OCAD U mourns passing of inspirational architect George Baird

Image courtesy of Baird Samson Neuert architects.

The OCAD University community is deeply saddened by the passing of George Baird on October 17, 2023, at the age of 84. His firm, Baird Sampson Neuert architects, was the architect on record for OCAD U's Onsite Gallery.

REMEMBERING GEORGE BAIRD

Architect, theorist and educator George Baird was an inspirational force in architecture education. 

Baird was a preeminent figure in the history and evolution of both the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and the architectural profession. 

He joined the faculty of what was then U of T’s School of Architecture in 1967, serving as acting chair and chair of the architecture program from 1983 to 1985. In 1993, he left to teach at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, then returned to serve as Dean of the Faculty from 2004 to 2009, during which it became John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

Baird was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the recipient of major awards including the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Architecture and Design Award (1992), da Vinci Medal of the Ontario Association of Architects (2000), RAIC Gold Medal (2010), AIA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education (2012) and Order of Canada (2016). 

As an architect, scholar, educator and mentor, Baird’s contribution to the discourse around and practice of architecture was profound, progressive and international in its reach over five decades.

A major commemorative event hosted through the Daniels’ Faculty is being planned in honour of George Baird, details of which will become available on the Faculty website.

OCAD U extends its condolences to his wife Elizabeth and to his many colleagues, friends and admirers.

SOURCES

Baird Samson Neuert architects
Ontario Association of Architects