PETER BRAITHWAITE

principal + architect
NSAA, OAA, MRAIC, MArch, BEDS, BA

Peter is the owner and operator of Peter Braithwaite Studio. Since its establishment in 2014, the firm has gained recognition as a leading design firm both nationally and internationally. Prior to pursuing architecture at Dalhousie University in 2008, Peter worked as a carpenter and a cabinet maker. These experiences are evident in his approach to design and construction. His interest in exploring the relationship of ecological factors to construction assemblies and material properties is demonstrated in an unwavering dedication to craft and climate appropriate detailing. Peter feels that true sustainability is found in well-crafted buildings that do not require early replacement and that thoughtful programmatic considerations should result in physical forms that enhances both the natural and the built environment.

Following the completion of a Master of Architecture in 2012, Peter received the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Student Medal for achieving the highest level of academic excellence in his graduating class. Peter was also awarded a Rosetti travel Scholarship to conduct studies pertaining to his thesis that explored the relationship between built environments and the natural world. 

Throughout years of practice, Peter’s interest in ecological systems and how they relate to the built environment has grown. In 2021 Peter was awarded a Killiam Doctoral Scholarship to complete PhD studies within Interdisciplinary Studies department at Dalhousie University that explores collaborative design approaches between architects and natural scientists. Peter is also completing a Doctor of Design at University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape that explores refined construction logistics that diminish habitat fragmentation and encourages greater ecological connectivity within our built environments.

Since 2015 Peter has been a dedicated educator at the Dalhousie School of Architecture in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has taught two design studios on an annual basis and currently holds the position of Adjunct Instructor. Peter is also a mentor to architectural interns, acts as thesis advisors to graduate students, and employs architectural work-term students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate level.