Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2022) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 11, 2021)
Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2022) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2022):
- Diamond Schmitt Architects takes a thoughtful approach when helping employees manage unexpected challenges, offering compassionate leave top-up for those called upon to care for a loved one (to 80 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks)
- Diamond Schmitt Architects starts its new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and offers additional paid time off, with two paid personal days as well as summer and Christmas holiday shutdown days
- Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to be active in their local communities, providing matching charitable donations along with paid time off to volunteer -- employees are also encouraged to suggest initiatives and charitable causes that are important to them, with the firm endeavouring to support all selected charities through direct financial donations or formal fundraising events

Employer Background
Industry | Architecture |
Established in Canada | 1975 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON, Vancouver BC |
Full-time employees in Canada | 283 |
Full-time employees worldwide | 290 |
Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 5.7% |
Average age of employees in Canada | 39 years |
Longest serving employee | 30 years |
COVID-19
Pandemic response | utilized the company's 3D printers to make face visors, launched an internal hub to share updates and information on COVID-19, offered virtual and digital resources related to health and well-being |
Physical Workplace Rating: B+
Editorial note | due to the pandemic, some workplace amenities may be temporarily unavailable |
Commuter amenities | secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station |
Workplace features | located in an early 20th-century industrial loft-style building (which the firm renovated to LEED Commercial Interior standards), the office features exposed brick walls and plenty of natural lighting, a 3D printer modelling room, expanded bicycle storage (few employees drive to work), sit-stand workstations, nap room, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom |
Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television, lounge (referred to as the quiet room) can be used for mindfulness activities, also features a communal library |
Snacks available | beer, cider, beverages and popcorn for Friday afternoon design meetings, lunch provided every Thursday for special lunch and learn sessions, a variety of festive baked goods during the holiday season |
Other food options at main location | seasonal farmer's market, short walk to the Queen Street West shopping district and King Street West theatre district, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B
Employee social committee name | Diamond Schmitt Social Committee (est. 1995) |
Past social events | virtual Nowruz (Persian New Year), Chinese New Year celebrations, online cooking classes and recipe sharing, virtual "Spooktacular" Halloween celebration, and the virtual Winter Soiree to replace its annual Christmas holiday party (included photo collage, games and a live-streamed performance from the company's in-house band, Thunder Truss) |
Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, employee sports teams |
Employee communications | intranet site, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B
Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months |
Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
Long-term savings | matching RSP |
Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options, life & disability insurance |
Year-end bonuses | available to all employees |
Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $2,000) for some positions |
Additional financial benefits | profit-sharing plan available to some employees, corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.) |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: B+
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 75% of the premiums |
Flexible coverage | health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels |
Minimum hours worked for coverage | 25 hours per week |
Waiting period for coverage | 90 days |
Family coverage option | yes |
Retiree coverage option | up to 75 years of age |
Dental coverage | routine |
Paid sick days | employees receive 8 days off each year |
Health plan includes | traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), employee assistance (EAP) plan, semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,500 each year |
Health spending account | up to $500 each year |
Wellness spending account | up to $250 each year |
Fitness club subsidy | up to $60 each year |
Additional health plan information | mental health practitioner benefit ranges from $500 to $1,500 |
Additional health and wellness initiatives | health and wellness committee, free access to LIFT Sessions’ exercise library (with over 1,200 instructor-led on-demand online exercise videos) |
Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 100% of salary for 1 week |
Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks |
Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks |
Adoption top-up | up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks |
Additional family-friendly benefits | phased-in return to work for new parents |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting, reduced summer hours |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Vacation jump | vacation increases after 8 years of employment |
Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation over their career |
Paid summer shutdown | employees receive 8 days off during the summer months |
Paid holiday shutdown | during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off |
Personal paid days off | employees can schedule 2 personal days off each year, as needed |
Unpaid leave of absence option | yes |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B
Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months |
Managers receive performance review training | yes |
360° feedback option | as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work |
Confidential employee feedback | employees can also provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance |
Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
Performance recognition | online recognition platform, individual performance bonuses, long-service awards |
In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 6 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
Career planning | in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory |
In-house training initiatives | apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
Unique training & development programs | depending on the course, tuition subsidies range between 25% to 100%, Diamond Schmitt University (programming consists of subject matter experts within the firm and the industry) |
Community Involvement Rating: A+
Scope of charitable involvement | local, national |
Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time) | over 400 hours last year |
Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 30 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
Some of the community organizations supported | FoodShare and Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Toronto Arts Foundation, Okotoks Foodbank, Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank, The Shoe Box Project for Women, Calgary Food Bank |
Charitable giving | matches employee donations |
Community highlight | Employees are encouraged to suggest initiatives and charitable causes that are important to them. The firm endeavours to support all selected charities through direct financial donations or formal fundraising events. |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 17, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2022):
- Diamond Schmitt Architects actively recruits post-secondary students for paid co-op work terms ranging between four and eight months -- students participate in the collaborative architectural design process with project teams, support detailing and documentation, and prepare 2D, 3D, CAD and Revit drawings
- Diamond Schmitt Architects also offers high school students insight into architectural careers by hiring students for unpaid co-op terms

Highlights
Industry | Architecture |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON, Vancouver BC |
Full-time employees in Canada | 283 |
Student opportunities | summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships, orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory, mentoring, leadership training, apprenticeship/skilled trades programs |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
Unique training and development opportunities | buddy program, recent grads given the opportunity to present projects at the company's weekly design meetings for feedback and recognition, lunch and learns, access to Diamond Schmitt University teaching platform, opportunities to practice and develop Revit skills, Diamond Schmitt Design Technologies Learning program |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 19, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2022):
- Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to leave the car at home when coming to work -- a recent survey showed that 40 per cent of employees use transit, 22 per cent cycle to work (the firm offers shower facilities and secure indoor bicycle storage to accommodate over 60 bikes), 13 per cent walk, and only five per cent drive to the office
- Diamond Schmitt Architects is a leading advocate for the use of living walls and timber in major construction projects, highlighting the advantages of natural materials and the beneficial effects on individual health and well-being on indoor environments
- Diamond Schmitt Architects helps champion the movement towards greener building with over 40 completed LEED projects and additional LEED registered projects on the go, including two projects designed to meet the "2030 Challenge" to be completely carbon neutral -- or even better than neutral

Highlights
Industry | Architecture |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON, Vancouver BC |
Full-time employees in Canada | 283 |
Employee green team | Sustainability Committee |
Senior executive who oversees initiatives | Principal Executive Committee, Sustainability Committee |
Green highlights | numerous projects have achieved certifications and recognition, from LEED Platinum and Gold certification to Commercial Interiors designation (over 40 projects registered and an additional 18 underway), and numerous projects designed to meet other environmental building accreditations, including 6 Net-Zero (1 project completed with 5 underway), advocates for the increased use of wood timber in construction projects (recognizing wood as a renewable building material and positive attributes that contribute to healthier indoor environments), offers employees Passive House training (also has several projects targeting Passive House certification) and WELL AP certifications, hosts biweekly lunch and learn sessions and webinars focused on sustainability, created an "ecoMetrics" initiative (a live database of building energy simulation models from completed projects to better understand energy reduction methods) |
Noteworthy initiatives | committed to the industry's 2030 Challenge that includes a commitment to design all projects as carbon neutral by 2030, founding signatories to the Canadian Architectural Professionals Declare Planetary Health Emergency and Commit to Urgent and Sustained Action initiative (2019) |
Building footprint includes | leased space has achieved LEED Commercial Interiors standard, showers (with low-flow fixtures), energy efficient appliances and LED lighting system, upgrading to new energy efficient servers (from 9 down to 2), 100% biodegradable interior materials (and natural and raw materials where possible), installed view dynamic glass on office exterior that helps to regulate amount and speed of shading |
Extended recycling | glass, soft plastics, metal, polystyrene, batteries, light bulbs, e-waste, furniture, (organics planned for near future), paper use reduction strategy (incorporates the increased use of a digital project management program for document sharing and 3D visualizations), sample library (includes surplus tile, fabric, wood and metal sample that are donated to a local school board for art project materials) |
Commuter amenities | shower facilities and indoor bicycle storage to accommodate over 60 bikes, walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking |
Community partnerships | Habitat for Humanity (employee volunteers help to build a house), sponsors the annual Green Building Festival (local industry conference on sustainable design) |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 4, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2022):
- Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to become recruiters for the firm with generous new employee referral bonuses, up to $2,000, depending on the position
- Diamond Schmitt Architects offers learning and development opportunities for individuals at various stages of their careers, from paid internships for recent grads, to in-house Diamond Schmitt University programming to foster ongoing education

Highlights
Industry | Architecture |
Established in Canada | 1975 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON, Vancouver BC |
Full-time employees in Canada | 283 |
Full-time employee growth in the past year | 6.0 % |
Average age of employees in Canada | 39 years |
Longest serving employee | 30 years |
Long-term savings | matching RSP |
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 75% of the premiums |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting, reduced summer hours |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
In-house training initiatives | apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, leadership training, mentoring, paid internships |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
Performance recognition | individual performance bonuses, long-service awards |
COVID-19
Pandemic response | utilized the company's 3D printers to make face visors, launched an internal hub to share updates and information on COVID-19, offered virtual and digital resources related to health and well-being |