Studio of Contemporary Architecture

The Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA) is a Toronto-based architecture and urban design studio dedicated to inclusive city building and the creation of beautiful spaces. Founded on the belief that architecture both shapes and is shaped by the contemporary condition, the studio is deeply engaged in research and the broader discourse of architecture's impact on culture, the environment and the shaping of cities. The studio is the recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts’ 2023 Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, a travelling grant allowing the studio to explore sites of Black joy and community globally. SOCA is also a contributor representing Canada at the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture and has been awarded the 2023 Emerging Architectural Practice Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. SOCA had previously been listed in Wallpaper* Magazine’s 2021 directory of emerging architectural talent and selected as one of twenty emerging practices in Canada by Twenty + Change and Canadian Architect. SOCA collaborates with clients in the institutional, non-profit, residential, arts, commercial and municipal sectors, working on projects that include new construction, adaptive reuse, renovations, additions and interior design. Our work also extends from exhibition design and public art to building feasibility studies. The studio is led by Shane Laptiste and Tura Cousins Wilson, who have experience in residential, institutional, and civic architecture. Both Shane and Tura are founding members of BAIDA.