The Earth Sciences & Chemistry Building Third Floor Renovations project at the University of Waterloo has received the Excellence in Whole Building / Holistic Design — Renovation award at the Lab Design Design Excellence Awards.
This marks the project’s first international recognition.
Originally built in the 1960s, the Earth Sciences & Chemistry Building remains an important part of campus life and research at the University of Waterloo. Rather than replacing it, the project focused on carefully reworking and modernizing the existing facility — creating a more connected, flexible, and high-performing environment for students, researchers, and faculty.
The renovation transformed a fragmented series of outdated labs and corridors into a cohesive research community centered around daylight, collaboration, and long-term adaptability. At the same time, major infrastructure and mechanical upgrades were integrated within the constraints of an active, aging building to support safer, more efficient, and future-ready research spaces.
This recognition reflects the collaborative effort behind the project and a shared belief that design excellence is not defined by whether a project is new or existing. Some of the most complex and meaningful work comes from rethinking what is already there — uncovering opportunities within constraints and extending the life of buildings that continue to serve their communities.
Congratulations to the entire project team and our partners at the University of Waterloo on this international recognition.
