VODA Winners
The Value of Design Awards (VODA) take into consideration the design process and challenges, the research used to identify deep-seated human needs and business drivers, the inspiration for the resultant design direction, and the steps for implementation towards a realized solution.
To be recognized, the solution must address a business and/or human challenge and demonstrate how the design provides a benefit to the client’s organization or to the people experiencing the designed space.
Explore previous years’ winners
2025 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Healthcare Design | Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network | Jaime Holland | Holland Licensed Interior Design | Calgary, AB |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | EcoVadis | Tatiana Soldatova | Syllable Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | The Post | Franca Rezza | B+H | Vancouver, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Blue Rock Swim Club | Landon Anholt | Way of Normal | Calgary, AB |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Kasa Moto Rooftop Restaurant | Dyonne Fashina | Denizens of Design Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Tasty Indian Bistro | Jennifer Kurtz | KurtzDesign Inc. | Abbotsford, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Unity Fitness | Suzanne Wilkinson; Tamara Rooks | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Workplace Design | SickKids Patient Support Centre | Stephanie Panyan | B+H | Toronto, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Workplace Design | Warner Music Toronto | Jessica Baird; Sarah Taylor; Nina Bast | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
2024 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Design Thinking | Gan Shalom Preschool | Elizabeth Ormonde | Turner Fleischer | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Duke’s Castle Barbershop | Shima Radfar; Bahar Zaeem | RZ Interiors | Aurora, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Centennial College A-Building Expansion | Chen Cohen; Camille Ganuelas; Mel Faifman | DIALOG in collaboration with Smoke Architecture | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Conestoga College Cowan Centre for Medical Sciences and Biotechnology | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Kitchener, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | BDP Quadrangle Studio | Marcella Au | BDP Quadrangle | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Menkes Head Office | Tamara Poyato-Rooks; Suzanne Wilkinson; Simon Tibbo; Anna-Lisa Frank | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Healthcare Design | Innovation Clinic – Dr. Mario Luc | Véronique Chayer | Folio Design | Laval, QC |
| Merit | Innovation in Hospitality Design | L’Île Mystérieuse | André Davignon | FOR. design planning | La Malbaie, QC |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | StellarAlgo | Jaime Holland | Holland Licensed Interior Design Inc. | Calgary, AB |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Retail Design | Habitat by Aeon Showroom | Jenn Mehrer | McKinley Studios | Vancouver, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Workplace Design | Serein Headquarters | Jenn Mehrer | McKinley Studios | Vancouver, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Yorkville Earls Restaurant + Bar | Joanna Kado; Leanne Babcook; Elly Chronakis | Earls Restaurants | Toronto, ON |
2023 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Residential Single Family Design | Garden Avenue Laneway Home | Suzanne Wilkinson | Suzanne Wilkinson Interiors Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | CIBC – 49th Floor Executive Centre | Annie Bergeron; Yen Lee; Staci McCrindle | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | CIBC Conference and Welcome Centre | Annie Bergeron; Staci McCrindle; Yen Lee | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | IndexExchange | Annie Bergeron; Jessica Baird; Sarah Taylor | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Lordco Head Office | Michelle Biggar | Office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers (omb) | Coquitlam, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Hospitality Design | CheckMate Winery | Jenn Lembke | McKinley Architecture Inc. | Oliver, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Lobby and Entrance | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Faire Wholesale Workplace Design in Toronto | Chantal Frenette | M Moser Associates | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Pinterest Office | Annie Bergeron; Abigail David; Jessica Baird; Nina Bast | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Workplace Design | Maurice Law | Jenn Lembke | McKinley Architecture Inc. | Calgary, AB |
| Honourable Mention | Innovation in Workplace Design | New Offices for Blue Ant Media | Tulin Artan | Ray Inc. | Toronto, ON |
2022 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Healthcare Design | The Newly Institute | Clare Mackey | Mackey Design Group Licensed Interior Design Inc. | Calgary, AB |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Polar Capital | Tarisha Dolyniuk; Sean Solowski | MJMA Architecture & Design | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Design Thinking | Technology Firm | Tatiana Soldatova; Kseniya Filippova | Syllable Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Life Sciences Company | Kristina Kamenar; Brittany Moore; Caitlin Turner | HOK | North York, ON |
2021 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Hospitality Design | McMichael Café | Dyonne Fashina | Denizens of Design Inc. | Kleinburg, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Laurentian University Student Centre | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Sudbury, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Spin Master | Annie Bergeron | Gensler | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Kevin & Kevin Juice | Courtney Cline | Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture (MGBA) | Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Aurora Armoury Food & Wine Institute | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Aurora, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | CapU Lonsdale | Michele Sigurdson | DIALOG | North Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Niagara College Welland Student Commons | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Welland, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Garantie Construction Résidentielle (Residential Construction Warranty) | Véronique Chayer | Folio Design Inc. | Montreal, QC |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Rogers & FIDO Headquarters: “La Maison Rogers” | Carmen Huynh | HOK | Montreal, QC |
2020 Winners
| Award Type | Program Title | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Residential Single Family | ShadowBox | Johnson Chou | Johnson Chou Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | BFR Accountants | Véronique Chayer | Folio Design Inc. | Laval, QC |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | COWI North America | Cynthia Ziolkoski; Jennifer Hamilton | Square One Interior Design | North Vancouver, BC |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Flight Centre Flagship Toronto | Suzanne Wilkinson; Anna-Lisa Frank; Tamara Rooks; Katherine Egenberger; Will Gray; Jaime Muszynski | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Hullmark Head Office at 474 Wellington Street West | Julie Sumairski; Kim Phan | Quadrangle | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | OPG Workplace Transformation | Suzanne Wilkinson; Michelle Berry; Daniel Norwood; Michela Kochanski | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | The Smart City Sandbox | Jane Juranek; Katie McCann | IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Workplace Innovation Challenge | Jane Juranek; Shana Davies | IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Design Thinking | Imperfect Fresh Eats | Danny Tseng | Syllable Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Design Thinking | OPG Workplace Transformation | Suzanne Wilkinson; Michelle Berry; Daniel Norwood; Michela Kochanski | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Hotel Belmont Food & Beverage Portion | Joanna Kado; Daniel Meloché | Kado Design and Daniel Meloché Design | Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design | Odeyto Indigenous Centre | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Retail Design | Inscape Showroom | Suzanne Wilkinson; Mardi Najafi; Nicole Hoppe; Shannon Kehoe | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Mitecvsat-Alga Micro Ondes | Julie Laforêt | Folio Design Inc. | Kirkland, QC |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Peoples Group Workplace Design | Michelle Sigurdson | DIALOG | Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Spear Street Capital – Willingdon Business Park Building 6 | Susan Steeves; Katy Maclean | SSDG Interiors Inc. | Burnaby, BC |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Volaris | Inger Bartlett | Bartlett & Associates | Toronto, ON |
2019 Winners
| Award Type | Program Title | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Fairmont Hotel Vancouver | Karen Wong | CHIL Interior Design / B+H Architects | Vancouver, BC |
| Excellence | Innovation in Retail Design | Surterra | Mardi Najafi | figure3 | Tampa, FL |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Medical Technology Company Headquarters | Caitlin Turner; Meagan Buchanan | HOK | Waterdown, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Engine Digital Square One Interior Design | Jennifer Hamilton | Square One Interior Design | Vancouver, BC |
| Excellence | Innovation in Institutional / Educational / Civic Design | Niagara College Student Commons | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) | Suzanne Bettencourt | figure3 | Winnipeg, MB |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | KPM Industries Limited | Monika Sarkisian; John Tanfield; Atena Nejad | Smith Grimley Harris Design Partners | Oakville, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional / Educational / Civic Design | Ryerson University, the Catalyst | Donna Dolan | Kearns Mancini Architects | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Clay Restaurant at the Gardiner Museum | Dyonne Fashina | Denizens of Design Inc. | Toronto, ON |
2018 Winners
| Award Type | Category | Project Name | Designer(s) | Firm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation in Design Thinking | Freedom 55 – Financial Centre Redesign | Suzanne Bettencourt; Carly Block-Marcus; Vanessa Tantalo | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Hospitality Design | Bisha | Alessandro Munge | Studio Munge | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Institutional / Educational / Civic Design | Ryerson University Student ServiceHub | Valerie Gow | Gow Hastings Architects | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Residential Single Family | Pear Tree Farm | Theresa Casey; Craig Crane | Casey Design | Planning Group Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Excellence | Innovation in Retail Design | Crave | Siavash Madani | Ruscio Studio Inc. | Montreal, QC |
| Excellence | Innovation in Workplace Design | OMERS Project One | Allan Guinan; Suzanne Bettencourt; Daniel Norwood; Susan Jefferson | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Design Thinking | 100 Broadview Lobby | Caroline Robbie; Julie Mroczkowski | Quadrangle | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional / Educational / Civic Design | Ryerson University REAL Institute | Donna Dolan | Kearns Mancini Architects | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Institutional / Educational / Civic Design | University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre | Tarisha Dolyniuk | MJMA | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Residential Single Family | Modern View Home | Geralynne Mitschke | Geralynne Mitschke Design | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | EY Toronto Client Experience Centre | Daniela Barbon; Lori Urwin | HOK, Inc. | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | Freedom 55 – Financial Centre Redesign | Suzanne Bettencourt; Carly Block-Marcus; Vaness Tantalo | Figure3 | Toronto, ON |
| Merit | Innovation in Workplace Design | TMX – 100 Adelaide | Peter Heys; David Zhou; Adrian Berry; Edward Tsang; Leanne Washuta; Stephanie Holyoke | B+H Architects | Toronto, ON |
