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KPMB Architects
KPMB Architects logo.svg
Practice information
Key architects Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, Marianne McKenna, Shirley Blumberg
Founded 1987
Location Toronto
Significant works and honors
Buildings TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gardiner Museum, National Ballet School of Canada, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canadian Museum of Nature, Koerner Hall
Awards American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture, Governor General's Award, RAIC National Urban Design Award, Ontario Association of Architects Award of Excellence, Toronto Urban Design Award

KPMB Architects is a famous Canadian company. It designs many different types of buildings. Four architects started the company in 1987. Their names are Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, Marianne McKenna, and Shirley Blumberg.

The main office for KPMB is in Toronto, Canada. Most of their projects are in this city. Besides designing buildings, they also create beautiful interior spaces. The company's full name was changed to KPMB Architects in 2013.

How KPMB Architects Started

The four people who started KPMB used to work together. They were part of a company called Barton Myers Associates. When Mr. Myers moved his office to Los Angeles, the four architects stayed in Toronto. They decided to open their own design studio.

In 2013, Thomas Payne left KPMB. He started his own company.

Early Building Projects

Some of KPMB's first projects were done with Barton Myers. These included Woodsworth College at the University of Toronto. They also worked on an expansion for the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Early on, KPMB won two big design contests. They designed the new Kitchener City Hall. They also designed the Joseph S. Stauffer Library. This is the main library for Queen's University in Kingston.

KPMB's Work in Toronto

Many of KPMB's buildings are in their home city of Toronto. Some early projects changed old buildings. For example, they updated King James Place in 1991. They also turned the old Toronto Stock Exchange into the Design Exchange in 1994. This new space is used for design exhibits.

In the 2000s, KPMB designed many cultural buildings. These projects helped create a "Toronto Cultural Renaissance." This means a time when many new art and culture places were built.

Some of these important buildings include:

Projects Outside Toronto and Canada

KPMB has designed buildings all over Canada. They have also worked in the United States and Europe.

Canadian Projects

In Canada, KPMB designed buildings like Le Quartier Concordia. This is at Concordia University in Montreal. They also designed the Remai Modern art museum in Saskatchewan.

Another big project is the Manitoba Hydro Place in Winnipeg. This building is very energy-efficient. Some people say it is one of the most energy-saving buildings in North America.

KPMB is also working on a project called Kindred Works. They are helping the United Church of Canada turn old church properties into new homes. This project aims to create housing for many people.

United States Projects

KPMB has designed several buildings for universities in the U.S. These include the Walgreen Drama Center for the University of Michigan. They also designed Sprague Memorial Hall for Yale University.

They designed the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. KPMB is currently working on projects for Princeton University. They are also designing Orchestra Hall for the Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis.

International Projects

KPMB has also worked on projects outside North America. They designed the Star Alliance Lounge in Zürich, Switzerland. They also worked on the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, Germany.

See also

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