FOURTH YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
Heba Al-Fayez—Ontario Association of Architects Exceptional Leadership Through Design Excellence: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation Award
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Heba Al-Fayez—Ontario Association of Architects Exceptional Leadership Through Design Excellence: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation Award
About the Award
Ontario Association of Architects Exceptional Leadership Through Design Excellence: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation Award:
To recognize two students with exemplary work related to the topics of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation, in any year of the undergraduate or graduate Architectural Science programs. This award is intended to recognize exceptional leadership through design excellence combined with exemplary approaches to projects and/or assignments as they relate to Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and/or Truth and Reconciliation.
Volunteer Work.
Over the last four years as a part of the Department of Architectural Science, I have consistently embodied the values of a socially conscious leader and extended my impact to the wider community.
Since my early years on campus, I have been involved in DAS student groups, eagerly learning from those around me and laying the groundwork for my leadership to be rooted in service to my peers. Starting as an AIAS first-year representative, I moved into the role of a graphics associate on the Freedom by Design team and was the co-director in my third year—ultimately helping with the difficult transition from online to in-person programming and helping orient future leaders of the group. In these positions, I was able to play an integral role in delivering beneficial programs to my classmates and discovered my interest in intersecting wider community work with student initiatives.
Exploring this interest, I’ve consistently embodied another key leadership value—eagerness to connect and learn. In my second year, I served as a DAS Architecture camps facilitator. Beyond the organizational challenges of leading this initiative, I was also responsible for teaching kids fundamental architectural concepts in a fun way—connecting with them personally to help bring their ideas to life. I later co-authored a paper on teaching architecture through service—reflecting on my learnings from this initiative—that was presented at the 2023 ICERI conference in Spain. I have also been a walking tour guide at the Toronto Society of Architects for 3 seasons and worked on their virtual tours initiative. Here, I challenge myself to translate what I have learned through school and research to an audience that comes from a variety of backgrounds. As a leader in this scenario, I am eager to connect and learn from the people I meet while trying to convey knowledge.
Finally, the most important leadership value to me is a commitment to teaching and welcoming others into initiatives that I am deeply passionate about. Over the last few months, I have been leading a team of students on the DAS EDIJ Exhibition Committee in designing an exhibition that speaks to the role of the wall as a tool for agency and control—hitting on topics very close to home for many people. Helping to lead this large team from the pitch process through to the design and delivery process, I have tried to establish a democratic and inclusive culture that makes anyone feel comfortable to contribute ideas. Moreover, I have been an ACU mentor to two fellow students, guiding them through the program and helping them avoid pitfalls I struggled with. Finally, as an executive member of the Toronto Society of Architects (Child and Youth Initiative Lead), I am always excited about sharing opportunities to help my peers continue their education outside of the classroom.
Overall, leading with kindness and enthusiasm is deeply important to me and I am honoured to be recognized with this award.
Academic Work.
In my academic work, I strive to propose creative solutions rooted in serving the community. My third-year project, developed alongside Paige Hitchins, is an example.
XYZ City School proposes the spatial and tectonic intersection of innovation, human-scale, and community. At grade, an urban fabric-related base houses amenities with a central student commons. The commons is defined by the SLICE of the tower’s glass envelope along its perimeter, revealing the activities in adjacent spaces to the commons. Enveloped in playful brick that opens and closes to the community, the grounded base contrasts the light academic tower HUNG above the student commons - celebrating old and new.
Ontario Association of Architects Exceptional Leadership Through Design Excellence: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation Award:
To recognize two students with exemplary work related to the topics of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and/or Truth & Reconciliation, in any year of the undergraduate or graduate Architectural Science programs. This award is intended to recognize exceptional leadership through design excellence combined with exemplary approaches to projects and/or assignments as they relate to Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and/or Truth and Reconciliation.
Volunteer Work.
Over the last four years as a part of the Department of Architectural Science, I have consistently embodied the values of a socially conscious leader and extended my impact to the wider community.
Since my early years on campus, I have been involved in DAS student groups, eagerly learning from those around me and laying the groundwork for my leadership to be rooted in service to my peers. Starting as an AIAS first-year representative, I moved into the role of a graphics associate on the Freedom by Design team and was the co-director in my third year—ultimately helping with the difficult transition from online to in-person programming and helping orient future leaders of the group. In these positions, I was able to play an integral role in delivering beneficial programs to my classmates and discovered my interest in intersecting wider community work with student initiatives.
Exploring this interest, I’ve consistently embodied another key leadership value—eagerness to connect and learn. In my second year, I served as a DAS Architecture camps facilitator. Beyond the organizational challenges of leading this initiative, I was also responsible for teaching kids fundamental architectural concepts in a fun way—connecting with them personally to help bring their ideas to life. I later co-authored a paper on teaching architecture through service—reflecting on my learnings from this initiative—that was presented at the 2023 ICERI conference in Spain. I have also been a walking tour guide at the Toronto Society of Architects for 3 seasons and worked on their virtual tours initiative. Here, I challenge myself to translate what I have learned through school and research to an audience that comes from a variety of backgrounds. As a leader in this scenario, I am eager to connect and learn from the people I meet while trying to convey knowledge.
Finally, the most important leadership value to me is a commitment to teaching and welcoming others into initiatives that I am deeply passionate about. Over the last few months, I have been leading a team of students on the DAS EDIJ Exhibition Committee in designing an exhibition that speaks to the role of the wall as a tool for agency and control—hitting on topics very close to home for many people. Helping to lead this large team from the pitch process through to the design and delivery process, I have tried to establish a democratic and inclusive culture that makes anyone feel comfortable to contribute ideas. Moreover, I have been an ACU mentor to two fellow students, guiding them through the program and helping them avoid pitfalls I struggled with. Finally, as an executive member of the Toronto Society of Architects (Child and Youth Initiative Lead), I am always excited about sharing opportunities to help my peers continue their education outside of the classroom.
Overall, leading with kindness and enthusiasm is deeply important to me and I am honoured to be recognized with this award.
Academic Work.
In my academic work, I strive to propose creative solutions rooted in serving the community. My third-year project, developed alongside Paige Hitchins, is an example.
XYZ City School proposes the spatial and tectonic intersection of innovation, human-scale, and community. At grade, an urban fabric-related base houses amenities with a central student commons. The commons is defined by the SLICE of the tower’s glass envelope along its perimeter, revealing the activities in adjacent spaces to the commons. Enveloped in playful brick that opens and closes to the community, the grounded base contrasts the light academic tower HUNG above the student commons - celebrating old and new.
