TKA+D Wins Irving J Gill Progressive Design Award and Tilt-up Awards for 2 Projects
The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) has named TKA+D Architecture + Design the 2025 recipient of the Irving J. Gill Progressive Architecture Award, the organization's highest honour for design leadership in tilt-up construction. Established to memorialize Southern California modernist Irving J. Gill—who pioneered site-cast concrete tilt-up as early as 1912—the award recognizes a firm whose pursuit of design excellence, propels the industry to new heights by expanding tilt-up into novel building types and markets. The jury praised TKA+D for "elevating tilt-up beyond the utilitarian box," citing the firm's deft integration of mass-timber mezzanines, high-performance envelopes and sculpted panel articulation.
In addition, we are also excited to announce that two of TKA+D's projects, Elevate by Wesgroup and Fraser Mills Business Centre Buildings 5 and 6 by Beedie, have been honored with the prestigious Tilt-Up Achievement Award by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) in 2025.
These awards recognize outstanding examples of site-cast tilt-up concrete construction that push the boundaries of architectural design, construction innovation, and community impact. Winning projects are celebrated internationally and serve as benchmarks for excellence in the industry.
- Elevate is Canada's first multi-storey industrial building, located in Coquitlam, BC. The 197,000 sq ft facility features large-bay distribution on the ground floor and small-bay units above, accessed via a structural ramp and freight elevator. The building's 105 tilt-up panels were engineered to act as seismic-resistant frames, requiring dense reinforcement and complex connections. Poor soil conditions necessitated pile-supported foundations, and crane limitations required exterior-only panel erection. Elevate's innovative design and construction coordination set a new benchmark for tilt-up in urban industrial development.
- Fraser Mills Business Centre Buildings 5 and 6 is a landmark industrial development within Beedie's 96-acre master-planned community in Coquitlam. Comprising 16 units across two buildings, the project uses 258 tilt-up panels to create a dynamic façade with stepped rooflines, extensive glazing, and metal accents. Each unit includes a steel mezzanine and 28 ft clear warehouse ceilings. The design pays homage to the site's lumber mill history through linear screening and textured finishes. Complex geometry and seismic requirements demanded advanced engineering and coordination, showcasing tilt-up's versatility in delivering both function and architectural refinement.
We are honoured to collaborate with the project teams at Wesgroup and Beedie on these award-winning projects and to be recognized by the TCA for our continued commitment to design excellence and innovation in tilt-up construction.
Check out the links below to find out more about the Irving J. Gill learn more about these industrial project.
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