Alfred V. Waugh is an indigenous architect based in British Columbia. Born in Yellowknife, Waugh Studied urban and regional analysis at the University of Lethbridge, and then studied architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture. Waugh founded Formline Architecture+urbanism in 2005, an Aboriginally-owned practice. He is perhaps best known for the design of the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria in BC, which he designed together with Kenneth Wong and Amanda Wallace; the Indian Residential School History, and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia in BC., designed with Manny Trinca and Vince Knudsen.

Early life and education
Waugh was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada, to a mother who was of First Nations descent. He is a Status Indian and part of Treaty 8 and his First Nation community is Fond du Lac located in Northern Saskatchewan. 

In 1989, Waugh majored in Urban and Regional Analysis at the University of Lethbridge. In 1993, he went on to pursue a degree in Architecture from the University of British Columbia School of Architecture, where he was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with honours.

Career
Waugh started his career working as at Larry McFarland’s office while he was a student. After graduating, he worked as a design architect at Busby Perkins + Will from 1996-2001, and then moved on to be a partner of Waugh Busby Architects from 2001-2004. In 2005, Waugh established Alfred Waugh Architects, a 100 per cent Aboriginally owned architecture practice. The firm was incorporated in 2012, and Waugh changed the name to Formline Architecture, where he is the President and Founder.

Philosophy
The strength of Waugh's designs is derived from consulting with Indigenous communities and translating their wisdom into sustainable design that is respectful of the site and the culture of the community. In his designs, Waugh incorporates landscape-oriented modernism and emphasizes cultural sensitivity and ecological sustainability.

Work

Projects
Waugh has completed the following projects and designs:

 Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (2018) University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
 Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Merritt, British Columbia
 First Peoples House (2010) University of Victoria, British Columbia
 Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (2008) Whistler, British Columbia
 Liard River Hotsprings Replacement Project (2012) Liard River Hot Spring Provincial Park, British Columbia, a replacement of the previous change rooms
 Cowichan Tribe Administration building (2017) Duncan, British Columbia, a addition and renovation of the tribes administration building
 Capilano University (2012) North Vancouver, British Columbia 
 O’syiam Pavilion (2011) Squamish, British Columbia
 Dzee Ba’ Yugh Heart House (2019) Lake Babine Nation, Burns Lake, British Columbia
 Chemainus First Nations Preschool (2010) Ladysmith, British Columbia
 Squaxin Island Natural and Cultural Resource Centre (2014) Shelton, Washington, USA
 Shq’apthut: The Gathering Place, Vancouver Island University (phase 1 completed in 2010) Nanaimo, British Columbia
 North Island College Aboriginal Gathering Place (2021) North Island College, Campbell River, British Columbia
 Mainville Residence (2013) Errington, British Columbia
 BCIT Aboriginal Gathering Place (2011) Burnaby, British Columbia 
 Livingston Residence (2014) Esquimalt, British Columbia
 Saskatoon Public Library (ongoing) Saskatoon
 University of Toronto Scarborough Indigenous House (design completed in 2012) University of Toronto, Scarborough, Ontario
 Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (design completed in 2021) Debert, Nova Scotia
 Barkerville Indigenous Cultural Centre (design completed in 2019) Barkerville, British Columbia
 Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Viewing Tower (design completed in 2021) Edmunston, New Brunswick 
 International Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (design completed in 2018) Brockville, Ontario
 Pauquachin Big House (design complete in 2017) North Saanich, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
 Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre Renovation and Expansion (design completed in 2011) Duncan, British Columbia
 Cowichan Tribes Multi-Family Housing Project Proto-Type (design Completed in 2014) Duncan, British Columbia

Awards
In 2022, Waugh, and his firm Formline Architecture was awarded The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture from The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), the first Indigenous-owned architectural firm to be awarded the Governor General’s Medal for Architecture.

 Western Red Cedar Association Architectural Design Award, First Peoples House, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, 2010; 
 Canadian Wood Council Award, Use of the Red Cedar, Liard River Hotsprings Replacement Project, Liard River, British Columbia, 2014;
 BC Wood Design Awards, Institutional Wood Design, Small, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2019;
 Governor General’s Medal for Architecture, UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, 2022;

References 

Canadian architects
Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts winners
Indigenous architecture
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people