Marianne McKenna and Shirley Blumberg, the founding architects of KPMB Architects, are the recipients of the 2025 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Gold Medal, the organization’s highest distinction. This prestigious award recognizes individuals whose body of work and influence have made an enduring contribution to Canadian architecture.

Marianne McKenna is celebrated for her ability to create architecture that resonates with culture, community, and the arts. She is perhaps best known for her visionary and sensitive transformation of The Royal Conservatory of Music, including Koerner Hall in Toronto, a performance venue praised internationally for its acoustic and architectural excellence. Additionally, she led the expansion and modernization of Toronto’s historic Massey Hall.

Shirley Blumberg is widely recognized for her commitment to architecture that supports inclusion, equity, and the public good. Her work on projects such as the Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s Lawrence Heights, the Harrison McCain Pavilion at Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa, and the Montreal Holocaust Museum exemplifies her belief that design can be a force for positive change.

The RAIC Gold Medal will be formally presented at the RAIC Conference on Architecture in June.