Housing the Future: TMU’s M.Arch Housing Symposium

The M.Arch Housing Symposium, held from January 30 to February 1, 2025, at the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Architecture Building, brought together students, professionals, and academics to discuss pressing housing challenges and innovative solutions. Organized by first-year Master of Architecture students in collaboration with the Canadian Architecture Students Association (CASA) and Becoming Architects Canada (BAC-DAC) the symposium fostered meaningful conversations on affordability, sustainable design, and the future of urban living in Toronto and beyond.

The symposium kicked off with a gallery exhibition, showcasing both student and professional work along the gallery walls. One of the most compelling installations featured a full-scale 1:1 floor plan of a one-bedroom apartment, mapped out on the gallery floor. To enhance engagement, real furniture, including a couch, dining table, carpets, and bed, along with comfort items to create a homely atmosphere, were incorporated, allowing attendees to experience the space as if they were living in it. This immersive display provided a tangible representation of the constraints and possibilities within urban housing.

A key highlight of the symposium was the "Housing the Future: Toronto’s Innovative Housing Practitioners" panel discussion, featuring six esteemed professionals from diverse backgrounds: Kevin Hutchinson, Principal at Montgomery Sisam Architects; Tony Ross, Principal at Montgomery Sisam Architects; Paul Dowsett, Principal Architect of Design at SustainableTO; Jaegap Chung, Principal and Co-Founder at Studio JCI; Robin McKenna, Associate at Studio JCI; and Craig Race, Principal Architect and Co-Founder at Lanescape.

Each panelist brought unique insights into housing policy, sustainable construction, and community-driven development. The discussion covered a wide range of pressing topics, including affordability, equitable design, alternative housing models, and the integration of policy with urban planning. The goal was not only to explore what is working but also to identify key changes that are needed to create a more livable environment. The varied expertise of the panelists fostered a robust exchange of ideas, offering both students and other attendees valuable industry perspectives. Many of the conversations covered dignity, social elements and other quality of life features that were highlighted in the panelists' projects, and the overlap between sustainability and livability within housing solutions. Student moderators, Hunter Kauremszky and Elaine Nahli, ended the panel by encouraging everyone to continue these conversations beyond the panel through projects, policies, and advocacy.

Roundtable discussions enabled meaningful exchanges on topics such as housing advocacy, sustainable construction, equitable environments, land use availability, new ideas and potential collaborations.

The "Call to Action" (external link)  video montage became a powerful conclusion to the event, capturing a collective vision for inclusive housing through statements from attendees.

The symposium left a lasting impact on all participants, from students to professors and industry professionals. The thoughtful discussions, immersive exhibits, and interdisciplinary engagement reaffirmed the importance of our collaboration in shaping the future of housing. Many attendees expressed the value they found in the dialogues and connections established throughout the event. Beyond being a gathering of ideas, the M.Arch Housing Symposium at TMU served as a catalyst for forward-thinking discussions that will continue to shape architectural discourse in Canada. With its emphasis on innovation, equity, and sustainability, the event set the stage for ongoing conversations about the evolving landscape of housing in urban environments.

The MArch Symposium is made possible with the sponsorship of the Dean’s Office of TMU Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and Studio JCI.

For more on the related CAFE Housing event organized by CASA, see here (external link) .

The MArch Symposium is an annual student-led event addressing critical issues affecting architectural practice. Follow us on social media @tmudas_symposium (external link)  and @tmu_archgrad/ (external link)