Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

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384 Adelaide St W, Suite 100
Toronto, ON M5V 1R7
Established in 1975, Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. is a full-service firm that specializes in sustainable architectural services.

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Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.
Diamond Schmitt Architects' in-house band ThunderTruss performs at Eco Jam  

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026):

  • Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to be recruiters for the firm with new employee referral bonuses (to $2,000) and reaches out to the next generation through summer employment, paid internships and apprenticeship programs
  • Diamond Schmitt Architects helps employees look to the future with retirement planning assistance services, along with matching RSP contributions and an annual year-end bonus program to help employees share in the firm's successes along the way
  • 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)
Employees at Diamond Schmitt Architects volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
Employees at Diamond Schmitt Architects volunteer with Habitat for Humanity  

Employer Background

Industry Architecture
Established in Canada 1975
Major Canadian locations Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 288
Full-time employees worldwide 295
Workforce engaged on a contract basis 2.1%
Average age of employees in Canada 42 years
Longest serving employee 34 years

Work Environment Rating: B+

Commuter amenities walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Onsite 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 and expanded bicycle storage, 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
Flexible work options hybrid work option, flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, reduced summer hours, Fridays are set as the optional work from home day and employees are encouraged to get their weekends started a littler earlier by logging off at 1 p.m. during the summer months

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B

Employee social committee name Diamond Schmitt Social Committee (est. 1995)
Past social events Nowruz (Persian New Year), Chinese New Year celebrations, ski day, winter holiday party (hosted at local venues), pub nights, Pi Day celebration (pie baking competition and raffle), summer picnic lunches, ThunderTruss (in-house band) appearances at holiday parties (and headlined last year's Canada Top 100 Employers gala dinner)
Cultural aspects business-casual dress daily, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, employee sports teams
Employee communications company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box

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
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
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)
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
Additional health plan information MHB is $500-$1500
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, compassionate top-up to 80% of salary for 17 weeks

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

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B

Employee performance reviews employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
Managers receive performance review training yes
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
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 development programs, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation
Related tuition subsidies employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Unique training & development programs Diamond Schmitt University and DSUonline (virtual learning management system), office-wide design meetings (current projects are presented to the office)

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 500 hours last year
Total number of charities supported last year approximately 29 charitable and community organizations were supported last year
Some of the community organizations supported RVH Foundation, Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Helpaws, National Arts Centre Foundation, St. Paul’s Foundation, Building Equality in Architecture Toronto, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, The Canadian Stage Corporation, Community Music Schools of Toronto, Urban Minds, Council for Canadian American Relations, Black Architects and Interior Designers Association, Twenty + Change, The Corporation of The Town of Oakville, Uxbridge Hospital Foundation, Toronto Arts Foundation, Art Gallery of Ontario, and many more
Charitable giving matches employee donations

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 7, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

  • Diamond Schmitt Architects actively recruits post-secondary students for paid co-op work terms ranging between four to eight months -- students work collaboratively to help develop their architectural skills, including detailing, documentation and drawing preparation
  • Diamond Schmitt Architects incorporates employee feedback when selecting charitable initiatives to support and matches employee donations in kind, up to $1,500 per employee per year
  • Diamond Schmitt Architects supports all new parents with maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 80 per cent of salary for up to 12 weeks (additionally, mothers also receive 100 per cent of salary for one week) -- and offers returning parents the option to ease back into work with phased-in options
Diamond Schmitt Architects employees collaborate at work
Diamond Schmitt Architects employees collaborate at work   (Photo credit: Jim Ryce)

Highlights

Industry Architecture
Established in Canada 1975
Major Canadian locations Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 284
Full-time employee growth in the past year 1.8 %
Average age of employees in Canada 41 years
Longest serving employee 33 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 hybrid work option, flexible work hours, compressed work week, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), 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, mentoring, paid internships
Related tuition subsidies employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Performance recognition individual performance bonuses

Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Chantel Watkins, and Sonja Verpoort, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 21, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):

  • In addition to numerous completed LEED projects, Diamond Schmitt Architects' building portfolio includes ten net-zero certified projects, with an additional five projects underway as well as one completed net-zero ready project
  • Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to leave the car at home with on-site shower facilities and indoor bicycle storage to accommodate over 60 bikes
  • Diamond Schmitt Architects helps employees develop their environmental skills and knowledge with bi-weekly lunch and learn sessions and webinars focused on sustainability, as well as training opportunities for certifications including Passive House and WELL AP -- the firm also created a unique 'ecoMetrics' database of its completed projects to help designers better understand energy reduction methods
Diamond Schmitt Architects staff connect in the studio lounge
Diamond Schmitt Architects staff connect in the studio lounge   (Photo credit: Jim Ryce)

Highlights

Industry Architecture
Major Canadian locations Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 284
Employee green team sustainability committee
Senior executive who oversees initiatives principal executive committee
Publishes sustainability report yes
Green highlights numerous projects have achieved certifications and recognition, from LEED Platinum and Gold-certification to Commercial Interiors designation (over 45 projects registered and an additional 17 underway), numerous projects designed to meet other environmental building accreditations, including 10 net zero (and 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), recently launched DSUonline in 2022 (virtual learning management system that helps reduce the need to travel for training)
Noteworthy initiatives committed to the industry's 2030 Challenge, which includes a commitment to design all projects as carbon neutral by 2030, founding signatories of 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, energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, 100% biodegradable interior materials (with 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, (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 (surplus tile, fabric, wood and metal samples 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)

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