September 5, 2024
Jennifer has been busy this summer working on the Toronto iteration of "Buone Nuove: Good News from Italy " exhibition which will open at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Paul H. Cocker Gallery in the Department of Architectural Science for its inaugural North American showing on September 5, 2024.
TMU undergraduate student Saskia Scarce was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award (SSHRC USRA) to begin work with Jennifer in May 2024. “BEYOND GENDER: Voices of Black Women in Architecture + Design’ – an excerpt of an ongoing research project entitled, “Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture in Canada,” which uses storytelling to amplify the voices of the next generation of designers, will be included in the upcoming exhibition.
Please join her on September 5 in celebrating the work of remarkable women around the globe, including the EMPOWERING PRACTICES of Toronto based women, who are shaping their cities through innovation, leadership, and advocacy!
More information on the exhibition at TMU can be found here!
June 6, 2024
allNovaScotia has published an article on our project a narrow apartment building in an east coast city with MRB Contracting.
Check out the article here!
May 24, 2024
Will presents “Capturing Life: Investigating the Role of Social Narratives in Domestic Space Design” based on a house in a meadow between the forest and sea at the 49th annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada in Winnipeg.
“The house is a frame to capture both internal and external life and provides fertile ground for the exploration of everyday rituals. Within domestic spaces, narratives related to sleeping, dining, gathering, and retreat shape the parameters that guide the design. These social-programmatic narratives, along with the site’s historical and physical narratives, construct an understanding of one’s place in the home, and by extension the world, as an embodied and active experience.”
May 16, 2024
Jennifer, alongside Maya Desai (Associate Professor/Chair, OCAD, Visiting Professor, University of Toronto, Senior Urban Designer and Planner, Moriyama Teshima Architects), presented their work on ‘Equity Unbuilt: Confront Architecture’s Hidden Gaps” at the RAIC Academic Summit at the 2024 Annual Conference on Architecture in Vancouver.
Following the presentation, they participated in a moderated discussion by Lisa Landrum (Chair, Toronto Metropolitan University) with colleagues looking at Social Justice, Quan Thai (Associate, SVN Architects + Planners, Emerging Practitioner, University of Waterloo) and Karen Kubey (Assistant Professor, University of Toronto).
May 1, 2024
Join us in congratulating Jennifer (Chair, BEAT Executive Committee) and the entire BEAT community on their recent Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Advocate for Architecture Award. From the jury: “BEAT has established itself as a significant voice supporting equity in the architecture profession. As a group, they highlight the structural inequalities that continue to disadvantage women, inspire us to reflect and to action for change. Their discussions and perspectives connect and center human dimensions for a better way forward and their enthusiastic encouragement and mentorship of young female architects as they navigate a demanding profession is vital.” We are very proud to support this organization!
Read more about the award on the RAIC and Canadian Architect website!
March 11, 2024
Duncan travelled to San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico to assist Buckets & Borders in launching its first international project, “Proyecto Plaza del Sol”. We worked closely with local youth and community members to design the artwork for the basketball court, restore and paint the court surface, run youth basketball day camps, and participate in a tournament featuring 10 teams from across the Nayarit and Jalisco regions.
Learn more about the project here!
March 5, 2024
Jennifer joined Elsa Lam (Editor, Canadian Architect), Valerie Gow (Partner, Gow Hastings Architects), Heather Breeze (Intern Architect & Marketing Director, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design), and Cathy Truong (Product Designer, Autodesk) for a moderated discussed by June Komisar (Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University) on Women in Architecture.
This event aimed to shed light on the underrepresentation of women as registered architects, despite their significant enrollment in architecture programs across the country. Where do female architecture students go after graduating? What barriers did they face along the way, and what supports did they have? Understanding these diverse career paths of architecture graduates, why some go on to get licensed, and why others may leave, is crucial for promoting gender diversity and equity within the profession. The panel focused on career trajectories and paths to licensure, barriers, and support for women in the profession.
January 16, 2024
Duncan and Jennifer participated in Dalhousie University School of Architecture’s B2 Professional Practice week led by Professor Michael Putman. In this session, they shared their experience leading projects from concept to completion.
January 8, 2024
Jennifer was recently interviewed by Rhys Phillips for his article “Women in Canadian Architecture: An Update” published in Canadian Architect’s Benchmark Report. In it she says “there’s a perceived idea of how to be a leader… but [in reality] there’s lots of ways to be a leader in the profession.”
Read the full article here!
January 8, 2024
Jennifer recently moderated the 2023 BEAT Forum: Building Equity on Construction Sites. Geared toward those who work at or visit construction sites, including architects, clients, contractors, trades, and consultants, the Forum explored different perspectives on how to create a collaborative and productive work environment for all stakeholders throughout the construction process. Panelists included Jen Hancock (Vice President of Collaborative Construction, Chandos Construction), Carol Phillips (Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects), Lisa Laronde (President, RSG International, Canadian Association of Women in Construction) and Gayle Meeks (Associate/Technical Director, Perkins & Will).
Learn more about BEAT here!
January 4, 2024
Jennifer was thrilled to be invited to speak about her volunteer work at the Toronto Society of Architects Connect event last September!
Jennifer is a mentor and advocate for equity in the profession as reflected through her roles with Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) and Harvard Womxn in Design (WiD) as well as a mentor to future architects through the Harvard Mentorship Collective and Ontario Association of Architects (OAA).
January 1, 2024
We're excited to announce that on January 1, 2024 Jennifer Esposito joined Place of Work as a third partner and principal. In addition to an old friend and colleague, Jennifer is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Toronto Metropolitan University. She brings extensive experience in the custom residential world across Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the US.
You can learn more about Jennifer here!
September 9, 2023
This summer Place of Work had the opportunity to be a part of something special in the community of Rivertowne in the city of Toronto. Playing a supporting role to long time collaborator Buckets & Borders, Duncan worked with artist Fiorella Granda, local youth and community members to refurbish the Don Mount Basketball Court in Riverside, Toronto transforming it into Canada’s first WNBA themed basketball court. We assisted with community engagement, artist selection, design coordination, court painting and helping to run the grand opening celebration that took place on September 9, 2023. Special thank you to the DMC Youth Committee for welcoming us into your neighbourhood.
Read more about the project here!
April 28, 2023
Place of Work turns one! On an evening in April we gathered at Fawn Restaurant with clients, colleagues, friends, and family to celebrate our first year in business. Thanks to everyone who came; we’re looking forward to the next one!