Forest walker, meditator, toymaker, husband, father, grandfather, friend, professor, psychotherapist, author… and so much more.

Andrew Levitt received his AA Diploma in 1979. He spent the next decade or so working in architectural firms in his home city of Toronto, Canada, and travelling the world – often on freighters and trains, meditating and exploring the various countries he visited. He then went to Philadelphia, USA, to complete a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Levitt was particularly drawn to Jungian psychotherapy, with its deep metaphors and archetypes. While in Philadelphia, he met his wonderful life partner Wendy, and her young children. Marriage, children, and later grandchildren, formed the foundation, structure and pinnacle of his life.

In the 1980s, Levitt began teaching the Visiting Professor for Design Studio Reviews at the School of Architecture, Waterloo University, Ontario. He was recognized early on as an exceptional educator, and upon returning to Ontario in 1995, he was offered a sessional position teaching fifth year (thesis). The school created a unique annual position for him as a Continuing Lecturer. He later taught a synectics studio, an option design studio and led the Comprehensive Building Design studio. For many years, he taught a highly popular elective course based on the material from his two books: The Inner Studio (2007) and Listening to Design (2018). Levitt was the recipient of the Faculty of Engineering Teaching Excellence and Graduate Supervision Awards.

Teaching architecture allowed Levitt to merge his passion for archetypes and architecture. He taught from his depth and spoke to the depth in his students. Or rather, he listened deeply to his students and taught them to listen to and trust their creative process.

In honour of Levitt’s noted deep listening to his students, it is only fitting that we hear their voices in this memorial:

‘Andrew as a professor taught me what it meant to design with sensitivity and empathy. Andrew as a thesis supervisor taught me the value of storytelling. Andrew as a mentor taught me how to be a better, more complete person. I am so grateful for the years at Waterloo spent learning from his endless wisdom.’

‘Andrew taught me that if we have compassion for ourselves, we can be compassionate in relationships and design. He courageously spoke of an inner world of felt experience and truth that is often dismissed in architectural culture. His words and presence resonated.’

‘Andrew Levitt taught everyone he ever met to be a better and more complete human being. He mapped the geography of human creativity and set the bar for dignity and empathy.’

‘Andrew gave us the greatest gift a teacher can: he taught us to trust ourselves. His lessons weren’t just for the education of architects but for the education of complete, humane individuals. His gentle guidance moved me as a young student, helped me through a difficult time as a graduate, and inspired me as a colleague. He was equally at home in the practical and the profound, the enigmatic and the empathetic. I feel so fortunate to be one of thousands of students who benefitted from the caring energy he brought to all that he did.’

For more reflections, please see the following:

https://www.benjaminsparkmemorialchapel.ca/MemorialBook.aspx?snum=137978&sid=207141