Architect of Winnipeg human-rights museum honoured

The U.S. architect who designed the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg is in the city to receive a prestigious honour from his peers.

Antoine Predock came to Winnipeg on Thursday to receive an honorary fellowship from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, as well as to take part in the institute's Festival of Architecture.

He was inducted into the institute's College of Fellows at a convocation ceremony Thursday evening at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Predock, who is based in New Mexico, said the unique building he designed for the human-rights museum has been his labour of love for the past decade.

"To come here and receive this award at the culmination of those 10 years I've been coming here regularly on the project, and to have the event here — I mean, that's huge for an architect," he said.

Even before it officially opens on Sept. 20, the museum has become a striking landmark in the Winnipeg skyline with unique architectural elements such as glowing white alabaster ramps, the 100-metre Tower of Hope, and the interior Garden of Contemplation.

Predock said the alabaster labyrinth leading to the Tower of Hope is his favourite part of the building.