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Featured Awards
American Institute of Architects, Small Project Award, El Aleph Guesthouse, NS
Wood Design and Building Awards, Western Red Cedar Sponsorship Award, House at 9,000 Feet
Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, National Urban Design Award for Urban Architecture, Queen’s Marque, NS
AIA Small Project Award: Enough House, NS
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Shobac, NS
AIA Western Mountain Region Awards, Honor Award: Horizon Neighborhood
American Institute of Architects, Housing Award, One- and Two-Family Custom Residences: Mirror Point Cottage, NS
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Two Hulls House, NS
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Cliff House, NS
International Awards
2025
Wallpaper Design Awards, Best Retreat: El Aleph Guesthouse, NS
2024
Wood Design & Building Award, Honor Award: Hilltop Cottage
2024
American Institute of Architects, Small Project Award, El Aleph Guesthouse, NS
2023
International Architecture Awards, Honourable Mention: Queen’s Marque, NS
2023
Wood Design and Building Awards, Western Red Cedar Sponsorship Award, House at 9,000 Feet
2023
International Prize Sustainable Architecture, Honourable Mention: Queen’s Marque, NS
2022
AIA Small Project Award: Enough House, NS
2021
The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award: Smith Residence, NS
2021
Wood Design & Building Awards, Merit Award: Horizon Neighborhood, UT
2021
Dezeen, Dezeen Awards longlist: Horizon Neighborhood, UT
2021
AIA Western Mountain Region Awards, Honor Award: Horizon Neighborhood, UT
2021
Architizer Awards, A+Awards Finalist: Smith House, NS
2019
Architect’s Newspaper, Best of Design Awards, Honourable Mention, Residential Single-Unit: Bigwin Island Club Cabins, ON
2019
American Institute of Architects, Housing Award, Multi-Family Housing: Bigwin Island Club Cabins, ON
2019
American Institute of Architects, Housing Award, One- and Two-Family Custom Residences: Mirror Point Cottage, NS
2019
Wood Design & Building Awards, Honor Award: Mirror Point Cottage, NS
2019
Dezeen, Dezeen Awards shortlist: Smith House, NS
2019
Wood Design & Building Awards, Honor Award: Prospect/Refuge 3, NS
2018
Dezeen, Dezeen Awards longlist: Point House, NS
2017
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Moriyama RAIC International Prize, Nominee: Shobac
2017
Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris under the Patronage of UNESCO, Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, Laureates of 2017: Brian MacKay-Lyons & Talbot Sweetapple
2017
North American Wood Design, Merit Award: Point House, NS
2016
Azure Magazine, AZ Award Finalist: Enough House, NS
2016
Mies Crown Hall America’s Prize, Nominated: Refuge, NS
2016
Royal Institute of British Architects, International Fellowship
2016
American Institute of Architects, International Region Honor Award for Open International: Two Hulls, NS
2016
Interior Design Best of Year Award, Honoree, Budget Category: Enough House, NS
2016
Architectural Record, Record Houses Award: Mirror Point Cottage, NS
2016
Architect Magazine, Residential Architect Design Awards, Citation: Enough House & Point House, NS
2014
Architizer Awards, People’s Choice Award: Two Hulls House, NS
2014
Azure Magazine, AZ Jury Award: Cliff House, NS
2014
North American Wood Design Honor Award: Refuge, NS
2014
Mies Crown Hall America’s Prize, Nominated: Two Hulls House, NS
2013
Residential Architect Design Award, Merit Award: Sliding House, NS
2012
Azure Magazine, AZ People’s Choice Design Award: Two Hulls House, NS
2011
North American Wood Design, Honor Award: Cliff House, NS
2011
Architectural Record, Record Houses Award: Two Hulls House, NS
2011
American Institute of Architects, Honor Award: Ghost Campus, NS
2011
North American Wood Design, Ron Thom Award: Ghost Campus, NS
Canadian Awards
2024
Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, National Urban Design Award for Urban Architecture, Queen's Marque, NS
2023
Urban Design: Built Developments Award of Merit, Azure Magazine, Queen’s Marque, NS.
2022
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Shobac, NS
2022
Order of Canada Member, Brian MacKay-Lyons; contribution to Canadian Architecture
2020
Canadian Wood Council Honor Award, Mirror Point Cottage, NS
2020
Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award, Smith Residence, NS
2020
Canadian Wood Council Honor Award, Prospect/Refuge 3, NS
2020
Canadian Wood Council Award, Bigwin Island Club Cabins, ON
2018
Fellow of Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, FRAIC – Talbot Sweetapple
2018
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Two Hulls House, NS
2018
The Globe’s Canadian Artists of 2018: Runner-up, Brian MacKay-Lyons
2017
City of Ottawa Urban Design Award of Merit: Public Places and Civic Spaces, Canadian Building Trades Monument (with John Greer), Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa, ON
2016
Canadian Building Trades Monument Competition, Winner (in partnership with John Greer)
2015
Canada Council for the Arts Assistance for Organizations and Firms, Book: Economy as Ethic: Work of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects
2015
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 2015 Gold Medal
2014
Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Firm Award
2014
Bigwin Island Block 78 Design Competition, Winner
2013
Heritage Canada Cornerstone Award, Adaptive Reuse, Troop Barn, Kingsburg NS
2012
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, Cliff House, NS
2011
Canada Council for the Arts Assistance for the Promotion of Architecture, Ideas in Things: Ghost Sessions
2011
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Two Hulls House, NS
2008
OAA Design Excellence Award, Academic Resource Centre, University of Toronto – Scarborough, ON
2003
Canada Council for the Arts Assistance to Practitioners, Critics, and Curators of Architecture, Plain Modern: The Architecture of Brian MacKay-Lyons
2002
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, House on the Nova Scotia Coast # 22, Lower LaHave, NS
2002
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Messenger House II, Upper Kingsburg, NS
2000
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Howard House, West Pennant, Nova Scotia
1999
The Alcuin Society Citations for Excellence in Book Design in Canada, Adult Picture, Photography and Museum Catalogues Category, TUNS Press Documents in Canadian Architecture Brian MacKay-Lyons: Selected Projects 1986-1997
1999
Advertising & Design Club of Canada Merit Award, for Public Services Design for TUNS Press Documents in Canadian Architecture, Brian MacKay-Lyons: Selected Projects 1986-1997
1999
Canadian Architect Award of Merit, “Between Two Rocks,” Digby County, NS
1999
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Election
1998
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Northwest Cove Productions, “Studio Retreats" Big Tancook Island, NS
1997
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, House on the Nova Scotia Coast #12
1996
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Howard House, West Pennant, NS
1994
Governor General’s Award for Architecture, Leahey House, Pugwash, NS
1993
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Leahey House, Pugwash, NS
1992
Heritage Canada Restoration Award, Windemere House, Restoration/Renovation, Charlottetown, PEI
1992
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, Nielsen/White House, Halifax, NS
1992
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, 2042 Maynard Street, Mixed Use Infill, Halifax, NS
1992
Olympic Arts Medal, Gate for Olympic Games, Olympic Arts Festival, Calgary, AB
1987
Prix De Rome (Finalist), First Canadian Prix De Rome
1986
Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, House on the Nova Scotia Coast, Renovation, Upper Kingsburg, NS
Regional Awards
2024
Atlantic Architectural Design Excellence Awards, Merit Award, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, PEI
2024
Atlantic Architectural Design Excellence Awards, Queen’s Marque, NS
2022
Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture, Medal of Excellence, Queen’s Marque, NS
2022
Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture, Medal of Excellence, Chester House, NS
2022
Atlantic Architectural Design Excellence Awards, B2 Lofts
2020
The National Trust’s Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Award, B2 Lofts
2020
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, B2 Lofts
2020
Nova Scotia Heritage Award, B2 Lofts
2019
Woodworks! Atlantic, Jury’s Choice: Mirror Point, NS
2019
Town of Lunenburg Heritage Recognition Award, B2 Lofts
2019
Woodworks! Atlantic, Atlantic Residential: Mirror Point, NS
2019
Built Heritage Award, Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, B2 Lofts
2019
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Smith Residence
2019
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Horizon Neighborhood
2018
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Point House, Upper Kingsburg, NS
2018
Maritime Architectural Design Excellence Award of Merit, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB
2017
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Colchester East Hants Public Library, Truro, NS
2016
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Mirror Point, Annapolis, NS
2016
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Enough House, Kingsburg, NS
2015
Atlantic Wood Works, Atlantic Architect of the Year
2013
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Lean-to House, NS
2012
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Sunset Rock, NS
2012
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Sliding House, NS
2011
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Leahey II, NS
2011
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Two Hulls, NS
2010
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Cliff House, NS
2010
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, UPEI School of Business, Charlottetown, PEI
2010
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Martin-Lancaster House, NS
2009
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Canadian Chancery and Official Residence, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2009
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Port Campus, Halifax, NS
2009
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Ghost Campus, Upper Kingsburg, NS
2009
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Bridge House, NS
2009
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, House on the Nova Scotia Coast #22 Spa
2007
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Creighton St. Townhouses, Halifax, NS
2007
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Brock University Plaza Building, St. Catharines, ON
2007
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Regan House, Halifax, NS
2006
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Mason House, NS
2006
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Young Ave. House, Halifax, NS
2005
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Fischer House, NS
2004
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Hill House, South Shore, NS
2004
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Ship’s Company Theatre, Parrsboro, NS
2004
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Academic Research Centre, University of Toronto at Scarborough, ON
2004
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, New Office of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited, Halifax, NS
2003
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Messenger II House, Upper Kingsburg, NS
2002
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Agnew Residence, First South Cove, NS
2002
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Special Award, in recognition of achievements in architectural design, attaining national and international acclaim while practicing within a firm in Nova Scotia, to the overall benefit of the profession.
2000
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Howard House, West Pennant, NS
2000
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, Dalhousie University Faculty of Computer Science Building, Halifax, NS
1999
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Kutcher Residence, Herring Cove, NS
1999
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, House on the Nova Scotia Coast #22, Lower LaHave, NS
1999
The Alcuin Society Citations for Excellence in Book Design in Canada, Adult Picture, Photography and Museum Catalogues Category, TUNS Press Documents in Canadian Architecture Brian MacKay-Lyons: Selected Projects 1986-1997
1998
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Banque Royale, West Pubnico, NS
1997
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, House on the Nova Scotia Coast #12
1996
Lieutenant Governor’s Citation, White/Leger House, Antigonish, NS
1995
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Leahey House, Pugwash, NS
1994
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, 2086 Maynard Street, Halifax, NS
1993
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, LeGallais House, Bedford, NS
1992
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Yaukey Cottage, Blanche Peninsula, NS
1992
Lieutenant Governor’s Award, Honourable Mention, Dalhousie Campus Plan, A Collective Vision; Halifax, NS
1991
Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit, Wicht Cottage, Lower Kingsburg, NS
1991
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, Gibson-Livingston House, Sherbrooke Lake, NS
1991
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence, 2042 Maynard Street, Mixed Use Infill, Halifax, NS
1991
Lieutenant Governor’s Award, Honourable Mention, Lea House, St. Margaret’s Bay, NS
1989
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Award of Merit, 2098 Creighton St., Infill Housing, Halifax, NS
1989
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Citation, Nielsen/White House, Halifax, NS
1987
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Citation, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery Competition, Waterloo, ON
1987
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Medal of Excellence, Peninsula North Infill, Housing Strategy, 2020 Maynard Street, Halifax, NS
1986
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Citation, House on the Nova Scotia Coast, Renovation, Upper Kingsburg, NS
1986
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Award of Excellence, First Baptist Church, Renovation to Housing, (Emodi/MacKay-Lyons) Halifax, NS
1986
Nova Scotia Home Award, House on the Nova Scotia Coast, Renovation, Upper Kingsburg, NS
1985
Halifax Non-Profit Housing Society Competition, First Prize, Infill Housing, Halifax, NS
1985
Nova Scotia Home Award, Lyons Tower, Addition, Five Island Lake, NS
1984
Nova Scotia Home Award, Garrison House, Renovation and Infill
1983
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Award of Merit
Academic Awards
2024
Honorary Doctorate, Brian MacKay-Lyons - Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, Dalhousie University
1982
The Dean’s Award for Design, Awarded for best thesis, Alternatives to Suburban Development in Prince Edward Island, UCLA
1982
ILAUD Fellowship, International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design, Siena, Italy
1981
Ernest Auerbach Scholarship, UCLA
1981
Welton Beckett Fellowship, UCLA
1980
Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning Scholarship, UCLA
1978
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Medal, Nova Scotia Technical College