Vivian Manasc

Like some of Edmonton’s most prominent success stories, Vivian Manasc’s journey began somewhere else, but blossomed in Alberta’s Capital City. Born in Romania in 1956, Manasc came to Canada at an early age, and through dedication and ingenuity, she has pushed architecture in Edmonton forward. Building relationships early on in her career with Indigenous people of the North, Vivian applied learnings and approaches towards her future projects. Working closely with partners and stakeholders, Manasc has always ensured that their perspectives drive the project, and the needs of the user remain the focus of design.

Focussing on sustainability, environmental design and efficiency, Manasc was integral in bringing the LEED system to Canada. In the mid 1990s, Manasc partnered with Richard Isaac to form Manasc Isaac, and from there the work continued to grow in Edmonton and area. Recent examples of their sustainable, balanced design includes the Macewan Allard Hall, Driftpile Cree Nation School and the University of Alberta Botanic Garden Welcome Centre . Most recently, returning to her roots, Manasc Isaac partnered with the Metis Nation of Alberta on a reimagining of the Metis Crossing Cultural Gathering Centre.

Throughout her career, Manasc has continued to receive awards and recognition. These include numerous architectural awards from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), an Alberta Order of Excellence and a Governor General’s Medal for Excellence.