Announcements May 27, 2026

Derek Newby Elevated to the RAIC College of Fellows for Design Innovation and Climate Leadership

Architect in an office with architectural models and design materials, reviewing plans on a desk, surrounded by organized shelving.

Canada’s push toward lower-carbon, mass timber, and high-performance architecture has been driven by architects willing to challenge how buildings are designed, built, and experienced. Derek Newby has been one of them. Now, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has elevated him to its College of Fellows in recognition of that work.

Three individuals on stage at a graduation ceremony, with one person placing a medal around another's neck. Black and red academic regalia is visible.

Derek, Managing Director of our Vancouver and Calgary studios and Regional Managing Director across Canada, was inducted under the category of “Distinguished Contribution through Excellence in Architectural Design, Design Management, or Innovation.” The designation celebrates architects who have moved the profession forward through design leadership and innovation, as recognized by their peers and as reflected in award-winning work.

Growing up in a rural northern town taught Derek to think carefully about resources, resilience, and collective responsibility. Today, that mindset informs everything from his approach to lower-carbon construction and material innovation to the way he mentors teams and contributes to conversations around climate policy and the future of Canadian cities.

Over more than two decades in practice and 15 years with the firm, Derek has become known for pairing long-term thinking with a deeply collaborative approach to design and leadership. In Vancouver and Calgary, he has cultivated studios known for interdisciplinary collaboration, strong mentorship, and ambitious environmental performance goals while advancing the firm’s work in mass timber and low-carbon design. His growing role in guiding teams, strengthening design culture, and leading regional strategy across Canada ultimately led to his appointment to the firm’s Board of Directors in 2026.

“Derek is an architect’s architect,” says Ryan Bragg, Corporate and Commercial Practice Leader for our Canadian studios. “He has a rare ability to move between conceptual thinking, technical detailing, leadership, and advocacy without losing sight of the people ultimately experiencing the architecture. His commitment to environmental stewardship and design excellence has left a lasting mark on projects, teams, and communities across Canada.”

Sleek building design with wooden accents, surrounded by snow and trees, set against a mountainous backdrop under a clear sky.

Aerial view of a cabin surrounded by snow and forested mountains, featuring a wooden exterior and large windows. Clear blue sky in the background.

SoLo

Soo Valley, British Columbia

House surrounded by snow and trees in a mountainous area, illuminated under a starry night sky. Two structures visible from the side angle.

SoLo

Soo Valley, British Columbia

A tall, glass and wood building surrounded by greenery, set against a cityscape with mountains in the background. Pedestrians and cars are visible below.

Canada’s Earth Tower

Vancouver, British Columbia

From institutional buildings to groundbreaking residential design, Derek’s work reflects a thoughtful approach to sustainability, craft, and material innovation. At Marine Gateway, he contributed to one of Vancouver’s earliest large-scale transit-oriented developments, bringing together housing, retail, office space, and rapid transit in a vibrant urban hub that helped set new benchmarks for sustainable mixed-use design. Canada’s Earth Tower explores the future of hyper-sustainable high-rise construction through ambitious mass timber strategies and innovative building systems, while Orchard Commons demonstrated the placemaking potential of mass timber at a significant academic housing scale. In Soo Valley, British Columbia, SoLo presents a highly self-sufficient residential model rooted in passive strategies, renewable energy systems, and a close relationship with the surrounding landscape.

University building featuring glass and stone elements, with people walking and biking in front of landscaped grounds on a sunny day.

University of British Columbia, Orchard Commons

Vancouver, British Columbia

A bustling urban plaza with shops and pedestrians, featuring greenery and a residential building in the background under a blue sky.

Marine Gateway

Vancouver, British Columbia

Urban commercial space featuring glass and wood elements, with people using escalators and stairs in a bustling environment.

Marine Gateway

Vancouver, British Columbia

Beyond project work, Derek remains deeply involved in the research, policy, and industry initiatives that continue to influence how sustainable building is understood and implemented across Canada. He has advised provincial and municipal governments on policy development, participated in municipal design review panels and zoning discussions throughout the region, and co-authored publications focused on embodied carbon reduction, healthy communities, and timber innovation.

“I’m honoured to join the RAIC College of Fellows,” Derek says. “This recognition reflects the many collaborators, mentors, clients, and teams I’ve had the privilege to work alongside throughout my career. I continue to believe architecture should create the best possible conditions for both people and the planet to thrive, and I’m grateful to be part of a practice committed to that work every day.”

Join us in congratulating Derek on this well-deserved recognition.

Derek Newby Elevated to the RAIC College of Fellows for Design Innovation and Climate Leadership

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