About

PUG AWARD

Do you care what Toronto looks like? Do you like the way it is being developed – from the new condominiums and institutional buildings to the parks, streets and public places? If you could change anything, what would you change? And don’t say ‘nothing’ because there is an outlet for your accolades and a pulpit for your disdain. It’s called the Pug Awards – The People’s Choice Awards for Architecture and it’s about recognizing the best new architectural elements in Toronto. It’s open to the public, and it’s your chance to voice your opinion about your city.

The Pug Awards were established to raise public awareness of architecture and to elevate design standards for development projects in Toronto. By voting for recently completed residential, commercial and institutional developments, you can express your voice on the state of Toronto’s current architecture. In the process, you will join a growing movement that not only inspires civic beauty but also shuns mediocre design.

While the Pug Awards were created to make the development community and municipality think twice before attempting to erect a permanent blemish on our landscape, the Pug’s primary objective is to focus attention on new development in an effort to create a culture that celebrates architecture. The Pug Awards give Torontonian’s a voice to express their opinion on how our city grows. Love it or Hate it…you decide.

PUG ED

Designed to provoke students to think critically about how architecture, planning and design affect each of us in the city of toronto, pug ed. Is an outreach program offering a series of presentations and discussions led by principal players and industry professionals. It’s a carefully planned mini-curriculum that’s offered to students looking to broaden their exposure to architecture and urban design. Pug ed. Covers a subject matter that has, for the most part, been scarce in elementary and secondary school programming, and yet one that is unequivocally vital to the future of our city. The founders of the pug awards believe that a cultural inclination for smart and responsible design can be achieved by exposing toronto’s youngest citizens to the issues, resources, and professions that define the form and function of our city.

In conjunction with the sessions, to be held weekly through the spring, students will also be challenged with hands-on design competition that will require an acute analysis of a specific urban issue & the thorough evaluation of real design solutions.

Each student participating in the program will use the skills and knowledge gained from the sessions (and their own creativity and imaginations).