North American Copper in Architecture Award winner, The Spirit Garden. (Photo by Tom Arban, courtesy of the Copper Development Association)
The Spirit Garden in Toronto was one of 10 winning projects in the Copper Development Association’s 18th annual North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA).
The organization says this 18th edition of NACIA upholds the tradition of celebrating copper design and craftsmanship in recent commercial and residential projects across North America. As was the case in 2008 when CDA introduced the awards, the submitted entries continue to feature architectural copper and copper alloys used in roof systems, façades, and wall systems, as well as in custom-fabricated elements.
The 10 winners, selected from a large field of entries from Canada and the United States by an experienced panel of judges, represent the best of copper design and construction in new work and restoration. Evaluation criteria included copper system design, the integration of copper alloys with the overall building design, the craftsmanship of the installation, excellence in construction or restoration, and sustainable building strategies.
In the category of new construction, where The Spirit Garden was recognized, the other winners were 37 Hillside Senior Apartments in New York City, the New England Biolabs (NEB) Garden Site Facility Expansion in Ipswich, Mass., the Portsmouth Abbey School Student Center in Portsmouth, R.I., and the Snowmass Retreat in Snowmass, Colo.
Winners in the restoration category included the Hillsdale County Courthouse Restoration in Hillsdale, Mich., the Magic Chef Mansion Restoration in St. Louis, Mo., the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago, Ill., the Temple Emanu-El Dome Restoration in Birmingham, Ala., and The Frick Collection: Renovation and Enhancement Project — Reception Hall Copper Roof Replacement in New York City.
Built for the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and City of Toronto by architectural firm Gow Hastings Architects, general contractor Buttcon, Indigenous architectural firm Two Row Architect and sheet metal contractor Mariani Metal Fabricators Limited, and featuring the Three Sisters Statue by Raymond Skye, The Spirit Garden project is a landscape of learning and memorialization located at the southwest corner of Nathan Phillips Square. Dedicated to Indigenous history and culture, it is among the first public spaces built in a Canadian capital city that honours those impacted by the Residential Schools program, blending architectural precision with cultural storytelling and traditional materials.
“Again this year, we found ourselves inspired by the remarkable vision and craftsmanship displayed by our 10 award recipients,” said Larry Peters, CDA project manager for building construction. “The 2025 winners not only showcase copper’s enduring beauty and versatility, but also set new standards for innovation and excellence in architectural design.”
Full details of the 2025 winners can be viewed at https://copper.org/applications/architecture/awards/winners.php.
