Shirley Blumberg facts for kids

Shirley Blumberg (born February 4, 1952) is a famous Canadian architect. An architect is someone who designs buildings. She helped start a well-known architecture company called KPMB Architects in Toronto, Canada.

In 2013, Shirley Blumberg received a special honor called the Order of Canada. This award recognized her amazing work in designing buildings. It also celebrated her dedication to creating places that help people feel connected and part of a community. One of her most famous projects is the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Campus, built in 2011. This building won several important awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects International Award.

Shirley Blumberg's Early Life and Education

Shirley Blumberg was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She studied at the University of Cape Town and finished her degree in 1972. In 1974, she moved to Canada because she disagreed with Apartheid. Apartheid was a system of unfair racial separation in her home country. Before moving to Canada, she spent a year living in London, England.

After arriving in Canada, she continued her studies. She graduated with high honors from the University of Toronto School of Architecture in 1976.

How KPMB Architects Started

In 1977, Shirley Blumberg began working at Barton Myers Associates, Inc. in Toronto. She worked there for 10 years and became an associate. When the company's founder decided to move his office to Los Angeles, Shirley saw a new opportunity.

In 1987, she teamed up with three other associates from Barton Myers' firm. These were Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, and Marianne McKenna. Together, they formed their own architecture company. They named it Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, or KPMB for short.

Designing for Community and Society

Shirley Blumberg has always focused on designing buildings that help society. She has worked on many projects that deal with important issues. These include creating diverse spaces, building homes, and strengthening communities.

For example, she worked on the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Don Mills, Ontario. She also helped design buildings for Toronto Community Housing, like Block 32 and the nearby Fort York Branch Library.

Current and Past Projects

Shirley Blumberg is currently involved in several exciting projects. These include the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa. This center is for the Aga Khan, a spiritual leader. She is also working on the Lawrence Heights Redevelopment in Toronto. This project aims to improve a large neighborhood.

She has also led projects like the Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. This is an art gallery in Saskatoon. She also worked on buildings for universities. These include the Ronald O. Perelman Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Another project was 20 Washington Road for Princeton University. Shirley Blumberg also helps with the overall planning for Princeton University's campus.

Shirley Blumberg's Role in Design Review

Shirley Blumberg is an important voice in city planning. She is a member of the Toronto Community Housing Design Review Panel. This group helps review and approve designs for housing projects. She also served on the City of Toronto Design Review Panel.

In 2014, Shirley Blumberg was part of a panel reviewing a design for a memorial. This memorial was for the Victims of Communism. It was planned for a very central spot in Ottawa, Canada's capital. Shirley Blumberg disagreed with the design and its location. She even helped lead a protest against it. Her main concern was that the memorial was too prominent. She felt it might overshadow Canada's own history. She also questioned the high cost of the project.

Unifying Different Architectural Styles

Shirley Blumberg played a key role in the design of the Design Exchange building in Toronto. This project was challenging because it brought together very different architectural styles. It included a modern 1990s tower, a 1930s building, and a 1960s building nearby.

Her firm, KPMB, won the project in 1988. Shirley Blumberg paid close attention to every detail. She managed to combine these clashing styles into one impressive building. She used different materials in creative ways. She wanted to show how far they could push the limits of these materials. Shirley believes that design involves many people working together. This includes designers, builders, and suppliers.

Selected Projects by Shirley Blumberg

Here are some of the important buildings Shirley Blumberg has helped design:

• 1994: The Design Exchange, Toronto, Ontario
• 2003: James Stewart Centre for Mathematics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
• 2004: Centennial College Applied Research and Innovation Centre, Scarborough, Ontario
• 2005: Canada's National Ballet School, Toronto, Ontario
• 2006: Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Ontario
• 2008: Japanese Canadian Cultural Center, Toronto, Ontario
• 2010: TIFF Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower, Toronto, Ontario
• 2011: Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan, Ontario
• 2011: Centre for International Governance Innovation, CIGI Campus, Waterloo, Ontario
• 2012: Block 32, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Toronto, Ontario
• 2014: Fort York Branch Library, Toronto, Ontario
• 2015: Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Harbour Square Park, Toronto, Ontario
• 2017: Global Center for Pluralism, Ottawa, Ontario
• 2017: Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• 2018: Lawrence Heights, Toronto, Ontario
• 2018: Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania