SOSA x TSA Present: Spotlight South Asia 2023

About this event

The Society of South Asian Architects, Canada (SOSA), in collaboration with Toronto Society of Architects (TSA), are pleased to host our annual marquee event – Spotlight South Asia 2023. This year, our Guest Panelists are Dev Mehta, Principal, BDP Quadrangle, and Aamer Shirazie, Associate | Manager, Architecture, Arcadis | IBI.

Spotlight South Asia is a moderated Panel Discussion held annually during the month of May to celebrate the South Asian Heritage Month in Ontario. The discussion presents the panelists’ background, professional journey and challenges they faced along the way, while providing industry insights to professionals, students and new immigrants. The panel discussion will be moderated by members of SOSA’s Executive Committee.

Guest Panelists:

Dev Mehta, B.A.S., M. Arch., OAA, LEED Green Associate

Principal, BDP Quadrangle

Dev is a second-generation Indian-Canadian, raised in Calgary, Alberta by Gujarati parents who immigrated to Canada in the mid-70s. His father led a humble architectural practice in Calgary and provided mentorship to Dev as he navigated his own career path in the profession. Dev continues to establish his identity and seek out meaning as an architect in Toronto.

Dev has always been creative and curious, but his upbringing has balanced this with a pragmatism and appreciation for business.

In his practice as an architect, Dev collaborates with ambitious developer clients on increasingly complex and demanding multi-unit residential and mixed-use developments across the Greater Toronto Area. His work includes the multiple award-winning Bata Shoe Factory, a conversion of a historic factory building into a contemporary commercial and residential property in Batawa; 7800 Jane Street, an iconic mixed-use development in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre; McNaughton Community, a series of residential buildings forming a transit-oriented community; and 3300 Rutherford Road, a master planned complete community in Vaughan.

Dev has been actively engaged in local industry networks, including volunteer committee roles with ULI Toronto and the Ontario Association of Architects.

Aamer Shirazie, B. Arch.

Associate | Manager, Architecture, Arcadis | IBI

Aamer is a second-generation Pakistani-Canadian who immigrated with his family to Canada in 2000. Having lived, studied and worked in Toronto over the last two decades, he transitioned careers from Advertising to Architecture close to 15 years ago to help align his personal and professional ambitions. Aamer is part of the High-Rise Design Studio leadership based out of IBI’s Head Office in Toronto. He is a designer with a decade of experience in Mixed-Use Residential design on projects of varying scales and levels of complexity across Canada. Aamer currently leads an extremely talented and experienced team with varying backgrounds that focuses on the conceptual, schematic and design development of projects predominantly in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding areas. He is passionate about Architecture, Urban Design, history, culture and above all else, people.

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Society of South Asian Architects, Canada (SOSA) is the first community-based not-for-profit organization in Canada that represents the interests of South Asian architects and design professionals by embracing and advocating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the professions of architecture and design. SOSA’s goal is to support communities by creating opportunities for mentorship, education, networking, and outreach.

Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) is a non-profit volunteer-led organization dedicated to bringing people together to discuss, learn and explore around our shared passion for the built environment. We are committed to the betterment of our city and have played an important advocacy role throughout Toronto’s history. We do this through a wide range of programs which foster welcoming and inclusive forums for debate and the exchange of ideas, stimulating critical thinking about the design and building issues of our time.