This event hosts Heather Dubbledam, Simona Sund, Carolyn Moss, and Amber Salach to speak about their experience in the architecture field, their favourite projects, and to participate in an interesting discussion including topics such as mentorship, work-life balance, and confidence in the workplace.
Guest Speakers
Heather Dubbeldam - Principal Architect
OAA, FRAIC, LEEP AP
DUBBELDAM Architecture + Design is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary studio committed to advancing an architectural and social agenda through built work and design research. Heather has practiced in Canada and internationally, delivering innovative and award-winning projects in many sectors. Dubbeldam’s diverse range of project types include workspaces for Slack Technologies and Azure Magazine in Toronto, the conversion of the Bata Shoe Factory in Batawa into a sustainable mixed-use building, a 50-home modern residential development in King City, and the modernization of the historic Walper Hotel in Kitchener, Ontario.
Dubbledam’s work has garnered over 60 awards for both design and practice, including the Canadian Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, one of the oldest and most prestigious prizes in architecture. The studio’s projects have been featured in publications such as Toronto Life, Azure magazine, Dwell, Metropolis, Elle Décor, Interior Design, Wallpaper, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.
Heather has been recognized as a leading advocate for sustainable design and the betterment of our built environment in Canada. She is a LEED-accredited professional; the Director of Twenty + Change, a national organization dedicated to exposing the work of emerging Canadian architects; the Chair of the advisory board of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto); past chair of the Toronto Society of Architects; and past director of the Design Industry Advisory Committee, amongst many other boards and volunteer organizations. Heather is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC) and the editor and co-author of several architecture publications.
Amber Salach - Architect / Partner
M.Arch., OAA, MRAIC
Amber’s roots are in Sudbury and she is passionate about designing community buildings, working with the public and various groups and stakeholders to bring projects to life. She thrives on creating beautiful and engaging public spaces for the Northern community. This strong sense of engagement and love for bringing good design to Sudbury is showcased through not only her mindful design work but also through her involvement in a number of municipal committees, volunteer work with various arts and culture groups and architectural jury work for various organizations.
Amber completed her Bachelor of Architecture at Carleton University’s School of Architecture and continued on to graduate from the Masters of Architecture Program in 2007. Upon completion, she returned to Sudbury to start her architectural internship.
Her travel abroad during school reconfirmed her desire to develop her career in her home city of Sudbury and also allowed her to bring an appreciation of the unique landscape and showcase what our community has to offer. Amber is the appointed chair of the Northern Ontario Society of Architects (NOSA), a grassroots local architectural society of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), where she devotes her time to organizing continuing education events, promoting local architecture and dialogue amongst NOSA members and community at large.
Amber takes wholehearted honour, pride and great determination in being the 4th generation of architects to lead a firm established in 1964 that has created legacy projects throughout Sudbury and the North. She was appointed partner in 2015 and is the first female architect and partner of the firm, which is now operating as Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture. Amber is also the first licensed and practicing female architect in Sudbury.
Simona Sund – Principal Architect
BESc, B.Arch, OAA, NLAA, SSA, MAA, AAA, AIBC, LEED AP
Simona Sund is a founding principal at MOSS SUND architects. She completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Western University prior to studying Architecture at Carleton University. After working for firms in New York, London (Ontario!) and Toronto she felt it was time to go out on her own. In 2005, Simona and Carolyn Moss formed MOSS SUND architects out of a desire to create buildings and spaces that reflected their values.
Simona specializes in healthcare, retail and commercial sectors. Drawing on her training in both mechanical engineering and architecture, Simona brings a unique combination of technical expertise and pragmatic problem- solving to her designs. Working closely with clients, consultants and contractors, Simona creates smart and inviting spaces that work both esthetically and practically, in fast-paced demanding environments.
Carolyn Moss – Principal Architect
B.Arch, OAA, LEED AP, GRP
Carolyn Moss is a founding principal at MOSS SUND architects. She graduated from Carleton University School of Architecture in 1996 and quickly got to work on her first commission - a passive solar home along the shores of Lake Ontario near Kingston. She spent the next decade working for several architecture firms in Toronto, running her own design firm and campaigning for the Olympics in sailing.
In 2005, Carolyn joined forces with Simona Sund to form MOSS SUND architects. Carolyn leads the residential and specialized projects for the firm. Across different sectors, Carolyn’s design philosophy remains the same: to provide timeless, durable and functional spaces that attune to the opportunities of the site and the desires of the client.