Winning the 1983 international design competition for the Opéra Bastille propelled Carlos Ott onto the global stage. Selected from 744 participants and personally chosen by French President François Mitterrand, Ott oversaw the construction of the building in Paris for the French Revolution bicentennial, a project that cemented his professional reputation and led to his international architectural practice.
Early Development and Academic Training
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1946, Ott grew up exposed to the drafting profession through his father, an architect. His early exposure included learning technical drawing fundamentals by age five. Ott attended a French-language secondary school before enrolling at the Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo, graduating in 1971. He subsequently earned a Fulbright Scholarship, attending the University of Hawaii before obtaining a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Washington University in St. Louis in 1972.
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Take the IQ test →Professional Evolution in North America
Ott began his career with roles at Baldwin & Cheshire Architects in Georgia and ARQUECO in Costa Rica. In 1975, he moved to Toronto, working on the Royal Ontario Museum expansion. After becoming a Canadian citizen in 1976, he spent four years at Cadillac Fairview Corporation managing commercial projects. By 1983, he joined NORR Partnership Ltd as a partner, leading the firm's architecture division while simultaneously establishing his independent practice.
International Portfolio and Notable Designs
Ott’s firm operates globally with offices in Dubai, Montreal, Shanghai, Toronto, and Montevideo. His portfolio spans countries including India, Singapore, the Philippines, and Switzerland. While he successfully delivered the National Bank of Dubai headquarters and various structures in Abu Dhabi, his career included a significant missed opportunity regarding the Burj Al Arab. Ott maintains a personal residence and office in Toronto on Lytton Boulevard, a structure known locally as the 'Hollywood Squares' due to its distinct matrix-like geometry.
Institutional Projects and Public Policy
Beyond commercial work, Ott engaged in complex civic projects. In 1992, the Canadian government selected his concept for a new Federal Courts Building in Ottawa. Though the project, intended to be named the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Federal Courts Building, faced indefinite delays and cancellation under the Stephen Harper administration, the site remained linked to his design through shifting political mandates. Other significant work includes the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto and the Sophien and Hufeland Clinic in Weimar, Germany.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Montevideo
- Citizenship: Canada, Uruguay
- Education: Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo
- Awards: Fulbright Scholarship
- Notable Project: Opéra Bastille, Paris
- Firm Headquarters: Montevideo, Uruguay
- Languages: Spanish
Questions readers ask
What is the status of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Federal Courts Building?
The project was cancelled by the government of Stephen Harper and the site remains vacant, although subsequent government changes have designated the location for federal courts.
Where does Carlos Ott maintain his design offices?
His firm is headquartered in Montevideo and maintains additional offices in Dubai, Montreal, Shanghai, and Toronto.
Achievements
- Fulbright Scholarship
- Trained at Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo
