Internationally renowned Diamond + Schmitt, based in Toronto, has completed several projects on U of T’s downtown campus, including the award-winning Bahen Centre for Information Technology and the Morrison Pavilion addition to the Gerstein Science Information Library.

Principal architects on the Varsity Centre project include: 

Donald Schmitt, Principal in Charge of the Varsity Centre project, is a graduate of University of Toronto and a former Adjunct Professor.

Don has practiced architecture with A.J. Diamond since 1978, becoming Partner in 1983. He has led the development of many athletic and recreation centres, including the Metro Central YMCA (winner of the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture), the award-winning Cawthra Community Centre and Arena in Mississauga, the Memorial Pool and Athletic Club in Toronto and the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in London. Don also completed the $30 million City of Mississauga Recreation Centre Redevelopment Project, a 30,000 square foot expansion for the Mary McCormick Recreation Centre in Toronto and the 35,000 square foot addition at the North Campus Athletic Centre at the University of Waterloo.

David Dow, Project Architect for Varsity Centre, completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Dundee, Scotland in 1982, and later received a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Waterloo. He joined Diamond and Schmitt Architects in 1999 and has been a Principal since 2003.

David has extensive experience with institutional and academic projects, many of which are integrated into constrained urban settings. A team member on the $44 million St. Michael’s Hospital Cardinal Carter Wing in Toronto, David has also worked on the Lash Miller Chemistry Building Davenport Wing, the St. George Street Revitalization and the 400,000 square foot Bahen Centre for Information Technology, all at the University of Toronto.

Duncan Higgins, Project Manager for Varsity Centre, attended the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow, and received his Bachelor of Architecture with Honours in 1998.

Duncan has acquired an impressive range of sports facilities and stadium experience. He was the Project Architect responsible for the 25,000-seat Darlington Football Club in North Eastern England, the schematic and design development to gain planning consent for the 17,000-seat Bristol City Football Club in Southern England, and the 25,000-seat Kingston Upon Hull Stadium for soccer and rugby in East England. Duncan is also currently the Project Manager for the new Ronald V. Joyce Stadium at McMaster University.