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.

Dieter Janssen

Senior Associate

Diamond Schmitt

With over twenty years of experience as a practicing architect, Dieter’s work and curiosity have led to a broad range of collaborations with media & textile artists, photographers, dance and theatre groups, structural engineers, landscape architects, furniture designers, and graphic designers. These relationships have contributed to a unique expertise in a range of building types and spaces, from cultural and institutional, to transit infrastructure, urban, residential, and exhibition-based spaces.

Dieter joined Diamond Schmitt in 2015 and has been part of the team responsible for the award-winning design for the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa, as well as the University of Guelph’s MacKinnon Building renovation for their College of Arts and IICSI programme. Dieter is a member of the OAA and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and a photographer.

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.