Bruce Kuwabara receives honorary degree from the University of Waterloo

June 27, 2024

The University of Waterloo awarded founding partner Bruce Kuwabara an honorary doctorate, the highest honour conferred by the University, at its spring convocation ceremony on June 15. 

The University presents honorary doctorates to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their discipline and significant global and societal impact through their personal experiences and work. 

“Our new honorary doctorates are an inspiration to our graduates and our University community,” said Dr. Vivek Goel, the University’s president and vice-chancellor. “They are trailblazers and trendsetters and will undoubtedly inspire our new graduates to make a positive impact on the world.” 

“Your accomplishments in your chosen area of study will mean something if they serve the needs of society and make better lives for people,” Kuwabara said to the graduates. “Architecture and engineering have the potential to address the challenges of today and the future, to embrace reconciliation, support our common ground, and drive shared and equitable prosperity.” 

Throughout his career, Kuwabara has been commended for his character and his work, which includes Kitchener City Hall and Canada’s National Ballet School, both recipients of Governor General’s Medals in Architecture; the multi-year, multi-phase transformation of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the record-setting Manitoba Hydro Place, which, at the time, was the largest office tower in Canada to receive LEED Platinum certification. 

He holds a Gold Medal from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) — the highest honour the RAIC bestows in recognition of a significant contribution to Canadian architecture — and is an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognized for shaping “our built landscape in lasting ways.”