Alfred Waugh

Alfred V. Waugh is an Indigenous architect based in British Columbia. Born in Yellowknife, Waugh studied Urban and Regional Studies as an undergraduate at the University of Lethbridge, and pursued a second bachelors degree in architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture. Waugh founded Formline Architecture + Urbanism in 2005, an Indigenous-owned practice. He is best known for the design of the Indian Residential School History, and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia, designed alongside Manny Trinca and Vince Knudsen. Another notable project is the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria, which he designed in collaboration with Kenneth Wong.

Early life and education Waugh was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada, to a mother who was of First Nations descent. He is a Status Indian and part of Treaty 8 and his First Nation community is Fond du Lac located in Northern Saskatchewan.

In 1989, Waugh completed his bachelors degree in Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Lethbridge. he went on to pursue a degree in architecture from the University of British Columbia School of Architecture, where he was the first Indigenous person to graduate with honours in 1993.

Career Waugh started his career working at Larry McFarland's office while he was a student. In 2005, Waugh established Alfred Waugh Architects, a 100% Indigenous owned architecture practice. The firm was incorporated in 2012, and Waugh changed the name to Formline Architecture, where he is the President and Founding Principal.

Philosophy The strength of Waugh's designs is derived from consulting with Indigenous communities and translating their wisdom into sustainable design that is respectful of the site and the culture of the community. In his designs, Waugh incorporates landscape-oriented modernism and emphasizes cultural sensitivity and ecological sustainability. Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (2008) Whistler, British Columbia Western Red Cedar Association Architectural Design Award, First Peoples House, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, 2010; Canadian Wood Council Award, Use of the Red Cedar, Liard River Hotsprings Replacement Project, Liard River, British Columbia, 2014; BC Wood Design Awards, Institutional Wood Design, Small, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2019; Governor General's Medal for Architecture Governor General's Medal for Architecture, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2022;