Stephane Laroye Architect (SLA) won both the Jury and Popular Choice prizes in the Architecture + Prefab & Modular category at the 2026 Architizer A+Awards — recognition given to what the program describes as the world’s most visionary architectural creators.
The winning project, the Oceanfront Squamish Presentation Centre & Public House (PCPH), sits on the Squamish waterfront overlooking Howe Sound fjord and opened to the public in summer 2024.
“I am incredibly honoured that we have been recognized internationally as leaders in pre-fabrication and mass timber design and construction using BC wood,” said Stephane Laroye, principal and founder of SLA.
According to the press release, the PCPH serves as a public gateway to the waterfront and a year-round gathering place celebrating local culture and craftsmanship. A central House Post, carved by Squamish Nation master carver Xwalacktun, honours the building’s ties to the land and heritage.
The project drew on regional partners throughout. Laroye credited Castlegar-based Kalesnikoff for input on the efficient use of mass timber, and North Vancouver’s Naikoon Contracting, whose work on the project helped spur development of what Laroye called a “Flying Factory” — a mobile pre-fabrication facility designed to serve remote sites and create local employment.
According to the press release, the Architizer A+Awards jury includes architects Carlo Ratti, Ma Yansong, and Koichi Takada, as well as figures from MoMA, the Eames Institute, and Graphisoft. The program reaches a global audience of more than 400 million.
SLA was founded in 2016 and employs seven people, with a focus on high-performance buildings and engineered wood solutions.
Interesting to see a Vancouver firm recognized internationally. What specific features of the waterfront project helped it win those awards?