Agenda

Diana Darling

CEO & Creative Director

The Architect’s Newspaper

Darling is CEO, creative director, and co-founder of The Architect’s Newspaper, celebrating its 20th year. The A|N media company consists of print and digital publications covering architecture and design news, as well as the Facades+ and TECH+ conferences. As A|N’s publisher, Darling won the AIA National Collaboration Award, Grassroots Preservation Award, and ASLA NY’s President’s Award. She began her publishing career as director of print production for The Gap’s European markets. She holds a BS from The University of Texas at Austin.

Michael Leckman

Principal

Diamond Schmitt

Michael Leckman demonstrates strong leadership and consensus building both within the firm and in the field. His design of college and university buildings has transformed academic life across Canada. He champions sustainable innovation, which has enabled new approaches to green building design.

As Principal at Diamond Schmitt, Michael pioneered two important initiatives of knowledge exchange: DSX, a digital platform for information sharing; and DSU, the office’s unique approach to continuing education. As founding member and Vice Chair of Toronto’s Design Review Panel, he has shaped a critical debate on city planning. He has also contributed to the profession as guest critic and lecturer at schools of architecture across Canada, and speaker at industry conferences, including CaGBC and the OAA.

Michael’s major completed works include the Bahen Centre at the University of Toronto; the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture-winning York University Student Centre; the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat; Algonquin College ACCE in Ottawa; the School of Law at Thompson Rivers University; Lethbridge College TTRIP; Red River College Innovation Centre; and the Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto.

Michael Leckman

Principal

Diamond Schmitt

Michael Leckman demonstrates strong leadership and consensus building both within the firm and in the field. His design of college and university buildings has transformed academic life across Canada. He champions sustainable innovation, which has enabled new approaches to green building design.

As Principal at Diamond Schmitt, Michael pioneered two important initiatives of knowledge exchange: DSX, a digital platform for information sharing; and DSU, the office’s unique approach to continuing education. As founding member and Vice Chair of Toronto’s Design Review Panel, he has shaped a critical debate on city planning. He has also contributed to the profession as guest critic and lecturer at schools of architecture across Canada, and speaker at industry conferences, including CaGBC and the OAA.

Michael’s major completed works include the Bahen Centre at the University of Toronto; the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture-winning York University Student Centre; the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat; Algonquin College ACCE in Ottawa; the School of Law at Thompson Rivers University; Lethbridge College TTRIP; Red River College Innovation Centre; and the Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto.

Alison Modl

Associate

Diamond Schmitt

Alison Modl earned both a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture, with a focus on the environment. During her studies, she worked directly with Indigenous groups in Northern Ontario which fostered her interest in architectural design for the health and wellbeing of communities. 

Since joining Diamond Schmitt in 2020, she has been involved in the design of thoughtful residential projects that will be applying for various levels of funding to help address Ontario’s housing crisis. Her portfolio work includes projects with Toronto’s Yonge Street Mission and Ottawa Community Housing. 

Alison is the project lead for the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus – a building that is focused on healing, learning, and bringing community together. 

Alison is a WELL Accredited Professional and strives to design spaces that employ sustainable strategies that benefit both human and environmental health.

Michelle Murray

Architectural Sales Representative

SAFTI First

Michelle Murray has over 15 years of experience in the architectural glazing industry. As the Architectural Sales Representative at SAFTI FIRST®, she brings her extensive knowledge and expertise of fire rated glazing systems and fenestration in general when working closely with architects, specifiers, glazing contractors and code officials. Michelle is a dynamic presenter and speaker who has been delivering our AIA-registered presentation to various architecture firms, AIA local chapters, CSI local chapters, and at other architectural and glazing industry events.

Chris Wrobel

Multi-Family Sales Manager

Innotech Windows + Doors

Chris Wrobel is the multi-family sales manager at Innotech Windows + Doors. Chris has over twenty years of experience in project management and architectural product sales. His deep knowledge of the construction industry, specifically large-scale commercial and mixed-use multi-family developments, allows him to effectively work with all stakeholders on a project team.

Michael Steinhuelb

Vice President

Seele Inc

Michael Steinhuelb is Vice President of seele, Inc. and seele Canada, responsible for directing and providing overall management of seele, Inc. He first joined seele group in 1999 as the first Project Manager for international projects, and re-joined the company  in New York City with seele, Inc. in 2015. Michael is a licensed architect and holds all contractors‘ licenses for seele, Inc. and seele Canada in the United States and in Canada.

Diana Darling

CEO & Creative Director

The Architect’s Newspaper

Darling is CEO, creative director, and co-founder of The Architect’s Newspaper, celebrating its 20th year. The A|N media company consists of print and digital publications covering architecture and design news, as well as the Facades+ and TECH+ conferences. As A|N’s publisher, Darling won the AIA National Collaboration Award, Grassroots Preservation Award, and ASLA NY’s President’s Award. She began her publishing career as director of print production for The Gap’s European markets. She holds a BS from The University of Texas at Austin.

Michael Leckman

Principal

Diamond Schmitt

Michael Leckman demonstrates strong leadership and consensus building both within the firm and in the field. His design of college and university buildings has transformed academic life across Canada. He champions sustainable innovation, which has enabled new approaches to green building design.

As Principal at Diamond Schmitt, Michael pioneered two important initiatives of knowledge exchange: DSX, a digital platform for information sharing; and DSU, the office’s unique approach to continuing education. As founding member and Vice Chair of Toronto’s Design Review Panel, he has shaped a critical debate on city planning. He has also contributed to the profession as guest critic and lecturer at schools of architecture across Canada, and speaker at industry conferences, including CaGBC and the OAA.

Michael’s major completed works include the Bahen Centre at the University of Toronto; the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture-winning York University Student Centre; the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat; Algonquin College ACCE in Ottawa; the School of Law at Thompson Rivers University; Lethbridge College TTRIP; Red River College Innovation Centre; and the Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto.