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March 10th Issue
DAS News |
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Photo courtesy of Chris T. Cornelius. Exhibition - 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial, CAB5: This is a Rehearsal |
In this issue: MArch Student Raya Allataifei earns Venice Architecture Biennale Fellowship | Women in Architecture Symposium | Chris T. Cornelius Guest Lecture & More! |
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MArch Student Raya Allataifei earns Venice Architecture Biennale Fellowship |
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Toronto Metropolitan University’s MArch student Raya Allataifei has been selected as a fellow for the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale Fellowship, awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts. As one of 21 emerging architecture and arts practitioners from across Canada, Raya will conduct independent research in Venice and serve as an exhibition ambassador at the Canada Pavilion. With a background shaped by international education in Iraq, Canada, and Germany, Raya is passionate about sustainable architecture and the environmental impact of construction. Her experience in a biomaterials studio at Stuttgart University closely aligns with the themes of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. This prestigious opportunity will enhance her graduate studies and thesis work, furthering her exploration of innovative architectural materials and methods.
The 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale runs from May 10 to November 23, 2025, providing a global platform for critical conversations on contemporary architecture. Congratulations to Raya on this incredible achievement!
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Empowering Indigenous Youth in STEM |
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DAS MArch students Angelica Mrakovcic and Mark Boulos at the AISES academic and career expo (March 7, 2025) |
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Over the weekend, DAS participated in the 2025 AISES Canada National Gathering dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth in STEM. DAS Prof. Helen Stopps and sessional instructor Erik Skouris were among the 60+ presenters, and students from Architectural Science, Architecture and Building Science supported DAS table at the academic and career expo.
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Resources Toward Indigenous Curriculum Development in DAS |
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The Department of Architectural Science has created a list of resources intended to build awareness and encourage faculty and students to consider Indigenous perspectives. Sharing this list of resources aims to advance recommendation #9 of TMU’s Standing Strong Task Force / Next Chapter Action Plan, and to advance our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Check out the resources for faculty and students here.
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Beyond the Wall Opening Night a Success |
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Beyond the Wall—an exhibition about walls that separate people and the ways the people overcome them—debuted on Thursday, February 27th to an energized crowd. Students, faculty, and community organizers gathered to hear from student leaders (Heba Al-Fayez, Samiha Ali, Saskia Scarce, and Hajer Dawood) and Architecture49, the exhibition’s sponsor. Engaging with the experiential exhibit, guests left with copies of The Eyeopener’s feature article on the exhibit and student-designed brochures (by Hamna Imtiaz). Congratulations to the entire design and installation team. The School of Interior Design’s Decolonizing Design students are planning a tour, and we invite visitors to experience Beyond the Wall before it closes on April 3rd, 2025!
Stay tuned for an interview with the design leads in our next issue.
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| Photos from opening night |
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Upcoming Events |
Women in Architecture Symposium: March 12th |
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Celebrating women in architecture and design, this event brings together industry leaders to reflect on their journeys from education to practice, explore interdisciplinary collaboration, discuss leadership, and examine the evolving role of technology and architects in shaping project outcomes.
Collaboration will be at the forefront of the discussion as architects navigate increasingly complex roles and projects. Panelists will discuss the importance of diverse perspectives, managing both large and small teams, the impact of technological advancements, and the challenges and opportunities they’ve encountered throughout their careers.
This event is open to students, professionals, and the broader public and offers valuable insights into the shifting landscape of architecture and design.
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Book Launch & Conversation with Andrew Frontini |
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Monday, March 31st
6:30 PM
ARC 202 (the Pit), 325 Church St.
Join us for a special book launch and discussion with award-winning architect Andrew Frontini, as he presents his newly released book, Episodes in Public Architecture . This engaging monograph blends professional autobiography with candid reflections on the creative and collaborative forces shaping public architecture.
Through illustrated project narratives, Frontini offers rare insight into the personal and professional challenges of mentorship, client dynamics, and succession—shedding light on the realities behind the polished images of architectural work. Spanning two decades and featuring 11 award-winning public projects, the book invites readers into the often unpredictable journey of design. Praised for its honesty and storytelling, Episodes in Public Architecture is as much a “letter to the next generation” as it is an exploration of the evolving role of architecture in society.
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DAS Lecture Series |
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All lectures will run from 18:30 – 20:00 in ARC-202 (“The Pit”), located at 325 Church Street, Toronto unless otherwise noted.
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WINTER 2025
MARCH 27
Chris T Cornelius (Oneida)
Founding Principal, studio:indigenous
Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of New Mexico |
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Our lecture series events qualify for 1.5 OAA Structured Con Ed hours (only for those working towards an OAA Certificate of Practice).
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External Events & Opportunities |
Design Competition: Filling the Gap – Designing for Diversion, Healing, and Rehabilitation
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The Canadian Academy of Architecture for Justice (CAAJ) invites architecture students to tackle pressing societal challenges through design in the "Filling the Gap" competition. Participants will propose a community-oriented building that addresses crises such as homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and access to justice—offering alternatives to traditional institutional responses.
Students will select a site and develop an architectural or urban design solution that integrates health and social services, transitional housing, educational facilities, or other supportive spaces. Submissions will be evaluated by a jury of architects, justice experts, and industry professionals, with a focus on sustainability, community integration, and healing-centered design.
Key Dates:
Launch: February 1, 2025
Registration Deadline: June 30, 2025
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025
Winners Announced: August 31, 2025
Prizes:
1st Prize: $3,000 CAD
2nd & 3rd Prizes: $1,000 CAD each
This international competition is open to architecture students worldwide, including recent graduates and those gaining work experience.
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Ontario Building Code
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Many of you may know that the Ontario Building Code and some of the documents related to the National Building Code are now available in their full version as digital PDF files for free.
If you have not already accessed them here are some useful links:
2024 - Ontario Building Code (for permit applications after Jan. 1, 2025)https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code
2012 - Ontario Building Code (for permit applications that were done prior to Jan. 1, 2025 and in some cases up to Mar. 31, 2025)https://www.ontario.ca/page/request-digital-copy-2012-building-code-compendium
National Building Code - Illustrated Guide to Part 9 and other Code Documentshttps://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications/illustrated-users-guide-national-building-code-canada-2020-part-9-division-b-housing-small-buildings
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CASA-ACÉA 2025 Student Work Showcase
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Calling all Architecture Students! The Canadian Architecture Student Association (CASA-ACÉA) would like to celebrate the excellence of our architecture students. CASA-ACÉA is calling for work to be showcased at the 2025 RAIC Conference this June in Montreal to continue our efforts to profile student work to potential employers, colleagues, and the public.
Eligible participants must be current students or recent graduates of an accredited Canadian architecture school. All projects must have been completed in 2024.
The submission form and competition brief can be found here: https://www.casa-acea.org/2025-sws-call-for-submissions. Competition entry closes May 1st 2025 at 11:59pm EST.
Please email questions to submissions@casa-acea.org. We look forward to seeing your work!
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2025 ACSA Steel Competition |
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Registration deadline: April 9, 2025
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce the 25th Annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2024-2025 academic year. Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. Steel must be used as the primary structural material and contain at least one space that requires a long-span steel structure, with special emphasis placed on innovation in steel design.
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mcCallumSather Presents “Building for a Living Planet: Exploring the Role of Architecture in a Sustainable World" with David Suzuki |
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Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM | Event begins at 6:00 PM
Location: Sanford Hall, Westinghouse HQ | Hamilton, ON
Registration Opens: February 26 at 10 AM
This event offers students a unique opportunity to hear from leading experts in sustainable design and engage with industry professionals.
We are honored to feature Dr. David Suzuki as our keynote speaker, along with a distinguished panel including:
Joanne McCallum – Co-founder of mcCallumSather & sustainability advocate
Lisa Bate – Global Sustainability Leader
John Peterson – Senior Architect & Sustainability Expert at mcCallumSather
Moderated by Alex Lukachko, Building Science Consultant & Educator
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Call for Ideas: 2025 CCA Interuniversity Charrette |
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The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) invites architecture, landscape, urban planning, and design students to participate in the 2025 Interuniversity Charrette, Cartography of the Invisible.
Key Dates:
- March 11, 11 PM (EDT): Registration deadline
- March 13, 6 PM (EDT): Topic revealed (digital launch)
- March 17, 2 PM (EDT): Submission deadline
- March 20, 6 PM (EDT): Award ceremony, Montréal
Form teams (2-5 undergraduates or 2-3 graduates/recent grads), tackle the challenge in four days, and showcase your vision. Winning entries will receive CCA publications and prominent features on the competition microsite.
Instructors: Incorporate this into your winter syllabi and encourage students to join!
For details, contact Pedro Barbáchano at pbarbachano@cca.qc.ca |
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AIA Canada Student Design Awards Competition |
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The AIA Canada Student Design Awards celebrate outstanding student work in architecture across Canada, offering national recognition, monetary prizes, and industry exposure.
Launch Date: April 1, 2025
Why Participate?
National Exposure – Winning projects featured in Canadian Architect
Monetary Prizes – Recognizing talent and dedication
Industry Visibility – Connect with top architectural firms
This prestigious competition, hosted by AIA Canada Society, the Canadian chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), provides students with valuable career-building opportunities. For more details or to get involved, contact rommy@aiacanadasociety.org.
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Student Competition:
Retrofit of an Existing Institutional Building |
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The 2025 Student Retrofit Competition, launching February 3, challenges students to redesign the enclosure of a 40+ year-old institutional building on their university campus. Participants will enhance thermal performance, energy efficiency, and aesthetics while maintaining the building’s original functions. The competition involves performance analysis, design proposals, and a 10-minute video presentation outlining solutions. Winning teams will present at the BSAO Fall Seminar & AGM on October 8, gaining industry recognition and networking opportunities. Submissions are due June 27—register your Intent to Submit today!
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2025 RAIC Foundation Scholarships & Awards – Apply Now! |
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The RAIC Foundation has unveiled its 2025 portfolio, featuring new and expanded scholarships and awards for architecture students and interns across Canada.
Highlights include the new Bing Thom Award, an essay competition for students in Canadian architecture programs, and the updated College of Fellows Centennial Fund, now offering two awards. Explore sustainability-focused scholarships, leadership awards, and bursaries tailored to support your academic and professional journey.
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2025 Lyceum Competition:
A Community for the Future of Food |
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Submission Deadline: Thursday, May 22, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT.
https://competition.lyceum-fellowship.org/
Calling all architecture students! The 2025 Lyceum Competition, A Community for the Future of Food, challenges participants to reimagine two reclaimed buildings along Bridgetown, Barbados’s iconic Carlisle Bay. Guided by Program Author and Jury Chair Pierre Serrao (Black Star Barbados, Ghetto Gastro), this year’s theme focuses on sustainable design rooted in the region’s culinary heritage.
Your mission: transform these beachfront spaces into dynamic hubs for culinary innovation and community connection. Highlighting the disparities in the Caribbean's food system, this competition encourages designs that promote ecological farming, local consumption, and cultural pride. Don't miss this opportunity to shape the future of food in the world’s youngest nation!
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Apply for DIALOG’s Architectural Scholarship in Honour of Michael Evamy |
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DAS students are invited to apply for the Architectural Scholarship in Honour of Michael Evamy, a prestigious opportunity for Canadian architecture students in the year prior to their final year of study.
Valued at $5,000, with an additional $3,000 available for project-related expenses, the scholarship supports research projects that enrich the candidate’s personal and professional knowledge in architecture. The recipient will also present their findings at a public talk organized by DIALOG.
Applications are due April 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MT.
For full details and submission requirements, visit DIALOG’s website.
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TMU Programming |
Course Intentions - Due March 12 |
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Course intention is the process where returning students indicate the courses they wish to take in the upcoming academic year.
Course intentions are used to generate students’ course schedules, which are released ahead of the start of the fall and winter terms.
The course intention period occurs in March for the upcoming fall and winter terms. Course intention changes can be made during the course intention adjustment periods in the spring (May) and fall (August to September).
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Connect & Chat:
Careers in Communications Upcoming Panel Event |
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1.) Workshop: Quantum AI for Creatives by HXOUSE " The WEEKND"
Are you a creative mind ready to explore the future of technology? We are thrilled to invite you to a unique workshop by HXOUSE LABS, an incubator co-founded by The Weeknd's team, dedicated to empowering creative entrepreneurs like you. "Fyi Snacks will be provided"
Event Details:
Date: Monday, March 10, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: HQ - The Creative Enterprise HUB, 110 Bond Street, Toronto ON, TMU
Registration: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/o0bbEm6/g/0B4gVjJ7hv/quantam-essentials-for-creatives-by-hxouse-labs-4a4pOG9o5d/overview
HXOUSE LABS is pioneering a new path in creative tech education. They focus on blending creativity with cutting-edge technologies, offering mentorship and hands-on experience to support world-changing ideas from emerging creators like you.
This workshop is designed with creatives in mind, encouraging you to think outside the box and envision the potential of Quantum in your own work and creative projects. If you're a creative who wants to stay ahead of the curve and contribute to the next generation of groundbreaking ideas, this workshop is for you!
We look forward to seeing you there and exploring the future of creativity and technology together!
2.) Connect & Chat: Careers in Communications Upcoming Panel Event
Want to hear from a diverse panel of professionals, including TMU alumni, who are working in the field of communications? During this event, you will connect with and learn from professionals working in marketing, social media, advertising and more! Whether you're exploring career options or looking to hear from those in leadership roles, this event offers a chance to gain valuable insight on how to navigate a career in communications.
Industry Guests Include:
Nancy Aziz - Director of Marketing & Student Affairs - Webtree Academy
Sophie Neville - Communications Manager, Branch Resource Centre - Scotiabank
Mia Vos - Social Account Manager - BYNK Media
Feras Saleh - Director of Advertising- Creative Scope
Event Details:
March 14, 2025 4:00-6:00 P.M. SLC Sandbox
To register, please visit the following link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/o0bbEm6/g/0B4gVjJ7hv/connect-and-chat-careers-in-communications-4a4pOG9cMD/overvie
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1.) Workshop: Quantum AI for Creatives by HXOUSE " The WEEKND"
Are you a creative mind ready to explore the future of technology? We are thrilled to invite you to a unique workshop by HXOUSE LABS, an incubator co-founded by The Weeknd's team, dedicated to empowering creative entrepreneurs like you. "Fyi Snacks will be provided"
Event Details:
Date: Monday, March 10, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: HQ - The Creative Enterprise HUB, 110 Bond Street, Toronto ON, TMU
Registration: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/o0bbEm6/g/0B4gVjJ7hv/quantam-essentials-for-creatives-by-hxouse-labs-4a4pOG9o5d/overview
HXOUSE LABS is pioneering a new path in creative tech education. They focus on blending creativity with cutting-edge technologies, offering mentorship and hands-on experience to support world-changing ideas from emerging creators like you.
This workshop is designed with creatives in mind, encouraging you to think outside the box and envision the potential of Quantum in your own work and creative projects. If you're a creative who wants to stay ahead of the curve and contribute to the next generation of groundbreaking ideas, this workshop is for you!
We look forward to seeing you there and exploring the future of creativity and technology together!
2.) Connect & Chat: Careers in Communications Upcoming Panel Event
Want to hear from a diverse panel of professionals, including TMU alumni, who are working in the field of communications? During this event, you will connect with and learn from professionals working in marketing, social media, advertising and more! Whether you're exploring career options or looking to hear from those in leadership roles, this event offers a chance to gain valuable insight on how to navigate a career in communications.
Industry Guests Include:
Nancy Aziz - Director of Marketing & Student Affairs - Webtree Academy
Sophie Neville - Communications Manager, Branch Resource Centre - Scotiabank
Mia Vos - Social Account Manager - BYNK Media
Feras Saleh - Director of Advertising- Creative Scope
Event Details:
March 14, 2025 4:00-6:00 P.M. SLC Sandbox
To register, please visit the following link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/o0bbEm6/g/0B4gVjJ7hv/connect-and-chat-careers-in-communications-4a4pOG9cMD/overvie
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Health Promotion Programs |
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Graduate Peer Groups (Winter 2024): Monthly sessions (online and in-person) focus on goal-setting, resilience, and work-life balance.
Thursday, Mar. 27 / 2:30-3:30PM / in-person / POD 50B
Register here.
GRAD Art Hive: Creative drop-in sessions for relaxation and peer support.
Date/time: Wednesdays at 1:00 - 4:00 PM on March 12 & April 2nd.
Modality: In-person drop in group. New students are welcome at every session
Where: DCC 7TH Floor
Session 1: Vision Boards
Session 2: Paper Flower Making
Session 3: Open Studio
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Graduation Photo and Composite Information for all Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Graduates |
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Bookings are now open to take your Grad Photo!
You must have your photo taken by Lassman Studios Photography to appear in your respective Graduating Class Composite. All Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 graduates are eligible for a free class composite from the TMSU (formerly RSU).
Available for pick up at your convocation ceremony and at the TMSU starting in June 2025!
Click here book your appointment:
You can also book by following these 2 easy steps:
1. visit: https://www.lassmanstudios.com/dcs_sched/
2. enter tmu25 in the school ID to access the schedules
Both Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 are welcome to attend the sessions. New sessions get added weekly as the schedules fill up so please check back to the site if you cannot find an appointment that works with your schedule.
Questions? Contact info@yourtmsu.ca or questions@lassmanstudios.com
Grad Photos and Class Composites are a service of the Toronto Metropolitan Students' Union in Partnership with Lassman Studios.
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Nominations Now Open for the Viola Desmond Awards |
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The Viola Desmond Awards are here! Recognizing the outstanding impact of Black women and gender-diverse people in our community. #ViolaDesmondAwards
The 2024 Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Program is led by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). This year, OVPECI is partnering with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, with contributions from campus partners serving on the Viola Desmond Planning Committee.
Submit a nomination to the Viola Desmond Awards by June 10.
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Missed an event? |
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Most of our guest lectures are live-streamed. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our recordings! |
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Copyright © 2024 Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are part of the Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University community.
Our mailing address is:
Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University
325 Church Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2K3
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