On the evening of November 20, the OAA hosted the second installment of its two-part SHIFT2025 lecture series at its Toronto headquarters. The event welcomed a diverse audience of architects, design enthusiasts, and community members for an inspiring evening of innovative ideas, networking, and community engagement.

Photos: Chantelle Ng
Attendees mingle and network during the lively reception at the OAA's SHIFT2025 lecture series. The event brought together architects, design enthusiasts, and community members to discuss creative solutions for strengthening our communities.


The SHIFT2025 Challenge, themed Reshaping Communities, invited OAA members to propose creative solutions for strengthening the places we live. This second session highlighted three of the six jury-selected concepts, with OAA Executive Director Kristi Doyle introducing the evening’s speakers.

Kristi Doyle, OAA Executive Director, introduces the evening’s speakers during the SHIFT2025 lecture series, kicking off a night dedicated to innovative ideas and community-focused solutions.

The evening began with a reception, where attendees enjoyed refreshments and mingled in a lively atmosphere. The lecture portion followed, featuring presentations from three Architects, each sharing their concepts:

• David Peterson presented Swansea Park: A Development Concept for the Former Swansea Mews, exploring how an existing housing complex could be revitalized by balancing social, ecological, and functional concerns to integrate natural and urban systems; 
  
  
• Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston introduced Parkdale Commons: A Living Food Bank, a proposal for a food bank that not only addresses food security during crises but also strengthens community bonds through innovative infrastructure; and 
  

• Jerry Hacker, who shared Speculative Assemblies: From Pine Needles to Pressed Coffee, envisioning a regenerative resource revolution that eliminates toxic materials and exploitative supply chains, paving the way for healthier building practices.
  

Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston present their concept, Parkdale Commons: A Living Food Bank, during the OAA's SHIFT2025 lecture series. The proposal envisions a food bank that not only addresses food security during crises but also strengthens community bonds through innovative infrastructure.

David Peterson (left), Nancy Chao (middle left), Luc Johnston (middle right), and Jerry Hacker (right) engaged in a dynamic panel discussion during the SHIFT2025 lecture series, sharing their innovative concepts for reshaping communities.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees engaged with the speakers, exploring the potential impact of these ideas on Ontario’s communities. With space limited and tickets sold out in advance, the evening underscored the architectural profession’s role in addressing societal challenges through bold, forward-thinking concepts. Click here to learn more about the earlier SHIFT event, which took place on October 30.

An engaged audience listens attentively during the OAA's SHIFT2025 lecture series. Architects and design enthusiasts gathered to explore innovative ideas for Reshaping Communities.