High-Performance Futures: Humber Architectural Technology Studio Reviews
2025.12.11
Community engagement is central to our practice at ENFORM—Kevin Stelzer, Douglas Birkenshaw, and Hyunjung Park were all invited to join the review panels for Humber Polytechnic and celebrate the work of the learners in the third-year Architectural Technology studio which this year is run by Professor of Architecture and Sustainability - Mike Taylor. Hyunjung has a special place here as a Humber Polytechnic alumnus, having graduated from the same program in April 2025. She brought her expertise and thoughtful commentary forward to the students.
The projects this year explored the adaptive reuse and deep energy retrofit of an existing building on campus—110 Carrier Drive--into a community center, with emphasis on design, sustainability, and energy performance--all the things ENFORM loves. The level of technical resolution, graphic communication, and critical thinking on display was impressive. The sectional models especially were exquisitely crafted and the spaces carefully curated.
Kevin Stelzer gives his thoughts during a project review
Mike Taylor — Professor of Architecture and Sustainability at Humber Polytechnic
Our role as reviewers is to bring professional practice into the classroom with the goal of creating an open, rigorous dialogue—testing ideas, asking challenging questions, and sharing real-world perspectives. During this session, the learners responded with confidence and thoughtfulness, engaging deeply with feedback and demonstrating a maturity and openness that speaks to the strength of the program. Such exchanges add a richness to the learning environment and help bridge the gap between academia and practice.
We were also pleased to be part of a broader community of practitioners, City of Toronto representatives, and Humber alumni contributing to the reviews. This collective engagement elevates the work, strengthens professional pathways, and reinforces the value of collaboration in shaping high-performance, low-carbon architecture—so that one day every building will be zero carbon.
To the Humber students: congratulations on a strong and successful semester. Your work reflects both technical excellence and a clear commitment to responsible, performance-driven design. We’re proud to support this studio and look forward to staying engaged as these projects—and careers—continue to flourish.
