research. Material Cultures are emerging leaders in the discipline and make a clear statement about the direction of architecture. The approach was described as innovative and unexpected, with the potential to inspire curiosity and learning.”
Selection Committee Members:
- Jason Robbins, FRAIC, Immediate Past President
- Johanna Hurme, FRAIC, President Elect
- Farida Abu-Barake, FRAIC
- Wanda Dalla Costa, Hon. FRAIC
- Kent Martinussen
Learn more about the International Prize recipient, see pictures of their work, and read the selection committee’s comments.
Media contact
communications@raic.org