Associate Professor Adrian Blackwell and Professor Dr. David Fortin are among the key organizers of a bold, collaborative initiative for the 2025–2026 academic year: a Superstudio focused on ending housing alienation. This nationwide effort brings together students and faculty from 14 institutions, including the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, to explore design solutions that address housing unaffordability, disrepair, precarity, and homelessness.
At the heart of the Superstudio is a shared belief that “there is a profound strength in numbers and that all big challenges require collaboration,” says Adrian Blackwell, University of Waterloo professor and member of Architects Against Housing Alienation (AAHA) — the collective behind the initiative and Canada’s representative at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Each participating school has dedicated one or more studios or courses to the theme of housing justice. Students will engage with diverse knowledge systems, invent new design methods, and contribute to a growing movement for change. The initiative began with a nationwide kickoff event on September 6, bringing together students and instructors for shared discussions and content exchange.
Throughout the academic year, a series of Superstudio Talks will feature leading voices in architecture and housing advocacy. These lectures are open to students across all participating institutions and will be available online or recorded for broader access.
Fall 2025 Superstudio Talk Series
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October 2 | 4:30–5:30 PM
Adrian Blackwell, AAHA Organizer, University of Waterloo
Infill as Relational Architecture -
October 9 | 6:00–7:00 PM
Barry Johns, Athabasca University
BAAKFIL and the Housing Crisis -
October 24 | 1:30–2:30 PM
Inge Roecker, University of British Columbia
Homing -
October 30 | 1:30–2:30 PM
Matthew Soules, AAHA Organizer, University of British Columbia
Architecture and Financialization -
November 6 | 1:30–2:30 PM
Karen Kubey, University of Toronto
Architecture and the Right to Housing
At the end of each academic term, student work will be showcased in a digital exhibition, highlighting innovative design solutions and fostering national dialogue around housing justice.