Paul Stevens

Visionary Canadian architect, Paul Andrew Stevens, OAA, AIBC, AAA, NSAA, MRAIC, AIA, LEED AP (August 23, 1963 - August 4, 2025) passed away at his beloved farm and forever home in Prince Edward County (PEC). Loving husband to Tanya Phillipps-Stevens; Caring father of Noah, Lukas, Rhys, and Edan; Loving big brother to Jeff (Marlo), Christopher (Magali), and Natalie (JayR), adored uncle to Jack, Chloe, Noémie, Salomé, Liam, Adrian, Mayte, Massimo, Luciano and Stella; and Beloved eldest son of Gerald "Gerry" (Astrid) Stevens and Louise Prieur (Flewelling).

Born and raised in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Paul was a kind, thoughtful, and generous soul who loved life and cared deeply about all those who surrounded him. He was always an empathetic listener and a strong shoulder to lean on. A humble but exemplary leader and mentor, Paul took on challenges to ease the burdens for those he loved. Paul aspired to be an architect since he was eight years old, a beautiful complement to his artistic mother and engineer father. Paul's extraordinary talents were evident since childhood, excelling in the arts, in education as high school valedictorian, and of course in sports as a star hockey and football player. He was brilliant and clever, kind-hearted and funny, and the life of any social gathering.

Paul studied architecture at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1987 with strong friendships that only grew stronger throughout his illustrious career. Paul quickly established himself as a rising star and a young architect to watch. Within less than seven years of practicing, he became co-owner of a new firm, ZAS Architects + Interiors. As Senior Principal of ZAS, Paul led the design of renowned institutional buildings, civic structures, offices, arenas, condominiums, and public spaces across Canada, and around the world. Paul's most prolific, award-winning projects include the transformational Billy Bishop Airport Tunnel, inventive Canoe Landing Community Campus + Schools, and sustainable River City Condominiums in Toronto, CFB Borden's Curtiss + Vickers dining facilities, Vaughan Civic Centre Library, York University's innovative Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, and the Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, a magnificent mass timber concert hall in Parry Sound, Ontario that also houses the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, Paul's all-time favourite hockey player.

Paul's generosity of spirit defined his transformational leadership style that guided his ZAS family in fulfilling a vision of design excellence, exemplary collaborations, and industry-leading community engagement. This gift extended to his tireless commitment to mentorship of the next generation of architects as a partnering practitioner with the University of Toronto's Design Research Internship Program. He always made time for students and personally gave back to his alma mater as an important contributor to the 'Defy Gravity' funding campaign.

Outside of work, Paul loved sports, music, travel, fashion, culinary experiences, and a great glass of wine. He enjoyed spending quality time with family and close friends, often in PEC with legendary get-togethers at the farm filling the Big Red Barn Farmhouse with joyous laughter, eclectic music, delicious local cuisine, special moments, and unconditional love. Paul lived fully, loved generously, and laughed well. He will be dearly and deeply missed, but his warming and bright light will shine on, always + forever.