It is a proud moment for Silvio Baldassarra, OAA, FRAIC and Chair Emeritus at NORR, to be honored with a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his significant contributions to architecture and engineering. Silvio is being recognized alongside 30 of his industry colleagues through the RAIC (Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) by way of a member nomination process.
Silvio comes from a technically strong educational background that, combined with years of experience on complex and demanding projects, has instilled in him the importance of producing thoughtful solutions that are buildable and durable. He has played an important role on projects that have pushed the envelope technically on Canadian landmarks.
His portfolio ranges from legacy projects ranging from the SkyDome (now known as Rogers Centre) featuring the world’s first fully retractable motorized roof on a professional stadium to the inflatable airplane docking shelters for commuter planes developed for Toronto International Airport – which have been copied and adopted across the country. More recently, Silvio has led large-scale projects including the multi-year, multi-phased Union Station Revitalization (Toronto, ON), a national heritage landmark and the highest traffic intermodal transportation facility in Canada, Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto, the largest courthouse in Canada, and The Wellington Building Rehabilitation (Ottawa), to transform the Beaux-Arts building, now home to House of Common offices and other parliamentary services.
During his 48-year career, Silvio has demonstrated his commitment to providing continuous learning through NORR ed, a professional education lecture series that is acknowledged by professional industry bodies and universities and colleges across Canada, the US and the UK. He founded the program in 2006 and has led it for 18 years. The monthly sessions feature expert speakers on a range of topics of architectural and engineering interest open to the firm’s employees, clients and industry professionals. Its success can be measured by the quality of the speakers it has attracted, including the Pritzker Prize, AIA Gold Medal and Stirling Prize winners along with other world-renowned experts helping to teach, learn and improve continuously. The quality and reach of this virtual forum are indicative of the depth and breadth of engagement he has brought to the industry.
King Charles III Coronation Medal Presentation
The King Charles III Coronation Medals will be presented to all recipients at a ceremony on October 7, 2024 on World Architecture Day, during the RAIC Congress on Architecture, taking place in St. Andrews, NB.
This Canadian commemorative medal has been created to mark His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation on May 6, 2023. It is a visible and tangible way to recognize 30,000 outstanding individuals of all ages and from all walks of life who have made a difference in their communities. The medal program is administered by the Chancellery of Honours, as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG).
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