About Us

Adamson and AAI deliver architectural excellence

About us
About us

Adamson and AAI provide architectural services on iconic projects across the world from offices in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, London, and Vancouver. 

We offer a full range of architectural, planning, interior, and urban design services to a wide range of clients, in both the private and public sectors. Our portfolio encompasses projects in virtually every market sector — commercial; cultural; hotel and residential; justice; colleges and universities; hospitals and healthcare; airports and transportation centres; retail; entertainment; and large-scale, mixed-use development sites.

Adamson was established in Toronto in 1934 and has operated continually since that time. Starting in the 1980s, we expanded into the United States, the United Kingdom, and Southeast Asia. Today, we operate as an integrated practice that is global in reach.

Acting as the Executive Architect or Architect of Record, Adamson and AAI fostered collaborations with some of the world’s most acclaimed architects on several iconic projects across the globe including the World Financial Center in New York; Canary Wharf Estate in London; and Kuala Lumpur City Centre in Malaysia. Through work on these complex projects and others, Adamson and AAI have become internationally respected authorities on urban design, architecture, and building technology.

We have achieved worldwide recognition for both our innovative design and technical expertise, resulting in numerous prestigious design honours and the successful award of several design competitions. Under the progressive leadership of our principals, we are continually advancing our design, project management, and technical skills in order to remain at the forefront of the architectural profession.

 

Established in 1934 in Toronto, Canada by Gordon S. Adamson. — 
Established in 1934 in Toronto, Canada by Gordon S. Adamson. — 
Established in 1934 in Toronto, Canada by Gordon S. Adamson. — 
Our Culture

Providing exceptional technical expertise and design excellence since 1934

Adamson and AAI provide architectural services across the world from our offices in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, London and Vancouver.
Gordon S. Adamson — 
Gordon S. Adamson — 
Gordon S. Adamson — 

Gordon Sinclair Adamson (1904-1986) made a significant contribution to the introduction and development of Canadian modernism after World War II. Born in Orangeville, Ontario in May 1904, he came to Toronto in 1924 where he enrolled at the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto.

After graduation in 1928, he was employed by F. Hilton Wilkes of Toronto and worked on the design of the Canada Permanent Building on Bay Street (1928-30).

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Our History

1934-1939
Dominion Public Building, 1936
1940-1949
Crothers Residence, 1945
1950-1959
Redpath Sugar Refinery, Toronto, 1957
1960-1969
E.J. Pratt Library Victoria College, University of Toronto, 1960
1970-1979
North York Civic Centre, Ontario, 1970
1980-1989
World Financial Center Winter Garden, New York, 1988
1990-1999
2000-Present
The Shard at London Bridge London , England 2013

Recent Awards

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CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) 2021 Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building, Americas Central Park Tower | 217 West 57th Street

2021

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) 2021 Award of Excellence–Best Tall Building, Americas 53W53 (MoMA Tower)

2021

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building, Europe Newfoundland Tower | Canary Wharf

2021

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat): Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building 200-299m Newfoundland Tower | Canary Wharf

2021

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat): Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building 300-399m 53W53 (MoMA Tower)

2021

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat): Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building 400m+ Central Park Tower | 217 West 57th Street

2021

ENR Best of the Best Projects Award – Nationwide (Residential/Hospitality) 53W53 (MoMA Tower)

2021

American Architecture Award in Skyscraper Category 390 Madison Avenue

2020

ENR New York’s 2020 Best Project (Residential/Hospitality Award of Merit) One Manhattan Square

2020

ENR New York’s 2020 Best Project (Residential/Hospitality Best Project) 53W53 (MoMA Tower)

2020

Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco, CA: Architecture MasterPrize™ (AMP) Salesforce Transit Center

2020

Slag Cement Project of the Year award in the category of Sustainability One Manhattan Square

2020

COTE Top Ten Award (American Institute of Architects) University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2019

CPE Distinguished Achievement Award – Received Gold – (Repositioning / Redevelopment) 390 Madison Avenue

2019

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat): Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building 300-399m 53W53 (MoMA Tower)

2019

IBCon Digie Award for Most Intelligent Building 151 North Franklin

2019

Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award of Excellence in Conservation University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2019

(SCUP) Award of Excellence in Architecture for Building Additions or Adaptive Re-Use category University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2019

Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence (Public Buildings in Context) University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2019

American Institute of Architects (New England) Honor Award Salesforce Transit Center

2018

American Institute of Architects (New York) – Architectural Honor Award University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2018

ICONIC Award for Innovative Architecture – Best of Best (German Design Council) 390 Madison Avenue

2018

International Property Award – Best Retail Architecture Canada The Well

2018

MIPIM/The Architectural Review Future Project Awards 2018 “Old & New”

2018

MIPIM/The Architectural Review Future Project Awards 2018 “Old & New” 390 Madison Avenue

2018

AIA Justice Facilities Review Award of Merit Thunder Bay Consolidated Courthouse

2017

Ontario Concrete Association Awards for Architectural Merit, Development and Innovation, and Structural Design Innovation TTC York University Station

2017

American Institute of Architects Honor Award 2 World Trade Center

2016

American Institute of Architects Merit Award

2016

American Institute of Architects Merit Award 390 Madison Avenue

2016

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) IDEAS2 award at the national level National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion

2016

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) Tall Buildings 10 Year Award Hearst Tower

2016

Hospitality Design Magazine 12th Annual Design Awards – Winner Luxury/Upscale Guestrooms or Suites The New York EDITION

2016

MIPIM Award for Best Urban Regeneration Project Crossrail Place

2016

Office Future – Shortlisted (World Architecture Festival) 390 Madison Avenue

2016

European Property Awards Porta Nuova Garibaldi

2015

American Institute of Architects (New York Chapter) Design Award 4 World Trade Center

2014

Holcim Award World Trade Center Tower 4, New York, NY: American Institute of Architects (New York Chapter) Design Award University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2014

RIBA London Award The Shard

2014

RIBA National Award The Shard

2014

Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater New York Pinnacle Award – Corporate Facility InterActiveCorp Headquarters

2013

Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater New York Pinnacle Award – Earth Award Hearst Tower

2013

CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat): Best Tall Building The Shard

2013

Emporis Skyscraper of the Year Award – First Place The Shard

2013

Emporis: World’s 10 Best Towers Porta Nuova Garibaldi

2013

Building Magazine, Project of the Year The Shard

2012

American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Award of Merit Sperone Westwater Gallery

2011

British Council for Offices – National Urban Workplace Award KPMG European Headquarters

2011

Ontario Association of Architects Award 25 York Street

2011

Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence – Private Buildings in Context (Tall Commercial) 25 York Street

2011

American Institute of Architects – New York Chapter (AIANY) Merit Award Salesforce Transit Center

2010

Best Tall Building Americas: Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat One Bryant Park

2010

Green GOOD DESIGN™ Award – The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design University of Toronto l Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

2010

National Post Design Exchange (DX) Award: Architecture Commercial (Bronze) 25 York Street

2010

Office Development of the Year NAIOP Ninth Annual REX Awards 25 York Street

2010

Ontario Association of Architects’ Design Excellence Award MaRS Centre | College Wing and South Tower

2010

Canadian Urban Institute Urban Leadership Award MaRS Centre | College Wing and South Tower

2009

Ontario Concrete Awards – Material Development in Innovation (Precast) Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Data Centre

2009

Outstanding Project Award: Greater New York Construction User Council One Bryant Park

2009

ENR Best of the Best Award (Specialty Contracting category) The Crystals l MGM CityCenter

2008

Green Building Competition for New York City, Honourable Mention Hearst Tower

2008

Green Project of the Year: New York Construction One Bryant Park

2008

Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Awards Hearst Tower

2008

International Highrise Award Hearst Tower

2008

Architecture Honor Award, AIA New York Chapter Hearst Tower

2007

RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) International Award Hearst Tower

2007

Best Global Airport 2006: Institute of Transport Management Toronto Pearson International Airport New Terminal Development

2006

Best New Building – BOMA/ NY Pinnacle Awards (Building Owners and Managers Association of New York) Hearst Tower

2006

Concrete Industry Board Roger H. Corbetta Award InterActiveCorp Headquarters

2006

Global Green USA Award One Bryant Park

2006

Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship MaRS Centre | College Wing and South Tower

2006

IDEAS Award (Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel: American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc.) Toronto Pearson International Airport New Terminal Development

2006

Intelligent Community Forum: Intelligent Building of the Year MaRS Centre, Toronto Medical Discovery Tower

2006

Masterwork Awards: Best New Building Hearst Tower

2006

New York Construction Award of Merit (Office) – Best of 2006 InterActiveCorp Headquarters

2006

Project of the Year – Best of New York Construction Hearst Tower

2006