Introduction
Michael Taylor and Robert Smyth are founder partners of the company Taylor Smith Architects.
Biography
Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor has been partner-in-charge and principal designer of many of the firm’s high profile projects that include custom residences, schools, community centres and workplace environments. Each of these has benefited from his hands-on approach and careful attention to detail and materiality. His approach to design is founded on creating a partnership with his clients to craft thoughtful, and enduring spaces. His work has received 19 awards for design excellence, including 3 Ontario Association of Architects awards, one of which also received the People’s Choice award.
A registered architect for over twenty years, Michael cofounded Taylor Smyth Architects in 2000 with Robert Smyth. His areas of expertise encompass both new buildings and complex renovations, retrofits and additions to existing structures. Michael is currently the Partner-in-Charge of two luxury villas on the island of Anguilla, several custom residences in and around Toronto, and an addition and renovations to the Dr. Erick Jackman Institute of Child Studies at the University of Toronto. Over the past 14 years, he has completed 12 custom residences, numerous projects for the Toronto District School Board, the $10 million Centennial Community Center, and many workplace projects. He recently completed the commercial redevelopment of the full block along Market Street opposite the St. Lawrence Market, which included renovation and retrofit of a number of heritage buildings, along with the design of a new building to complete the block.
Michael was educated at Harvard University (M.Arch. 1983) and the University of Chicago (B.A. 1979). He joined the office of Barton Myers Associates in 1983 and joined Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects in 1987, where he was associate-in-charge of the award-winning King James Place building in Toronto. In 1994, he was a founding partner of Taylor Hariri Pontarini Architects, where he was partner-in-charge of the award winning 58,000 square foot Glen Park Public School, the Simple Alternative funeral establishment, winner of a Mississauga Urban Design Award, the 90,000 square foot offices for Abitibi Consolidated, and a number of custom residences.
Robert Smyth
Robert Smyth is a founding partner of Taylor Smyth Architects. With over thirty years of architectural experience, Robert seeks to create sustainable, flexible, light-filled and durable community environments that delight the senses and respond to the unique vision of each client.
Robert is recognized for his expertise guiding institutional projects that reconcile the diverse needs of multiple interest groups, and often involve complex renovations and additions. His public clients include the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto District School Board, City of Toronto, York University, University of Guelph, George Brown College, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. He has successfully completed many K-12 public school projects. As well as, twelve projects for York University, including the recently completed School of Social Work and Finance Department Office, the “B” Wing expansion at Glendon College, renovations to the Nadal Management Centre, and Osgoode Hall Law School renovations. Other recent projects of note include the Cedarvale and Wilcox gymnasium and classroom additions, and the Highfield Junior School classroom and childcare addition for the TDSB and City of Toronto. Robert Is currently overseeing two major capital projects for the Toronto District School Board; an addition to Swansea Public School, and a new build 180,000 high school in Scarborough.
He also provides ongoing expert advice to the TDSB concerning re-devleopment matters as they relate re-development opportuniites for existing owned school sites, and mitigating impacts from neighboring developments.
His approach to sustainable design is based on an Integrated Design approach, that proposes practical, cost effective responses to everyday inefficiencies. Robert is currently overseeing several projects seeking LEED CI Certification, including the new Ontario regional headquarters for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the newly renovated Taylor Smyth Offices.
Robert was educated at the University of Waterloo (B.Arch. 1987) and University of Manitoba (B.E.S. 1982). Prior to forming Taylor Smyth Architects, Robert was a Senior Associate at Taylor Hariri Pontarini Architects, and a Project Architect at Montgomery Sisam Architects.
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The Company – Taylor Smyth Architects
Our work is inspired by certain fundamental elements to which we believe all people respond: natural light, texture and colour, natural materials, and the symbiotic relationship between space and architecture. We embrace the flexibility of open concepts to capture certain views and to establish a connection to nature without compromising the comfort of enclosed privacy. We believe that attention to detail and the creative use of materials are crucial to add a distinguished and memorable touch to every project.
Our approach is one of collaborative consultation with each client, to develop and manifest their vision, goals, and aspirations into built form. Each project is approached individually, without preconceptions, and designed to serve the needs of the particular client.
We continually explore fresh strategies to challenging project criteria in the pursuit of elegant design solutions that delight, inspire and engage.
Taylor Smyth Architects – The Story
At Taylor Smyth Architects we look to create “poetry” in each project. And we find inspiration, drawn or interpreted, from both the unique vision and identity of our clients and the environments in which they live, work and play. We embrace certain fundamental elements to which we believe all people respond: daylight, texture and colour, natural materials and the symbiotic relationship between space and architecture. We believe that attention to detail and the creative use of materials add a distinctive and memorable experience to every project.
We are dedicated to excellence and the creation of inspired environments – spaces that delight, uplift and engage.
Our experience ranges from large, complex educational and community environments, to commercial and workplace projects and custom residential design. Each project features a unique blend of innovation and technical know-how.
Our work has received extensive recognition through design awards and publications both nationally and internationally.
Designs and Realisations
In Taylor Smyth Architects the projects can be residential, commercial, educational and community. The following images are some examples of their projects.
Residential Project – Lim Wong Residence
Commercial Project – CUPE Ontario Regional Offices
Educational Project – Lawrence Midland Secondary School
Community Projects – Centennial Community Centre
Taylor Smyth Architects – Awards
2014
17th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Canadian Interiors
West Preparatory Junior Public School
2014 Heritage Toronto Awards
William Greer Architectural
Conservation and Craftmanship
Award of Excellence
Market Street Redevelopment
2014 Best of Year – Honoree
Interior Design
West Preparatory Junior Public School
2013
2013 Ontario Association of Architects Awards
People’s Choice Award
House On The Bluffs.
2013 Ontario Association of Architects Awards
Design Excellence
House On The Bluffs.
2012
15th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Canadian Interiors
House On The Bluffs.
2012 Illumination Awards
The Illuminating Society of North America
Achievement in Lighting Design (Toronto)
HudBay Minerals Inc.
2011
The Americas Property Awards 2011
In association with Bloomberg Television
Category: Americas – Residential
House on the Bluffs
2009
Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
Civic Pride Award – Auto Workers Community Credit Union
12th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Armstrong Avenue
OAA 2009 Design Excellence Awards
Bishop Street Residence
2007
10th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Aquilon Offices
2006
Canadian Urban Institute
Brownie Award – Wabash Community Centre
2006 Wood Design Awards
Honour Award – Sunset Cabin
9th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Bishop Street Residence
2nd Annual ‘Outside the Box’ Awards, Building Magazine
Honourable Mention, category: Architecturally Innovative Design – Sunset Cabin
2005
National Post Design Exchange Awards
Gold Award, category: Architecture (Residential) – Sunset Cabin
8th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Top Project Winner: Best of Show – Sunset Cabin
Project Winner – Cedarvale Residence
OAA Architectural Excellence Awards
Honourable Mention, category: Architectural – Sunset Cabin
2004
7th Annual ‘Best of Canada’ Design Competition
Project Winner, category: Architectural – House on a Ravine
National Post Design Exchange Awards
Silver Award, category: Interior Design – House on a Ravine
City of Markham
Competition Winner – Landmark Park
1999
Association of School Business Officials International
Certificate of Excellence – Glen Park Public School
1997
Mississauga Urban Design Awards
The Simple Alternative
Testimonials
In this title you can check some testimonials about some of the projects that the company have done.
York Finance Department and School of Social Work
“Taylor Smyth collaborated with our staff to achieve all necessary City approvals, while creating a light filled, and attractive academic spaces that now serve as a model for future renovations … The architects successfully met all project timelines, completing working drawings ahead of schedule. – Patrick Saavedra, Manager, Planning & Architectural Design Campus Services & Business Operations, York University.”
West Preparatory Junior Public School
“The addition and renovations are a magnificent addition to a great school. The multipurpose room is bright and colourful. The new rooms are bright and fresh a truly wonderful learning environment. Numerous community members have approached me and complemented me about the multi-purpose room – John Hunter, Principal”
Aquilon Capital Corporation
“The design philosophy juxtaposes the raw and the refined. The basic concrete structure, concrete columns and beams of the building were left exposed, contrasting with a carefully detailed and highly refined material palette of rift cut oak, glass and limestone. Textured plaster walls in red, yellow and pale green, inspired by the shades of autumn, provide colour in key locations.”
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Top Projects Gallery
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Source: www.taylorsmyth.com; www.architecturenewsplus.com
