Renowned Canadian architect and Royal Architectural Institute (RAIC) Fellow, Raymond Moriyama passed away at 93.

Moriyama founded his own architectural firm in 1958 and later teamed up with Ted Teshima in 1970 to create Moriyama Teshima Architects, which they ran together until 2003.

A spokesperson from the architecture firm he founded announced his passing on Friday, September 1, 2023. “The world has lost a visionary architect and (his family members) have lost a treasured loved one,” read the statement from Moriyama Teshima Architects.

Moriyama designed numerous iconic buildings, including the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa’s City Hall, the Bata Shoe Museum, the Toronto Reference Library, the Ontario Science Centre, and the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, to name only a few.

He was recognized with several prestigious awards such as the Confederation of Canada Medal and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal. In 2008, he was bestowed with the highest honour of the Order of Canada and was granted honorary degrees by 10 Canadian universities.

He was praised for his sensitivity in considering and addressing human scale, for his humanistic approach to design, and his ability to connect architecture with nature and landscape.

Moriyama maintained a strong relationship with the RAIC and was actively involved in advocacy and humanitarian efforts throughout his career. His impact on the profession has been significant, leaving behind a legacy.

RAIC Fellow and former Chancellor, Barry Johns, remembers Moriyama fondly and remembers him not just as an esteemed colleague, but as the most powerful speaker he’s ever known.

“Raymond leaves a lasting impact on the profession and will be dearly missed. Every word he spoke was profound, you couldn’t help but be captivated by his presence. His professionalism, humanity and passion were unlike anything I’ve ever seen, he had all the ingredients of the best kind of architect.’