Roger Terence Du Toit, 1939-2015 B.Arch., M.Arch., OAA, FRAIC, MCIP RPP, AICP, CSLA Professional / Teacher / Community Advocate
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Roger Terence du Toit, 1939-2015 B.Arch., M.Arch., OAA, FRAIC, MCIP RPP, AICP, CSLA Professional / Teacher / Community Advocate contribution to Canada’s urban environment is civic planning, and its messages continue to were all necessary for any one endeavour to be to be seen through the lens of “urban design”. reverberate throughout cities across the country. successful. It was with that conviction that Roger Urban design, to Roger, was that unique This work was to define Roger’s professional established his own practice in the mid-1970s, perspective that brings to bear a comprehensive preoccupations and his modus operandi for the a practice, now known as DTAH, which remains approach to orchestrating the constellation of balance of his 45-year career. vital and vibrant today. Roger’s firm was always, factors that combine to create great buildings and remains, a team of talented architects, in a great public realm. Moreover, Roger Although he completed projects in Australia, landscape architects and urban planners that, believed strongly that this process could only be Hong Kong, the Middle East and the United along with like-minded specialist consultants, can successful through the close collaboration of all States, Roger’s principal contributions have been respond collectively to issues with solutions that design disciplines, and the combined efforts of in Canada. He was deeply involved with more may cross conventional professional boundaries. consultants, owners, managers and end-users. than 20 university campuses, and undertook important urban design projects in most major A further distinguishing aspect of his career Roger’s influence on Canadian urbanism can be Canadian urban centres. Of these, his most was Roger’s ongoing involvement in a number measured in at least three ways: for his extensive profound impact has been on the principal of Canadian institutions and communities and wide-ranging body of work in cities, urban precincts of Ottawa and Toronto. over a very long period of time. These long- centres and campuses throughout Canada and term associations gave Roger the opportunity abroad; for his innovative yet systematic working Many observers and colleagues comment on to monitor, refine and modify as conditions methods that always drove towards consensual Roger’s ability to listen, to take all views seriously, evolved. In the most rewarding instances, Roger resolution; and, for his insistence on establishing to weigh a full range of opinions and ideas, to was responsible for all project dimensions – and maintaining an inter-disciplinary office recognize and accept ambiguities, and then planning framework, master plan, design and that would nourish and sustain many emerging to carefully distill and persuasively convey his implementation. professionals. conclusions. Often faced with multi-faceted client Roger was a decorated architect, groups with divergent opinions and perspectives, The most notable of these long term landscape architect and planner with During his early years with the John Andrews Roger developed great skill in un-tangling associations, extending over more than three ex ten sive project experience across partnership, Roger was a key figure in two seemingly intractable planning conundrums, decades, included Wascana Centre in Regina, Canada and other parts of the world. A ambitious projects: Toronto’s Metro Centre and in devising solutions of dazzling beauty and the National Capital in Ottawa/Gatineau and fundamental and consistent principle in all and the twin campuses of the University of simplicity. the Toronto Central Waterfront. Others include his work was the in te gra tion of the major Minnesota. These projects led Roger to develop Carlton University, Queen’s University, University and refine his systematic, comprehensive Roger developed a powerful approach to of Regina, the University of British Columbia, design disciplines to create environments master planning that marks his career. He which meet the need for economy and and consultative approach to complex, multi- and the Gooderham and Worts complex (now dimensional urban planning issues. had an aversion to the idea of a “Master Plan” Distillery District) in Toronto. In these, he utility, and provide places that are socially since it implied a kind of fixed view of a future responsive and a joy to inhabit. directed successive master plans and precinct An important early work was the ground-breaking state - one that was doomed to obsolescence plans; conducted feasibility studies, developed Roger du Toit was an architect of great talent and document, On Building Downtown – Design as circumstances changed. Instead, Roger guidelines or implemented specific projects both influence. From a career spanning more than 45 Guidelines for the Core Area. It was Toronto developed a “principle-based” approach that architectural and public realm. years, he has left an indelible mark on Canadian during the early 1970’s, a time when the term set out objectives and general resolutions. urbanism, and has encouraged and inspired “urban design” was seldom used and little Illustrated by a “Demonstration Plan”, these Roger was among the best in his field. His generations of fellow city builders. understood. The innovative study, produced by principles offered strong guidance coupled with legacy will prevail not only in the many plans and a team led by Roger, George Baird and Stephen the flexibility necessary to incorporate as yet projects he leaves behind, but also in the many Roger’s primary concerns were the collective McLaughlin, emphasized simple but crucial unknown future requirements. individuals he stirred and inspired. and public dimensions of the built environment. concepts such as: the importance of historical It’s not that he didn’t care passionately about context and site particularities; the design, Roger believed that to be good at doing urban great architecture: he was, after all, the project accessibility and affability of the “public realm”; design one also had to be good at making “All projects must seek to balance architect for Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, with and the responsibility of private development buildings, urban spaces and landscapes. He constituent and communal priorities” John Andrews International/ Roger du Toit. to contribute to the public good. The resulting also believed that the opposite was true, that Roger du Toit However, Roger’s principal and most influential report profoundly affected subsequent Toronto building and planning were reciprocal skills that ROGER DU TOIT / NOMINATION FOR RAIC GOLD MEDAL, 2017 / PAGE 1 Timeline of Significant Contributions and Achievements / 1960-2015 National Capital 1980 1988-91 2006 Architect Planner Parliamentary and Judicial Precincts Plan Toronto Central Waterfront Urban and Community Design / Wascana Centre Authority National Capital Innovation Design Competition Education and Professional Regina, SK (w/West 8) Universities and Colleges Cunningham du Toit/ du Toit Lambur Architects, AB 1972 1984 1989 1994 2000 2007 John Andrews International/ Ceremonial Routes Gardiner/Lakeshore RAIC College of Fellows Toronto Waterfront National Capital Roger du Toit National Capital Corridor Study Revitalization Task Force Views Protection Gooderham and Worts 1973 1985 Distillery District, Toronto, ON Design Guidelines 2014 du Toit Associates Planning du Toit Allsopp Hillier Ottawa Congress Centre Port Credit Waterfront National Capital Master Plan Canada Lands Company 1974 1985 1991 1996 2000 Mississauga, ON On Building Downtown Pedestrians National Capital Confederation Boulevard Rue Laurier Eglinton Transit Downtown, City of Commemorations National Capital Millenium Project Development Corridor Ottawa/National National Capital Erin Mills New Community Capital Commission 2001 2008 2015 National Capital West Don Lands Transit National Capital LeBreton Flats Toronto, ON Military Commemorations West Terrace 1965 1978 1982 1987 1993 1997 1998-2003 2010 Urban Design Masters of Architecture Northeast National Confederation Views New Hibret Gardiner National Capital Parliamentary Precinct University of Toronto Light Rail Museums Boulevard, Protection Cooperative Expressway Commisson National Capital Transit Corridor Site Selection National Capital of National Housing East Dismantling Design Guidelines Joins John Andrews Edmonton, AB Symbols Toronto, ON Toronto, ON Architects 1968-76 1976 1984-2015 1989 1990-94 2000 2009 2015 Metro Centre CN Tower Mississauga Ryerson University of University of Vancouver Island Wascana Centre Toronto, ON Hoggs Hollow Offices City Centre Long Range British Columbia Calgary, Campus University, Campus Master Plan, Dominion Public Building Multiple Projects Development Plan Campus Master Plan Master Plan Master Plan Saskatchewan Legislative Precinct 1960 1967 1970-76 1983 1987 1992-2015 1998 2006 University of Regina Bachelors of Architecture Partner University of Minnesota Wascana Centre Wascana Centre Queens University University of Regina Kuwait University Campus Master Plan University of Cape Town John Andrews Minneapolis-St.Paul Master Plan Master Plan Campus Master Plans Campus Master Plan Campus Master Plan South Africa Architects Campus Master Plan+ Saskatchewan Saskatchewan + Multiple Projects 2014 Multiple Projects Legislative Precinct Legislative Precinct University of Manitoba Visionary Re:Generation University of Regina University of Regina 1992 1998-2010 2005 Toronto Worlds International Competition Campus Master Plan Campus Master Plan University of Regina