York University’s Markham Campus has earned another national design award for an interior that emphasizes accessibility, wellness and connection.
The 10-storey, 400,000-square-foot facility, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, received Canadian Interiors’ 2026 Best of Canada Award in the institutional category for “a design that places emotional comfort, social engagement, wellness and intuitive movement at the centre of the design agenda.”
The award adds to recent recognition for York University’s newest campus, which was created to expand educational opportunities in one of Canada’s fastest-growing urban regions. Markham Campus previously earned top honours at the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards and was named a winner in the LEARN category of the 2025 ARIDO Awards.
According to Canadian Interiors, this year’s winning projects reflected a growing emphasis on spaces that support meaningful experiences and respond to culture, heritage and contemporary design priorities.
“The design of Markham Campus reflects the kind of community we’re building here: open, inclusive and connected," says Dan Palermo, deputy provost of Markham Campus. "The spaces are intentionally designed to bring people together, encourage collaboration across programs and create stronger connections between the University and the broader community. This recognition is especially meaningful because it celebrates not only the design of the building, but how that design supports the experience of the people who learn, work and connect here every day.”
Located in Markham, the campus is organized around a five-storey atrium that serves as a gathering space. A central staircase links classrooms, study areas and collaborative spaces, while glazing and daylight help maintain sightlines across multiple floors.
The facility supports interdisciplinary learning and research through flexible teaching, collaboration and community-focused spaces. Its interior design encourages interaction among students, faculty, staff and visitors by connecting learning, research and informal activity spaces.