DAS research thrives at SSAC Conference
Students and faculty from the Department of Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University had the opportunity to present their research at the 2025 SSAC Conference. With over 100 presentations, the conference brought together scholars, industry professionals, designers, and educators to explore the evolving role of architecture. DAS made a strong contribution with seven presentations across five thematic sessions, showcasing the department’s engagement with critical issues shaping the built environment.
Pantea Eslami presenting A New Model for Architectural Pedagogy: Integrating Architecture as an Interface in Multidisciplinary Formal and Informal Educational Landscape
Representing TMU were PhD in Architecture students Pantea Eslami and Yaxin Jiang; Master of Architecture students Teagan Hyndman, Hyo Yeon (Tiana) Lee and Giulia Santocono; faculty members Julia Jamrozik, Terri Peters, and Dustin Valen; and contract lecturer Monica Hutton.
Yaxin Jiang presenting Architectural Representation for Pre-Design Engagement in Urban Infrastructure Reuse: A Pilot Study of the Bentway, Toronto
In the session Architecture as Doing, presenters explored evolving methods in research-creation and design education. Terri introduced the 2025 Collaborative Exercise project based on the revitalization of the Bentway, emphasizing the importance of student collaboration through the example of the vertical studio. Pantea shared a participatory pedagogical framework developed through workshops with youth. The session ended strong with Julia, Teagan, and Tiana’s recent research on the case study of Evergreen Brickworks, using experimental representational techniques to capture the site’s social and spatial narratives.
Terri Peters presenting Fostering Collaboration and a Culture of Making: Learning from a Vertical Workshop with Undergraduate Students
The session Surface Matters focused on the ethics and materiality of conservation. Monica examined the implications of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in architectural finishes, raising urgent questions about temporal and ecological impact of preservation practices.
Giulia Santocono and Dustin Valen presenting Teaching Climate Change, in Two Movements
In the Architecture and Public Engagement session, Yaxin presented findings from her six-month pilot study with the Bentway Conservancy, which tested communication tools to enhance public understanding of urban sites.
Julia Jamrozik, Teagan Hyndman, and Hyo Yeon (Tiana) Lee presenting Narratives of Collectivity: Representing Histories of the Evergreen Brickworks
Lastly, the Design with Climate in Canada session featured a co-authored paper by Dustin and Giulia reflecting on climate-conscious pedagogy through both instructor and student’s point of view.
Dustin Valen with this year’s Phyllis Lambert Prize winner. Dustin was a recipient in 2021
Julia, Pantea and Terri during Architecture as Doing session discussion
Beyond the sessions, each day concluded with guided walking tours of the city. These tours provided a grounded perspective on Ottawa’s built environment and sparked critical conversations among attendees. A notable example was the tour of LeBreton Flats, which traced over sixty years of planning and redevelopment. The tours prompted reflections on the role of architects, planners, and policymakers in shaping more inclusive urban futures.
Walking tour of LeBreton Flats led by Benjamin Gianni (Associate Professor at Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism)
Tiana and Teagan attending the conference
The Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
As a Master of Architecture student at the beginning stages of thesis research, attending and presenting at SSAC was an incredible experience. Seeing the range of research topics far beyond traditional design, with voices from fields of conservation, history, archiving, medicine, public policy, and the arts, reinforced just how broad and interdisciplinary the field of architecture truly is. The knowledge gained from presentations and conversations has already sparked new ideas on how to approach personal research methods. Presenting the work publicly also offered both courage and clarity, helping to envision how the current research project can evolve in its next steps. With renewed inspiration, there is hope to return next year, to share how much the project has grown and contribute to the conference’s rich and critical dialogue.
Views from the walking tours
The 50th Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) took place from May 27th to 30th, 2025 in Ottawa hosted by Carleton University and Library and Archives Canada. More on the conference and the SSAC available here (external link) .
Reference:
(Co-)Presenter(s) and their topics
- Pantea Eslami - A New Model for Architectural Pedagogy: Integrating Architecture as an Interface in Multidisciplinary Formal and Informal Educational Landscape
- Terri Peters - Fostering Collaboration and a Culture of Making: Learning from a Vertical Workshop with Undergraduate Students
- Julia Jamrozik, Teagan Hyndman, and Hyo Yeon (Tiana) Lee - Narratives of Collectivity: Representing Histories of the Evergreen Brickworks
- Monica Hutton - Finished Forevers
- Dustin Valen - On Aged Buildings and People: A Provisional Research Outline
- Yaxin Jiang - Architectural Representation for Pre-Design Engagement in Urban Infrastructure Reuse: A Pilot Study of the Bentway, Toronto
- Giulia Santocono and Dustin Valen - Teaching Climate Change, in Two Movements