Fall 2026 public program

The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto presents its fall 2026 public program, Understories.

“Its just a matter of waiting for the wild things to emerge out of the understory.” —Richard Powers

In complex forests, specialist plant-life has evolved over millennia within the specific conditions of the understory, between the tree canopy and above the forest floor, offering cover and forage for diverse species. For the fall 2026 public program, Understories collects thinkers, makers, readers, and observers of that which lies beneath us, that protects and nourishes us—stories of overlap between the disciplines of architecture, art, forestry, landscape architecture, and urbanism that comprise the foundations for the Daniels Faculty. Understories brings together practitioners, artists, and scholars responding to the interconnected challenges of climate change, urban development, public health, housing, and cultural transformation.

Anne Whiston Spirn tells stories about what it would mean for a city to be both ecologically robust and socially just. Drawing on extensive experience in forestry, conservation and landscape management, Jo Bradwell and Geraint Richards will explore the role of trees in mitigating the effects of climate change. Leading with Landscape: Toronto’s Waterfront Transformation, a three-day symposium and exhibition organized by Fadi Masoud, observes one the world's most ambitious projects in landscape-led city building. A two-day screening series puts the work of experimental filmmakers Ute Aurand and Robert Beavers in dialogue on architecture and dwelling. Martino Stierli will introduce the curatorial vision behind Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, exploring how architects and leaders sought to Africanize modern architecture. Foster + Partners’ Chris West will report on their innovative approach to healthcare design that integrates digital and physical healthcare models. New Orleans-based Jonathan Tate brings stories of housing across scales as a catalyst for community change beyond individual buildings. Pat Hanson, founding architect of gh3*, makes ideas durable and grounded through material, environmental and social conditions. Working across scales and media—from permanent public artworks and architectural interventions to experimental performances, installations, and painting—artist Adrien Lucca examines how light constructs our experience of colour and the environment.

All events in the series are free and open to the public. Register in advance and consult the listing for up-to-date details. Many events will be live-streamed or recorded and made available on the Daniels YouTube channel.

Lectures
September 17, 6:30pm 
The Buried River: Restoring Nature, Rebuilding Community
Anne Whiston Spirn (MIT)
The Michael Hough/OALA Visiting Critic in Landscape Architecture Lecture

September 24, 6:30pm 
Why Trees and Which Trees? Perspectives from Two Tree People
Arthur (Jo) Bradwell (Owner and Director of Norbury Park and Forestry Commissioner, UK) and Geraint Richards (Head Forester to His Majesty King Charles III)

October 1, opening event 5:15pm / keynote 6:30pm  
Leading with Landscape: Keynote & Opening Event
Symposium keynote discussion featuring Ken Greenberg, Charles Waldheim (Harvard GSD) and Julia Czerniak (University at Buffalo). Organized by Fadi Masoud 

October 8, 6:30pm 
Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa
Martino Stierli (The Museum of Modern Art, New York)

October 15, 6:30pm
Healthcare Design that Makes a Difference: Insights from Foster + Partners
Chris West (Foster + Partners)
The Zeidler-Evans Lecture

October 22, 6:30pm 
Miscellaneous Tactics 
Jonathan Tate (Office of Jonathan Tate)
The George Baird Lecture

November 5, 6:30pm 
Ideas Made Material
Pat Hanson (gh3*)

November 19, 6:30pm
The Ecology of Colour: An Artistic Journey Through the Spectrum of Light, Across Human and Insect Vision
Adrien Lucca (Studio Adrien Lucca)

All lectures are held at the Daniels Building, Main Hall DA170, 1 Spadina Crescent.

Symposium
October 1–3, 2026
Leading with Landscape: Toronto’s Waterfront Transformation  
Organized by Fadi Masoud 
Website

Exhibitions
May 23–September 16, 2026
Existing Futures: Teaching Experiments in Maintenance, Media, and Urban Occupation
Yusuke Obuchi (2025/26 Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design)

September 25–November 10, 2026
Leading with Landscape: Toronto’s Waterfront Transformation
Larry Wayne Richards Gallery
Opening event: October 1, 5:15pm / 6:30pm Keynote Discussion

Gallery location and hours of operation
Larry Wayne Richards Gallery, Daniels Building, DA196, 1 Spadina Crescent. Monday–Friday: 9am–7pm / Saturday and Sunday: Closed.

Screenings
October 5, 6:30pm ET / October 6, 7pm ET
Aurand / Beavers: Architecture and Dwelling
Film screening program featuring Ute Aurand and Robert Beavers. Organized by James Macgillivray. Presented by U of T’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Cinema Studies Institute, Center for Culture and Technology, and Innis College

Screenings held at the University of Toronto, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue