Renowned Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal awards collection to Carleton

Douglas Cardinal, an internationally-renowned architect, has bestowed his entire collection from 1984 onwards of drawings, plans, files, 3D models and other information to Carleton University.

“I chose Carleton because of its outstanding school of architecture, its commitment to the arts and humanities and particularly the exemplary professional and dedicated staff serving the Archives Department, especially Patti Harper and Lloyd Keane,” says Cardinal. “I am assured the collection will be properly preserved and my body of work will be able to be utilized by future generations of architects.”

Cardinal, who is an officer of the Order of Canada, is famous for his commitment to excellence and unique creative vision. He is renowned for developing a classic, organic approach to architecture and was designated a world master of contemporary architecture by the International Academy of Architecture.

“This acquisition is a watershed for Carleton, and for the History and Theory of Architecture in particular,” said Peter Coffman, assistant professor, School for Studies in Art and Culture. “Douglas Cardinal’s work is not only beautiful – it is also connected to some of the most compelling social and political themes of our day. This is a hugely exciting field for research, and this collection will put us at the centre of that research for generations to come.”

“When Douglas Cardinal’s office called to ask us if we were interested in his collection, we didn’t hesitate. Coming on the heels of the Jacob Siskind collection, we are absolutely delighted that he also chose to give this fabulous gift to Carleton,” says Patti Harper, a department head of the archives and research collections at MacOdrum Library, where the collection is now housed.

Cardinal is also known for imbuing humanity into his work. “I have found that by placing the needs of the human being before the systems that modern man has created, we can ensure that the man is indeed served by these systems rather than becoming a slave to them. Through several projects undertaken by my firm and myself, I have demonstrated my dedication for working with people and improving the human condition.”

The collection includes valuable assets such as plans for the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Museum of the American Indian (Washington, D. C.), the First Nation University (Saskatchewan) and Oneida Casino Children’s and Elders Center (Verona, New York).

In1999, Cardinal was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the highest architectural honour presented to an individual in Canada, In 2009, he received a Gold Medal of the Union of Architects of Russia, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the design and building of the Canadian Museum of Civilization.