May 09, 2025
We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Mike Jepson who was the first to identify the April clue: the Waterloo Public Library Eastside Branch at RIM Park in Waterloo, which was designed in joint venture with ward99 architects.
A bit about the WPL Eastside Branch:
This bright and welcoming library received the 2022 Best New Library Building prize from the Ontario Library Association.
The design of this library included numerous environmental features, such as a roof designed to support solar panels in the future; a Trombe solar wall that preheats ventilation air during the winter; and fritted glass that is bird-friendly.
…
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September 01, 2026
Bring your technical expertise to our creative and collaborative Kitchener design studio
Our forward-thinking design studio of eleven or so is presently working on a wide range of projects including heritage properties, mixed use and multi-res developments, emergency services and other public use facilities, public spaces, interior design, adaptive re-use, and custom residential projects. If you can bring in-depth technical knowledge of architectural materials and methods, and would like to assist us with our expanding project load, we'd like to hear from you.
The successful applicant will be involved with all phases of projects, with special emphasis on Building S…
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January 14, 2026
As 2025 drew to a close, we asked ourselves to reflect on why we do the work we do. Here’s what we had to say:
Mila: "Finally seeing the balcony steel and upper floor steel on site at 180 King. Alas, it is coming along…”
Scott: "It was satisfying seeing the response to the William St residence, from the clients, those who had worked on the project, and even a neighbour who had become intrigued by the project on their regular walks. While I hadn’t contributed much to this project, it was great to see how pleased people have been universally with the end result of a lot of hard work by those in this office."
Margaret: "What is satisfying? I think you are all great individuals, and together you make a team with super powers. I…
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November 18, 2025
John MacDonald Architect is interested in hiring two architecture students to join our team in Kitchener beginning in January. Undergraduate and graduate students seeking 4 month co-op placements are encouraged to apply.
Our forward-thinking studio of twelve or so is presently working on a wide range of exciting projects including adaptive re-use of heritage properties, mixed use and multi-res developments, institutional and emergency services projects, and public spaces, as well as custom residential projects.
We offer exposure to all phases of project development, with mentorship from the firm's principal and senior level staff. Student interns work on a variety of projects throughout the term and so gain valuable exposure to different projec…
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August 11, 2025
We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Melissa Bowman who was the first to identify the July clue: the Harry Class Outdoor Pool in Kitchener.
A bit about the Harry Class pool renewal:
Completed in 2011, this project brought the pool to the 21st century. The Change House was rejuvenated into a modern, playful and universally accessible facility, including non gendered family change areas, organized along a curved central corridor evoking the flow of water. Many historic features, such as the older mosaic tile floors, the post and beam structure and the skylight, are still there to be enjoyed, happily contributing to the modern feel of the place. The swimming pool…
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July 11, 2025
We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Scott Cafarella who was the first to identify the June clue: the Bandshell at Riverside Park in Guelph.
A bit about the Bandshell renovation in Guelph's Riverside Park:
Completed only last year, this renovation brings to the park mine single occupancy washrooms. Three of them are barrier free, of which two are universal, meaning that they have the space for an adult change table.
Since the pandemic we have noticed a change on how public washrooms are organized, not only to improve inclusivity, but also to reduce cross-contamination between users, reducing the spr…
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April 28, 2025
We're pleased to announced that John MacDonald Architect and Mark McInnis have received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation for the adaptive reuse of the former Dickson Public School in Cambridge. At a ceremony held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Grand Staircase of the Legislative Building at Queen's Park in Toronto, John MacDonald, and Mark McInnis, accepted the award for Excellence in Conservation presented to Dickson Public School Adaptive Reuse, for exceptional achievement in conserving Ontario’s heritage. The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and John Ecker, Chair of the the Ontario Heritage Trust celebrated projects and individuals who made exceptional co…
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April 11, 2025
We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Dave Pawelko, who was the first to identify the March clue: the Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Center at 925 Erb Street West in Waterloo.
A bit about the Waterloo Region Materials Recycling Centre:
The building expansion was needed to handle the increased volume of material being collected through the blue box program. The bright blue boxy building visible from afar is a fun reminder of the local origins of this program that Nyle Ludolph, our local recycling champion, pioneered in the 70’s & 80’s.
The list of “must haves” for the renovation & expansion was complex, in tha…
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February 14, 2025
John MacDonald Architect continues to grow, and we invite you to help shape our Journey
Our forward-thinking design studio of twelve or so is presently working on a wide range of projects including heritage properties, mixed use and multi-res developments, emergency services and other public use facilities, public spaces, interior design, adaptive re-use, and custom residential projects. If you can bring a unique skillset(s) to our dynamic team and would like to assist us with our expanding project load, we'd like to hear from you.
The successful applicant will be involved with all phases of project development, including client / subconsultant support and will work in person at our open, light-fill…
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February 11, 2025
We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Kim Lane, who was the first to identify the January clue: The Blacksmith Shop at Doon Heritage Village, located at 10 Huron Road, Kitchener.
A bit about the Doon Blacksmith Shop:
Doon Heritage Village showcases what a small town in this area would have been like in 1914. The inspiration for this small building was the Valentine Gies Blacksmith Shop, built around 1894 and originally located in Conestogo, Waterloo County.
The requirements for the Blacksmith Shop made its design particularly fun. It was completed in 2004, but it had to look as if it was a 20 year old building in 1914. In clos…
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January 30, 2025
On December 20, 2024, John MacDonald Architect (JMA) held a three hour design charrette (an intense collaborative design effort to produce and articulate ideas) for the Charles Street Bus Terminal site. The intention of this brief exercise was to imagine the possibilities and broaden the conversation in the community.
Visions were generated by four groups, each with three staff members and one community guest, as follows:
Group 1 had Mila Wiggins, Maria Meli and Mitali Dembla from JMA and guest Kevin Curtis, with a background in planning and extensive knowledge of regional planning matters.
Group 2 had Ashley Jardin, Esraa Saad and Scott Clark from JMA and guest Sandra Dunn, artist / blacksmith of Two Sm…
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Scott
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August 02, 2023
Thanks Nolan. If you can think of anything to add to the list, we'd be interested to hear from you.
Nolan Bentley
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August 01, 2023
I am going measuring tomorrow so this is a timely reflection :-) thx!
