John McMinn (He/Him)

John McMinn is Professor of Architecture, Director of the Grand Studio Design Build Program, and Associate Director at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. The Grand Studio works in collaboration with Indigenous communities in the Grand River Valley, on cultural infrastructure projects. John is a graduate of the Architectural Association and McGill University. He has taught and lectured at a variety of schools of architecture in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. He is a principal and founder of the Toronto based architectural practice MJ Architecture, whose portfolio includes building and public space design, exhibitions and art installations. He has published widely in journals on contemporary Canadian architecture, and has written books on the cultural dimensions of contemporary sustainable architecture, 41º to 66º: Regional Responses to Sustainable Architecture in Canada, (co-author with Marco Polo) and on Canada’s leading engineering practice in the later part of the 20th century, Yolles: A Canadian Engineering Legacy, (co-author with Beth Kapusta). He was recipient of the Canada Council Prix de Rome in Architecture in 1992-93, and the exhibition 41º to 66º: Region, Culture, Tectonics, (co-authored with Marco Polo), represented Canada at the Venice Biennale for Architecture in 2008. Research interests focus on: Indigenous and Canadian architecture, environmentalism in architectural and urban design, innovative structures, cultural issues in sustainability, materials and building construction and architectural criticism.

• Indigenous architecture
• Canadian architecture
• environmentalism in architectural and urban design
• innovative structures
• cultural issues in sustainability
• materials and building construction
• architectural criticism

• 1990, Bachelor's BArch, ,
• 1983, Bachelor's BFA, ,

• ARCH 292 - Design Studio
  • Taught in 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.