Personnel

Mohammad Basefat obtained his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and his Master of Architectural Engineering degree from Yazd University in Iran. Studying in Yazd, a centre of historical and cultural heritage, allowed him to focus on archetypes in Iranian residential buildings and gain extensive knowledge of traditional houses, shaping his academic and professional interests. This led him to design residential projects, including extended-family housing, grounded in archetypal principles. He also served as a Teaching Assistant for “Residential Design” courses at Yazd University.

To pursue his interest in construction, building science, and project management, he obtained the Building Science Practice Certificate from the University of Toronto as part of his continuing education. He also holds the WELL Accredited Professional designation from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and the LEED AP BD+C credential from Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

Peter Brueckner’s long standing interest in architecture is the motivation underlying the formation of the Canadian Museum of Architecture.  His professional training was as a physician and medical biochemist and his professional career includes teaching as an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, directing clinical laboratories and founding and managing a software engineering firm.  He holds a MD (McGill), a MBA (Toronto), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a member of the Toronto Society of Architects.

As Chjef Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of Architecture he is responsible for the development and operation of the museum.

Caitie Chornous holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture where she graduated on the Dean’s Honour List. She is currently pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Toronto, where she works as a Teacher’s Assistant as well as the Secretary for the Executive Council of the Graduate Architecture, Landscape, and Design Student Union. Her professional experience within the museum sector includes multiple roles at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq from 2019 to 2023. Her volunteer work includes developing a proposal to create healthier communities which received first place seed funding from Evergreen Canada’s Future City Builders program. Caitie has worked for the Canadian Museum of Architecture since 2021.

Aida Farokhyar is an internationally trained architectural designer and project coordinator who holds a Master of Architecture from Tehran University of Science and Research. She was one of the winners of the Piranesi Prix de Rome 2015 Museum Design competition, earning a scholarship to pursue a Master of Architecture and Museum Design for Archaeology at the Accademia Adrianea in Italy.

Her studies took her across Europe, where she worked closely with fellow students and professors on museum design proposals set within historic and archaeological contexts, including the significant site of the Acropolis in Athens. These experiences shaped her passion for architectural storytelling, heritage, and cultural environments.

Aida’s professional portfolio includes architectural design and the creation of physical models for various projects including large industrial developments. She also holds a Project Management credential from Centennial College and continues to pursue work that bridges architecture, design innovation, and project coordination.

Ricky Guo is an architectural technologist with a deep interest in 3D modeling as a tool for understanding and communicating architectural ideas. He has developed experience in creating detailed digital models for visualization, design refinement, and 3D printing, alongside producing coordinated technical drawings and construction details. Ricky’s work has roots in active commercial projects and centers on producing clear, accurate drawings for permits, coordination, and construction. He focuses on resolving technical details, aligning layouts with building systems, and ensuring documentation is consistent across all project phases. His approach is straightforward and detail-driven, supporting smooth communication with consultants and contractors.  Ricky’s interest extends to public engagement by designing display models for the Canadian Museum of Architecture.

Maulshree Gupta holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo, where she received the Academic Achievement Award in the Architectural Graduate Program (Thesis, 2021) and an Honourable Mention for the Student Project Award 2023 from Arch Hive. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Amity University, where she volunteered with the National Association of Students of Architecture, NASA on the ANDC Trophy project, “Behtari, Betterment”, aimed at improving living conditions for underserved communities in Delhi, India. She later completed a Postgraduate Certificate in User Experience Design from Humber College, earning a place on the Dean’s Honour List in 2024.

Currently working at VERB Interactive as a UX Designer, Maulshree focuses on shaping inclusive, intuitive, and sustainability driven digital experiences. Driven by a desire to make a difference on both sides of the screen, she brings a multidisciplinary lens from architecture and UX to create meaningful, human-centered design solutions.

Biden holds an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. As Exhibition Content Developer, he works on interpretation, research and writing, as well as 3D modeling, UX design, and exhibition design. He is interested in compelling exhibition experiences and engaging the public through storytelling and interactivity.

Adil Mansure is a writer, educator and designer. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Mumbai University, a Master of Architecture from Yale University, and an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies from Cambridge University. His work emphasizes complexity: in artistic and architectural abstraction, language, technology, media, geometry, and in history—and in the translation of ideas amongst these disciplines. He enjoys curatorial work, well evident in his traveling exhibition Instrumentalities of an Eternal Baroque, where an emphasis is placed on historical discovery through making and drawing.

Kevin Nguyen is an Architectural Technologist graduate from Humber College and holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from OCAD University. His passions lie in urban design, theory, history and research. With growing experience and knowledge, Kevin is committed to various issues in the field of architecture, the preservation of the profession and realizing the potential to achieve new standards that could transform our built environment. Kevin works at RWDI, a wind and environmental engineering consulting firm. He dedicates time to the Canadian Museum of Architecture as a model maker to create accurate depictions of architectural structures that will be used to explain various concepts to museum visitors.

Julie Niu is an Intern Architect whose work spans architecture, exhibition design, and fabrication. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo, where her thesis explored spatial systems in competitive video game environments. Her ongoing research as an independent scholar continues to examine how architectural methodologies can enrich our understanding of virtual worlds and interactive spaces.

Professionally, Julie has worked with leading firms in Vancouver and New York on small to large scale projects, including urban masterplans and international competitions.

Julie currently contributes to model fabrication and exhibition development at the Canadian Museum of Architecture.

Favour Oluwayomi is currently completing her Master’s in Architecture and holds a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture. She has been associated with the Canadian Museum of Architecture since 2020, contributing her skills in research, model design and model building. A recipient of the OAA’s Exceptional Leadership Through Design Excellence in Sustainability, Favour is particularly interested in the potential to design culturally, environmentally and economically sustainable spaces. Her research focuses on the potential of architecture to create, erase, and sustain identities, and the ways the built environment shapes collective and individual experiences.

Jo Vincent-Evans has an extensive background in textile, digital, and traditional arts, resulting in a wealth of practical creative knowledge. These skills, combined with their experience in museums, historic sites, and galleries, have inspired their architectural modeling practice. Jo holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from York University, where they graduated with great distinction. Their studies focused on the methodologies of historical preservation and the development of Western religion, particularly its intersections with art and architecture. Jo approaches model building as both an artistic and interpretive practice, one that transforms structures into works of art and creates new opportunities for public engagement with history.

Wei Wei is a National First Class Registered Architect of China and a professional Intern Architect with the OAA. He holds a Master’s degree in architecture from Nanjing University and has 15 years of solid practice experience in professional architectural design. He skillfully combines creativity and technical expertise to craft spaces that seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics. He has a strong passion for revitalizing ageing buildings and creating spaces that blend harmoniously with the natural environment.

Lanxin (Zoey) Yang holds a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University and is currently working towards her master’s degree in architecture. Lanxin has been associated with the Canadian Museum of Architecture since 2021, where she pursues her interest in designing and constructing architectural models that accurately depict the distinctive and meaningful features of buildings. Her interest is driven by a profound concern for the human condition in increasingly difficult environments. This includes: the future needs of the built environment; particularly materials and construction methods.  Research in advanced technologies will provide long-term security for humans in the evolving climate.