Cheryl Atkinson OAA, FRAIC, is a practicing architect in Toronto, an Associate Professor at the Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson in Toronto. A Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada she has a degree in Environmental Studies and a deep interest in the role of site and context in architecture. Her career has consistently combined both teaching and practice. Her research focuses on the study of the sensorial properties of built form and its impact on human social interaction and psychosocial health in both urban space and facility design. Cheryl was a Co-PI for Canada’s largest post Occupancy Evaluation and a member of the Research Collaborative at the Facility Design and Health Research Group at Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto examining the role of design and environment to health and well-being in their transition to their new chronic care facility design.
Her recent research and professional practice have focused on sustainable cities through the development of more affordable net-zero energy and carbon design for mid-rise multi-unit residential, through strategies of urban infill, pre-fabrication and construction with organic and high carbon storing materials. Her Zero Hous[ing] prototype unit developed with a small team of Ryerson students and the Endeavour Centre as a design build — was exhibited at EDIT DX, Expo for Design, Innovation & Technology, an international ten-day festival launched by the Design Exchange (DX) in Toronto, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Academic Publications
Atkinson C. “ZERO HOUS[ING] 1:1 Prototype + Process: Collaborative and Experiential Education in the Global Housing and Climate Crisis published in 2020 AIA/ACSA Intersections Research Conference: CARBON, Edited by Berman, Ila & Mitchell, Edward. Conference Proceedings
Atkinson C. “‘Healthy Outcomes’ A Major Pre and Post Occupancy Study of a New Toronto Hospital Provides Evidence for Design’s Impact on Qualitative Aspects of Wellness”,Canadian Architect, October 2016.
Atkinson, C. Architectural Comparative Analysis Report for the POE of Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, MOHLTC, June 2014. Toronto
Atkinson,C., “A Thick Green Line: Extracting Public Space from Existing Infrastructure,” Spaces & Flows and International Journal of Urban and Extraurban Studies. Volume 6, Issue 3, 2015, Common Ground Publishing LLC, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Atkinson,C., “Architectural metrics - developing design analysis tools for post-occupancy evaluations” World Health Design, Design and Scientific Review. (October 2013): 60-69
Alvaro, C., Atkinson,C. “Healthcare facility design, psychosocial well-being and health: A scientific approach to assess impact.” World Health Design, Design and Scientific Review. (July 2013): 60-67
Atkinson C. “Readymade,” published in ACSA 101 New Constellations New Ecologies, Edited by Berman, Ila & Mitchell, Edward. Conference Proceedings
Articles on Work by Atkinson Architect:
Bozikovic, Alex. “Don Mills Fast Forward A frankly contemporary home revamps the new suburbanism of a landmark Toronto neighbourhood,” Globe and Mail, Canada, March 1, 2013. P.G14
