Three Stantec projects shortlisted for the 2025 World Architecture Festival

A global celebration of visionary, innovative, and inspirational design

TORONTO, ON (TSX, NYSE:STN) — The World Architecture Festival (WAF) shortlisted three projects from Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, to be presented in a live-judging session at the 2025 Festival. WAF, the world’s largest architecture awards celebration, recognizes a diverse collection of projects and celebrates the most innovative and inspirational designs. 

The shortlist announcement comes ahead of WAF’s first event in the United States, which will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center from November 12 to 14, 2025. Selected from more than 780 entries, this year’s Festival will showcase 235 completed buildings, 157 future projects, and 64 interior design projects that span a broad range of categories including healthcare, education, hospitality, sports, and culture.

Stantec teams have previously presented the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital at the 2024 WAF in Singapore; FortWhyte Alive Buffalo Crossing Visitor Centre and The Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital at the 2023 WAF in Singapore; and University of Lethbridge Isttaniokaksini / Science Commons, with design partner KPMB Architects, at the 2022 WAF in Portugal, among others.

Stantec’s 2025 shortlisted projects are:

Cambridge Memorial Hospital Redevelopment, Cambridge, Ontario—Completed Buildings, Health category

The reimagined regional health center features a 230,000-square-foot addition alongside 240,000 square feet of renovated space within the existing riverfront hospital campus. The design respects regional landscape traditions through the integration of new and existing structures. Material choices, such as local stone masonry inspired by historic mill buildings, further reinforce the connection to the city’s heritage. 

Dubai Diabetes Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates—Future Projects, Health category

Located in central Dubai, the new 60,000-square-foot facility will double the current capacity of the Dubai Diabetes Centre. The expanded centre will house five dedicated diabetes clinics, 60 examination rooms, and multidisciplinary specialty services. The architectural vision for the clinic reimagines it as a “walled garden”—a single-story, low-profile structure defined by a robust, opaque exterior that gradually gives way to an open, transparent, and light-filled interior. This intentional contrast fosters a sense of privacy and protection, aligning with the clinic’s mission of delivering holistic care, education, and research.

Red River College Polytechnic Interdisciplinary Health & Community Services Simulation Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba—Interiors, Education category

The Centre provides flexible, simulation-based learning for nursing, allied health, and paramedicine students. Designed to support hands-on, emotionally immersive learning while fostering community, collaboration, and cultural understanding, which are essential components in training competent, compassionate healthcare professionals. To facilitate the high-pressure simulated learning environment, the design provides distinct interdisciplinary nursing simulation and paramedicine suites, establishing clear thresholds to define the transition between real and simulated worlds. The simulation lab is accessed through two teal-colored portals, while the remaining spaces are accessed through black portals marking the transition.