Marianne McKenna facts for kids
Marianne McKenna is a famous Canadian architect. She was born on September 25, 1950. She is one of the people who started KPMB Architects, a design company in Toronto.
Marianne McKenna is recognized for designing buildings that are important for the public. She received a special award called the Order of Canada for her work. Some of her well-known projects include making changes and adding to The Royal Conservatory TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning and Koerner Hall.
She has also worked on projects for The Brearley School in New York City, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, and the historic Massey Hall in Toronto. In 2010, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2023, she received an honorary degree from Swarthmore College. In 2024, she was given a King Charles III Coronation Medal.
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Becoming an Architect
Marianne McKenna was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1950. She went to an all-girls school called The Study and finished in 1968. Later, in 2008, her old school honored her with an award.
She explained why she chose architecture. She saw it as a mix of creative and business skills. She learned it was much more than that. It needs strong design talent. It also requires leadership, problem-solving, and good communication skills. She enjoys the many different challenges that come with architecture.
Marianne McKenna studied at Swarthmore College and then got her Master of Architecture degree from Yale University in 1976. At Yale, she studied with famous architects. She also became good friends with the actress Meryl Streep. Meryl Streep even talked about Marianne's career in a documentary.
After university, Marianne worked for different architecture firms. She worked in Montreal and London. In 1980, she joined Barton Myers Associates in Toronto. There, she met the people who would become her future business partners.
Starting KPMB Architects
In 1987, Barton Myers moved his office. So, Marianne McKenna decided to start her own company. She teamed up with Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, and Shirley Blumberg. They named their new company Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, or KPMB Architects.
Their company was special because it had a mix of people. They had different backgrounds and ideas. This made their architecture more open and creative. Instead of one "star" architect, they worked as a team.
At KPMB, each of the four partners leads their own projects. They also work together on big projects. This way, they combine their strengths in design and leadership. They guide their teams from the first idea to the finished building. The partners also share the work of running the business. This includes finding new projects, managing money, and marketing. In 2012, the company officially became KPMB Architects. Today, KPMB Architects is known as a top Canadian design firm.
Key Projects and Contributions
Marianne McKenna played a big part in changing The Royal Conservatory of Music. She helped turn it into a major cultural place. Her work started in 1990 with a big plan. Over many years, she worked on different parts of the project. This included the Ettore Mazzoleni Concert Hall. It all finished in 2009 with the TELUS Performance and Learning Centre and the famous Koerner Hall.
Her designs for the Conservatory won many awards. These included the Governor General’s Medal in 2012. Because of her amazing work, Marianne was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory in 2011.
Marianne said that the best part of this project was bringing together so many parts of music. This included students learning, practicing, and musicians performing. She felt the buildings, both old and new, became a special place for music.
As a lead partner, Marianne has directed many important projects for KPMB. These include:
- The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. This project won awards for good design.
- The Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- The main plan for Ryerson University.
- The Grand Valley Institution for Women.
Marianne also taught a course at the University of Toronto. She has been a visiting professor at Yale University. She also helps advise the McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University. In 2017, she received an honorary degree from Laurentian University.
Notable Projects
- 2020: Park Hyatt Toronto Renovation, Toronto, Ontario
- 2020: Bloor Street United Church, Toronto, Ontario
- 2020: Massey Hall Renovation and Expansion (Phase 2), Toronto, Ontario
- 2018: Lloyd Hall Renovation, Banff Centre for Art and Creativity, Banff, Alberta
- 2017: The Globe and Mail Office Interiors, Toronto, Ontario
- 2017: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
- 2015: Massey Hall Renovation and Expansion (Phase 1), Toronto, Ontario
- 2013: Orchestra Hall Renewal, Minnesota Orchestra, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2012: The Joseph L. Rotman School of Management Expansion, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- 2012: Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
- 2010: The Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall, Toronto, Ontario
- 2009: The Royal Conservatory of Music, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario
- 2009: John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
- 2008: Ryerson University Master Plan, Toronto, Ontario
- 2003: McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Quebec
- 2001: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
- 1997: Ettore Mazzoleni Concert Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Ontario
- 1996: Grand Valley Institution for Women, Kitchener, Ontario
- 1993: Kitchener City Hall, Kitchener, Ontario
- 1991: The Royal Conservatory of Music, Master Plan, Toronto, Ontario
