Most of Holliday-Scott’s projects were realized and built in his adopted home of Saskatoon; he shaped every aspect of the city and life within it, establishing the literal building blocks of community and civic identity. Not only a mentor to so many colleagues and practitioners, Holliday- Scott was, most importantly, a city builder and a placemaker, crafting uncommonly poetic spaces in both building and landscape.

The project spans both academic terms, from 11 September 2026 to 30 April 2027, with a dynamically fluid exhibition and workspace on the lower level of the University of Saskatchewan’s College Art Galleries, housed within the historic Peter MacKinnon building. As an incubator, this space strives to facilitate awareness, education and research for the University community and the broader public through a processual work in progress that will introduce visitors (including University of Saskatchewan students, some of whom may become architects and builders themselves one day) to Holliday-Scott’s achievements.

To engage visitors in the craft, materiality and process of architecture, a partial archive of the architect’s work and salvaged remnants of his buildings will be on display, along with the traditional tools of the profession that are sadly being eroded by digital technologies. Various activations of the space will include satellite classroom sessions, guest speakers, and artists’ residencies in an open and discursive environment.

An equally important intention is to raise awareness of the importance of our buildings, their history, value and impact as a foundational element of our environment. Buildings matter, and we strive to ensure that the erasure of cultural artifacts such as the Dining Hall at Emma Lake and the former home of the Lutheran Theological Seminary never happens again.

Eventually, we hope to develop this project into a larger entity of a formal exhibition to be displayed at a prominent public institution or gallery at a later date, as a means to educate and enlighten a wider public, who may be unaware of the breadth and impact of John Holliday-Scott’s work in Saskatchewan.

Donations are encouraged to expand and enhance programming within the College Art Galleries space, to encourage participation of and connection with the public through events such as visiting speakers or panel discussions on specific topics related to architecture, building, heritage and community.

Architecture has a critical role in every aspect of life. Beyond nurturing and advancing design culture in the city and province, in the current context of global strife, we might choose to focus on things with enduring meaning and impact, and look towards constructive ways in which we may engender the betterment of society.

This project aims to do just that. In November 2026, we will host a reception in the gallery space on the lower level of the College Art Galleries in the Peter MacKinnon Building on the University Saskatchewan campus. In introducing this project to the public, we invite you to support and join us on what we feel is a most worthwhile mission.