Michael McClelland (supplied image)
Michael McClelland honoured by Heritage Toronto
Published: March 25, 2026
Michael McClelland, a graduate of the University of Toronto’s bachelor of architecture program, has received a Special Achievement Award from Heritage Toronto.
The award celebrates exceptional contributions by individuals or organizations who have stewarded the city’s heritage.
A founding principal of ERA Architects, McClelland has deeply impacted heritage conservation, heritage planning and urban design for over 30 years. His architectural work includes major restoration projects, the historic Don Jail, the Broadview Hotel and revitalization of the Distillery Historic District. He is widely recognized for redefining heritage beyond monuments or landmarks to encompass places that hold collective histories and cultural significance.
McClelland has authored and co-edited several publications including "East/West: A Guide to Where People Live in Downtown Toronto," "Concrete Toronto: A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies" and "The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood."
"Heritage is simply another word for how we value our relationships to ourselves and our environments," said McClelland, who graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (now the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design) in 1981. "It’s the job of architects to express those values through time by renewing and building new spaces."
