Alfred Waugh
Alfred V. Waugh is an Indigenous architect based in British Columbia. Alfred Waugh was born in Yellowknife, Waugh studied Urban and Regional Studies as an undergraduate at the University of Lethbridge, and pursued a second bachelors degree in architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture. Waugh founded Formline Architecture + Urbanism in 2005, an Indigenous-owned practice.
Alfred Waugh

Jodee hayes · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Alfred Waugh
- Birthplace
- Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Awards
- Governor General's Medal for Architecture, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts
- Education
- University of British Columbia University of Lethbridge Alfred V.
- Nationality
- Canada
- Occupation
- architect
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Documentary summary
Alfred V. Waugh is an Indigenous architect based in British Columbia. Alfred Waugh was born in Yellowknife, Waugh studied Urban and Regional Studies as an undergraduate at the University of Lethbridge, and pursued a second bachelors degree in architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture. Waugh founded Formline Architecture + Urbanism in 2005, an Indigenous-owned practice.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q117355466 · wikipedia · Alfred Waugh
In this article
Biography
Biography
He is best known for the design of the Indian Residential School History, and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia, designed alongside Manny Trinca and Vince Knudsen. Another notable project is the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria, which he designed in collaboration with Kenneth Wong.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Alfred Waugh • Birthplace — Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada • Significant Buildings — Nicola Valley Institute of Technology • Awards — Governor General's Medal for Architecture, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts • Practice — Formline Architecture + Urbanism • Education — University of British Columbia University of Lethbridge Alfred V. Waugh is an Indigenous architect based in British Columbia. Born in Yellowknife, Waugh studied Urban and Regional Studies as an undergraduate at the University of Lethbridge, and pursued a second bachelors degree in architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture. Waugh founded Formline Architecture + Urbanism in 2005, an Indigenous-owned practice. He is best known for the design of the Indian Residential School History, and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia, designed alongside Manny Trinca and Vince Knudsen. Another notable project is the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria, which he designed in collaboration with Kenneth Wong.
Early life and education
Early life and education
Waugh was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada, to a mother who was of First Nations descent. He is a Status Indian and part of Treaty 8 and his First Nation community is Fond du Lac located in Northern Saskatchewan. In 1989, Waugh completed his bachelors degree in Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Lethbridge. he went on to pursue a degree in architecture from the University of British Columbia School of Architecture, where he was the first Indigenous person to graduate with honours in 1993.
Career
Career
Waugh started his career working at Larry McFarland's office while he was a student. After graduating, he worked as a design architect at Busby Perkins + Will from 1996 to 2001, and then moved on to be a partner of Waugh Busby Architects from 2001 to 2004. In 2005, Waugh established Alfred Waugh Architects, a 100% Indigenous owned architecture practice. The firm was incorporated in 2012, and Waugh changed the name to Formline Architecture, where he is the President and Founding Principal.
Projects
Projects
Waugh has completed the following projects and designs: • Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (2018) University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia • Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Merritt, British Columbia • First Peoples House (2010) University of Victoria, British Columbia • Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (2008) Whistler, British Columbia • Liard River Hotsprings Replacement Project (2012) Liard River Hot Spring Provincial Park, British Columbia, a replacement of the previous change rooms • Cowichan Tribes Administration building (2017) Duncan, British Columbia, an addition and renovation of the tribes administration building • Capilano University (2012) North Vancouver, British Columbia • O'syiam Pavilion (2011) Squamish, British Columbia • Dzee Ba' Yugh Heart House (2019) Lake Babine Nation, Burns Lake, British Columbia • Chemainus First Nations Preschool (2010) Ladysmith, British Columbia • Squaxin Island Natural and Cultural Resource Centre (2014) Shelton, Washington • Shq'apthut: The Gathering Place, Vancouver Island University (phase 1 completed in 2010) Nanaimo, British Columbia • North Island College Aboriginal Gathering Place (2021) North Island College, Campbell River, British Columbia • Mainville Residence (2013) Errington, British Columbia • BCIT Aboriginal Gathering Place (2011) Burnaby, British Columbia • Livingston Residence (2014) Esquimalt, British Columbia • Saskatoon Public Library (ongoing) Saskatoon • University of Toronto Scarborough Indigenous House (design completed in 2012) University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario • Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (design completed in 2021) Debert, Nova Scotia • Barkerville Indigenous Cultural Centre (design completed in 2019) Barkerville, British Columbia • Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Viewing Tower (design completed in 2021) Edmunston, New Brunswick • International Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (design completed in 2018) Brockville, Ontario • Pauquachin Big House (design complete in 2017) North Saanich, Vancouver Island, British Columbia • Ts'ewulhtun Health Centre Renovation and Expansion (design completed in 2011) Duncan, British Columbia • Cowichan Tribes Multi-Family Housing Project Proto-Type (design Completed in 2014) Duncan, British Columbia
Philosophy
The strength of Waugh's designs is derived from consulting with Indigenous communities and translating their wisdom into sustainable design that is respectful of the site and the culture of the community. In his designs, Waugh incorporates landscape-oriented modernism and emphasizes cultural sensitivity and ecological sustainability.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Alfred Waugh”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q117355466: Alfred Waugh
General reference · Wikidata
Awards
In 2022, Waugh, and his firm Formline Architecture was awarded The Governor General's Medals in Architecture from The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), the first Indigenous-owned architectural firm to be awarded the Governor General's Medal for Architecture. • Western Red Cedar Association Architectural Design Award, First Peoples House, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, 2010; • Canadian Wood Council Award, Use of the Red Cedar, Liard River Hotsprings Replacement Project, Liard River, British Columbia, 2014; • BC Wood Design Awards, Institutional Wood Design, Small, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2019; • Governor General's Medal for Architecture Governor General's Medal for Architecture, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2022;
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Lam, Elsa. Architect Alfred Waugh named one of 50 most powerful Canadians. Canadian Architect. 2021-02-10.
- 2.Canadian modern architecture : 1967 to present. 2019. 978-1-61689-645-4.
- 3.Lecture Series, Alfred Waugh. Toronto Metropolitan University.
- 4.Beya, Christiane. Recipients of the 2022 Governor General's Medals in Architecture announced. Canadian Architect. 2022-06-06.
- 5.Alfred Waugh – Formline Architecture + Urbanism.
- 6.Sampson, Janna. Canadian team led by Indigenous architect Alfred Waugh to design the new central library. Saskatoon Central Library. 2020-11-17.
- 7.Canada, Royal Architectural Institute of. Governor General's Medals in Architecture - 2022 Recipient - Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. 2022-05-02.
- 8.Western Red Cedar Architectural Design Awards Winners. ArchDaily. 2010-11-24.
- 9.Holland, Adrian. April 2014 issue. Canadian Architect. 2014-04-14.
- 10.Winner: Institutional Wood Design: Small - Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, Vancouver, BC; Formline Architecture, West Vancouver, BC. Photo Credit: Wood WORKS! BC – 2019 Wood Design Awards in BC. (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC). Canadian Architect.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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