Ask A Historian: Building Placemaking Into the Evolution of Mississauga

This week on Ask A Historian, Matthew welcomes Michael Spaziani as they discuss the future of Mississauga and opportunities for Mississauga to evolve a better sense or soul for a "There, there" with future developments.

 

Michael Spaziani, B.E.S. (Environmental Studies), B. Arch., OAA, FRAIC, is the principal of MSAi, an architectural firm specializing in urban design and architecture. Founded in 1986, the firm is celebrating its 36th year of practice, headquartered in a restored heritage building in Port Credit, Ontario.

 

Mr. Spaziani commenced his architectural career winning the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Medal for academic excellence upon graduation from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1977. In 2010, Mr. Spaziani was inducted into the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada College of Fellows, an honour reserved for only a few Canadian architects each year, recognizing their contributions to the Canadian architectural community.

 

A Dean’s Honour Roll member at the University of Waterloo, he has been the recipient of many urban design awards in Ontario for building projects in Oakville, Kitchener, Mississauga, Pickering, and Brampton. He has advised the municipal councils of Markham, Mississauga, Toronto, Guelph, Whitby, Ajax, Caledon, East York, Oakville, and Vaughan on architectural and urban design matters over the past three decades. He has on two occasions acted as a juror for the Vaughan Urban Design Awards program and was a professional juror for the 2004 Oakville Urban Design Awards.

 

In 2006 he was selected as a juror for the Absolute Condominium international competition in Mississauga. The winning selection, the "Marilyn Monroe" building has emerged as a remarkably powerful orientation symbol for Mississauga. In the same year he was honoured to be chosen as a juror for Mississauga’s 25th anniversary Urban Design Awards program.

 

Each week Matthew answers questions and shares inquiries he receives from our residents, businesses, and partners on the fascinating heritage and history of our city.

 

We invite you to send in your questions about the historic people, places, events, and milestones that helped shape the landscape of Mississauga today.