Led by Shane Laptiste and Tura Cousins Wilson, the Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA) is an architecture and urban design studio dedicated to inclusive city building and creating beautiful spaces. Founded on the belief that architecture both shapes and is shaped by the contemporary condition, the studio is deeply engaged in research and the broader discourse of architecture’s impact on culture, the environment, and the shaping of cities.
As a practice with a deep interest in various scales, typologies, and cultural discourses, SOCA’s body of work represents their intersectional approach to culture, heritage, urbanism, housing justice, climate justice, and their implication on the practice of Architecture in Canada.
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The Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA) represents a new voice in Canadian architecture that is approaching a wide range of projects with an acute sensitivity to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. In addition to the modestly scaled opportunities for built work that are available for emerging practices, the principals are engaged in the broader urban architectural discourse in Toronto and contribute time to community organizations that include Black Urbanism TO, Black Lives Matter - Canada, as well as both principals being founding members of the Black Architects and Interior Designers Association (BAIDA). In SOCA’s process, community engagement is both a design tool and an outcome, and the firm’s beliefs about architecture’s impact on culture and environment reflect a clarity of mission and thought.
The vision with which the two partners at SOCA established their practice is long overdue and incredibly exciting. It has provided their practice with a diverse portfolio of buildings and advocacy activities, all undertaken to demonstrate how the profession can participate in socially inclusive, relevant, and beautiful buildings and spaces. From Granny's House to the speculative Alexandra Park Master Plan, they demonstrate their skill to recalibrate what constitutes a rich environment for architectural activity. SOCA is primed to develop into a powerful architecture firm that will make its mark on the Canadian design world.
2023 Annual Awards Jury