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Derek Nicholson

Principal
B Tech (Arch Science)

Derek Nicholson has represented the interests of the Client, Architect, and Contractor during his architectural career. Projects under his direction or involvement have won significant national and international awards and have been widely published. This includes among others, four Governor General Medals, Canadian Architect, International Design, and Ontario Association of Architects Award of Excellence Awards. His accomplishments have been acknowledged in numerous publications and he has written articles on “The Role of the Client”. He has been an invited guest speaker at various universities in Canada and the United States and was a jury member for the Financial Post Design Effectiveness Awards in 1997.

A graduate from Ryerson University where he received his Bachelor of Technology degree in architectural Science in 1984, his diverse background has included former positions with the City of Toronto/North York Parks and Recreation Department at the senior management level. He managed projects in excess of $150 million dollars and was responsible for the planning, design, and construction of 80 buildings and 320 parks. He directed the work of the city’s leading architects, landscape architects, consultants, and contractors while managing a staff complement of architectural, civil & landscape personnel. He also managed the Parks construction division developing internal projects. As a former Supervisor of Building Maintenance in charge of 50 staff, he implemented Computerized Planned Maintenance, Fire Safety, Accessibility, Building, and Energy Conservation programs. During this time, he wrote and produced a document titled “New Directions and Initiatives” that won an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Award in 1987.

Upon leaving the City of Toronto in 1999, he established Derek Nicholson Incorporated and provided architectural consulting services for G + G Partnership Architects. Completed projects included renovations of Toronto City Hall East and West Towers, North York Civic Centre, 500 University Avenue, Metro Hall, and Ryerson University Jorgenson Hall. Health care projects included various renovations at Sunnybrook Hospital, completion of a $20 million 70,000sq. ft. laboratory for Aventis Pasteur and an eight storied parking garage for the University Health Network.

In 2001, he changed focus to become a builder providing construction management and contracting services.