Colleen Reid

Colleen M Reid
Architect
Professor, Faculty of Design
cmreid@ocadu.ca
http://ColleenReid.ca

Areas of Expertise:
Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Planning, Education, Sustainability

B.E.S, B.Arch. -University of Waterloo,
O.A.A. - Registered Architect

Colleen Reid was born in Toronto and currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario. Colleen is a Professor, a practicing architect and a practicing artist.

In the past Ms. Reid has acted as Interim Dean in the Faculty of Design (2008 and 2016), as Associate Dean Academic (2012-2016), as Assistant Dean for six years (2001-2007) and as Chair of Environmental Design (2000). Colleen has been a faculty member at OCAD University since 1994. In the winter of the 2010 Colleen taught in Florence, Italy for the Faculty of Art, OCADU.

Ms. Reid acted as Project Architect at Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects for Metro Hall, a $210 million project including three commercial office towers, a public park, and interiors such as the Metropolitan Toronto Council Chamber. Colleen has also acted as Project Architect for First Marathon Securities, a 50,000 sf interior renovation of a large Toronto trading firm and for the interiors of TSN, a 90,000 sf office space for a sports broadcasting network.

Ms. Reid has had her own architectural practice since 1993. Projects include a 500-seat community and cultural centre for the Kettle Point First Nation, a 10,000 s.f Community Centre at the Mississauga's of the New Credit First Nation and a 25,000 sf Administrative building for Walpole Island First Nation, which houses the First Nation's council chamber and administration facilities. Colleen has completed the design of a 53,000sf Library and Archive for Six Nations and a 17,000 sf Youth and Elder's Centre for Six Nations for which construction was completed in 2016. Colleen is also the Architect for the Niagara Agricultural Centre (and fairgrounds) which began construction in the summer of 2014.

In recent years Colleen has been working on school feasibility studies for various First Nations in Ontario, including Curve Lake First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, Georgina Island First Nation and two schools (in Thunder Bay and Pelican Falls, near Sioux Lookout) for the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC.) The NNEC project entails the assessment of existing facilities of school and residences at Sioux Lookout and school at Thunder Bay. This project is the result of a successful design completed by Colleen for the NNEC in 2018 of a new school and student residence for Thunder Bay.

In 2024 Colleen completed research for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Canada. The document outlined methods for improving the sustainability approach for School Feasibility Studies for First Nations. The study reviewed and outlined various net zero approaches, concerns and difficulties with implementing these approaches, as well as proposing a revised methodology for consultant selection which would support a higher level of sustainability in design and construction.

Colleen continues to develop her art practice which incorporates the ideas of nature, sustainability and architecture found in her architectural and teaching practices.