Story Pod, by Atelier Kastelic Buffey Inc. of Toronto, is a previous SHIFT Challenge winner.
Inaugurated in 2019 by the Ontario Architects Association, the SHIFT Challenge is a biennial competition now in its second edition and open to submissions from all active OAA members, including Architects, Intern Architects, Student Associates, and Licensed Technologists OAA.
Originally designed to explore and promote projects that grapple with the most complex issues of our times, each competition is devoted to a single theme. This year tackles resilience. The challenge is to explore the intersection of architecture and resiliency in various ways, including physical, economic, environmental, cultural, social, virtual, or spiritual. We are looking for innovative ideas that advance design thinking at every scale, from small spaces to entire ecosystems, and demonstrate how the architecture profession can inspire positive social change.
Rail to Trail London by Cornerstone Architecture Inc. SHIFT welcomes projects at every scale.
The 2021 theme follows up on SHIFT 2019’s exploration of infrastructure, which drew an impressive number of cutting-edge submissions, among them a railway corridor in London, Ontario, transformed into linear parks, and a community-supported modular library designed and built for a park in Newmarket, Ontario. All seven 2019 selections and four honourable mentions formed the basis for a series of broader conversations spearheaded by the OAA, including events in Toronto and Quebec City and a book publication.
To enter, project ideas must be submitted by Monday, January 18, 2021. In February, a jury of experts will convene with top selections announced at the OAA’s virtual conference in the spring. The OAA is also exploring opportunities for physically sharing the SHIFT 2021 results while also respecting physical distancing. To learn more, please visit http://www.shiftchallenge.ca.
Urban Energy Shift, designed in cooperation with students at Carleton University and UBC.
www.shiftchallenge.ca