Remembering Raymond Moriyama | MyNews | Seneca Students

Raymond Moriyama, the renowned architect who designed the Stephen E. Quinlan Building at Seneca@York, died Sept. 1 at age 93.

His magnificent architectural legacy also includes the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, which hosted the School of Fashion’s Redefining Design event for several years, plus landmarks like the Canadian War Museum, Ontario Science Centre and Toronto Reference Library.

Mr. Moriyama’s connection with Seneca Polytechnic began in 1994, when his firm Moriyama Teshima Architects was selected to design Seneca’s new campus at York University – the first college campus in Canada to be located on a university campus.

Stephen E. Quinlan, then President of Seneca, remarked at the time that Moriyama Teshima was selected in the belief it could best create “a campus that … prepares us for the challenges of the 21st century by combining the best in architectural design, education technology and operational effiencies.”

As part of the design process, Mr. Moriyama requested meetings with many Seneca employees who would be working out of the new building to hear their expectations and visions.

Construction began in 1997. Upon its completion in 1999, Seneca@York welcomed more than 3,000 students through its doors for programs in communications, computer studies, and the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry.

In 2004, Mr. Moriyama co-designed the Technology and Enhanced Learning Building at Seneca@York, now known as the Dahdaleh Building.

Mr. Moriyama was a Companion of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. He served as Chancellor of Brock University from 2001 to 2007.

Photos courtesy Seneca Archives and Special Collections