Valerie Gow

Valerie Gow is the co-founder of Gow Hastings Architects which she leads with Philip Hastings. Since 2002 the practice has been recognized as an industry-leader in the creation and transformation of post-secondary institutions.

Valued for her comprehensive expertise in both architecture and interior design, Valerie partners with clients and users to find distinctive, intelligent and sustainable design solutions. Her creativity, positivity and persistence result in spatial and material expressions that exceed expectations.

Valerie has cultivated lasting relationships with Gow Hastings’ clients and the communities they serve. She is a founding member of the Harbourfront Architecture Gallery Advisory Committee. She sits on the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Interior Design Program Advisory Board and CISV Canada Toronto Board of Directors.

Valerie is also an active participant in the design community and in particular, she is a passionate advocate for the advancement of women in architecture. She mentors intern architects and thesis students, is a member of the BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto) Advisory Committee and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Women Leadership Initiative Championship Team. She has presented at post-secondary leadership seminars for women at both the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also a regular critic at design schools and frequent judge for interior design and product competitions. Valerie is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Southwestern Ontario Committee, and she was named a Fellow of the RAIC for her distinctive service to the profession and community at large.

− 1994 Bachelor of Architecture, University of British Columbia
− 1990 Bachelor of Applied Arts Interior Design, Toronto Metropolitan University

− Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC)
− Registered Architect, Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)
− Registered Interior Designer, Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO)
− Member, Interior Designers of Canada (IDC)
− Member, Toronto Society of Architects (TSA)
− Championship Team, Woman Leadership Initiative (WLI), Urban Land Institute
− Founding Member, Harbourfront Architecture Gallery Advisory Committee
− Member, Toronto Metropolitan University School of Interior Design, Program Advisory Council
− Co-Chair, Southwestern Ontario College of Fellows Committee (RAIC)
− Member, CISV Canada Toronto Board of Directors
− Member, Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAToronto) Advisory Committee

− 2024 Toronto Metropolitan University Healthy Interior Design Symposium
− 2022 “CDID 150 Design Theory,” The Chang School, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2022 BIPOC Portfolio Collaboration, DesignTO Festival
− 2021 Judge, Shine Awards of Excellence, Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia
− 2021 Year End Award Ceremony, School of Interior Design, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2020 AIAS Firm Crawl, Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2020 Panelist, Women in Architecture Symposium, Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2019 Keynote Speaker, School of Interior Design Careers Night, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2018 “How Colour and Lighting Affects Accessibility in Building Environments,” Architect@Work
− 2018 “Architectural Writing", Department of Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University
− 2018 “Developing a Design Specialty - BEAT Talk with Valerie Gow,” Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAToronto)