David Azrieli , March / 97 , PhD (Honorary)

Born in Poland in 1922, David Azrieli moved to Canada from Israel in 1954. In Montreal, where he still lives today, he began his building career with the modest construction of four suburban houses. It was in mid-career that he came to Carleton, completing a Masters in Architecture in 1997. Today, his great success in the building trade is measured in imaginative office buildings, high-rise residences and shopping centres in Canada, the United States and Israel.

In addition to his daily involvement in his business ventures, Azrieli devotes a great deal of time to philanthropic efforts. With Azrieli’s 2008 gift of $5.5 million to the School of Architecture, his lifetime philanthropic investment in Carleton is more than $8 million. In recognition of his transformative gift, the school was renamed the Azrieli School of Architecture.

Azrieli has earned countless awards and honourary degrees, and was named to the Order of Canada in 1984 (C.M.). He was also named “Chevalier” in the Ordre Nationale du Quebec in 1999.