March 22, 2022
Francis Green - Google Earth
Our staff occasionally assemble on Friday afternoons for an office exercise we call Things We Like. Centred around a theme determined earlier in the week, staff are invited to share examples of relevant things they enjoy. Since our first Things We Like in 2016, our staff have participated in 75 of these exercises. Some themes are intended to generate ideas for projects we're working on, while others are simply intended to encourage creativity and generate discussion about things we'd like to see in our community.
Preliminary Sketch of Downtown Kitchener, 1965 - Toronto Star
In May 2018, we met to reenvision Francis Green, the public space located at King and Francis in downtown Kitchener. This prominent corner wh…
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April 26, 2023
Our staff will once again be participating in Jane's Walk, the annual community-based approach to city building that uses volunteer-led walking tours to encourage people to rediscover the value of walking, and to observe, reflect, share, question and re-imagine the places in which they live, work and play. This year, both John and Scott have Jane's Walks planned for the first full weekend of May (6-7).
Balzer-Manitou Trail: Parkway Potential, with Scott
Take a stroll with Scott Clark of John MacDonald Architect down Schneider Creek into the Balzer Greenway, following the route of a planned active transportation connection. Along the way, we'll look at the history of the Balzer farm, as well as discuss desire lines, local infrast…
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September 01, 2022
John MacDonald Architect is growing. Our forward-thinking studio of ten or so is presently working on a vast range of projects including adaptive re-use of heritage properties, residential care (including emergency shelters, group homes, and supportive housing), and various institutional projects including library exterior / accessibility renovations, public spaces, office renovations, and maintenance facilities, as well as a handful of private residences. 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 downt…
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July 11, 2022
Eastside Branch Design Team
We're pleased to share that the Waterloo Public Library's new Eastside Branch Library has been awarded the 2022 New Library Building Award by the Ontario Library Association (OLA). According to John MacDonald: “These are the awards we cherish, where clients and their community confirm that the performing facility meets their needs, inspires their use, and validates the trust they have placed in us.”
Commitment to community development, architectural & technological innovation, and creative advancements that emphasize local connections are important aspects that are embodied by the recipients of the New Library Building Award. The award aims to encourage and showcase excellence in the design of n…
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June 14, 2022
John MacDonald Architect is interested in hiring one to several architecture or architecture engineering student(s) to join our team in Kitchener. Undergraduate and graduate students seeking co-op placements are encouraged to apply. Preference is for a student able to start September 2022.
Our office is a small team of ten or so that is presently working on a vast range of projects including adaptive re-use of heritage properties, residential care (including emergency shelters, group homes, and supportive housing), and various institutional projects including library exterior / accessibility renovations, office renovations, and maintenance facilities, as well as a handful of private residences.
We offer exposure to all phases of…
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March 15, 2022
John MacDonald Architect is interested in hiring an architecture student to join our team in Kitchener. Undergraduate students seeking co-op placements are encouraged to apply. Preference is for a student able to start May 2022.
Our office is a small team of eight that is presently working on a vast range of projects including adaptive reuse of heritage properties, residential care (including emergency shelters, group homes, and supportive housing), and various institutional projects including a library, office renovations, and maintenance facilities, as well as a handful of private residences. We offer exposure to all phases of project development and mentorship from the firm principal and senior level staff.
The successful applicant will work in perso…
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November 03, 2021
Stage 1: Information Package
John MacDonald Architect is looking for a bright professional to join our Waterloo Region firm. We wish to augment and diversify our capacity in the key areas of communication and information management, project team support, marketing and promotion.
Our Firm
Our small, full service design consultancy provides personal and caring service from project conception to completion. We apply our processes and expertise on behalf of a wide variety of clients, for projects ranging in scale from urban to building to interior and object design.
We are often the co-ordinating centre of an overall project team, focusing client and other consultants to the task at hand. We lead multi-disciplinary teams that integrate creativity…
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Team Lashley + JMA is proud to submit its concept for the National Monument for Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan, as one of five finalist teams in this national competition. The design can be viewed online, with public input by filling out a short survey. This consultation stage will assist the jury in evaluating the proposals.
To review the finalists' designs, visit the Government of Canada Design Competition website.
View within Monument Plaza
The core team, of David Lashley (Ottawa • Montreal), John MacDonald (Kitchener), and Sandra Dunn (Kitchener), has worked these last months to design a monument that honours those who served. It supports meaningful discussion and thoughtful contemplation of Canada's role in ou…
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March 15, 2021
John MacDonald Architect is interested in hiring an architecture student to join our team in Kitchener. Undergraduate students seeking co-op placements are encouraged to apply. Preference is for a student able to start immediately.
Our office is a small team of six that is presently working on a vast range of projects including adaptive re-use of heritage properties, residential care (including emergency shelters, group homes, and supportive housing), and various institutional projects including a library, office renovations, and maintenance facilities, as well as a handful of private residences.
We offer exposure to all phases of project development and mentorship from firm principal and senior level staff.
The successful applicant will work in…
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January 12, 2021
What Do You Think?
Welcome. We wish you the best in 2021. Safest and healthiest too!
This blog entry is the first in a series of “What do you Think …” posts that we’d like to share with our community. We’re trying to make our website a great forum for community ideas and discussions, so we’ll be introducing topics on a regular basis through the blog. We hope you join us from time to time, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Share your thoughts on community building, whether it's the bricks and mortar type, or about how to strengthen the social fabric of the places where we live, work and play.
We are excited to get your feedback and engage the community on topics t…
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December 11, 2019
The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) gathered together at their annual general meeting and showed their support for ensuring healthier workplace standards. A motion brought forward by John MacDonald called his fellow architects into action by asking them to stand up to solve issues of equity and fairness within the architectural profession. The motion specifically pertains to exemptions in the Employment Standards Act that exclude architects, among other professions, from certain employment standards such as entitlement to minimum wage, overtime pay, and vacation. The motion was received with resounding support from members of the OAA.
John was inspired to spearhead a grassroots movement among architects in Ontario to prove that architects are willing and able to take t…
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