Spotlight South Asia 2026 | SOSA Vancouver

Spotlight South Asia is a moderated Panel Discussion held annually. Join us for an evening of thoughtful conversation and reflection at the inaugural Spotlight South Asia in Vancouver, hosted at Arcadis, Vancouver office. Spotlight South Asia is a moderated Panel Discussion that brings together voices from the design community offering perspectives shaped by movement across cultures, regions, and professional landscapes. Through candid storytelling and meaningful dialogue, our panelists will share not only their achievements, but also the challenges they faced, the cultural bridges they built, and the lessons learned along the way. In a moderated discussion, speakers weave personal narratives with industry insights, offering guidance and inspiration to professionals, students, and new immigrants navigating the Canadian architecture and design community. At its heart, Spotlight South Asia is more than an event, it is a reminder that every journey matters, every story has the power to spark change, and together we are shaping a more inclusive future for architecture and design in Canada. GUEST PANELISTS Som Bose Architect AIBC, AIA, NCARB, MBA,LEED AP Principal Laboratory Planner Professional Associate at HDR. Som Bose, is a Principal and Architect/Laboratory Planner with HDR in Vancouver. As a Principal Planner within HDR’s global Education, Science, and Sport practice, he specializes in the planning and design of advanced research environments spanning higher education, life and physical sciences, cGMP/biomanufacturing, and translational research facilities. With more than 25 years of experience across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, his career reflects a rare breadth of international and cross-sector experience. Som’s portfolio includes federal agencies, Crown corporations, health authorities, universities, and biopharma and green-tech organizations. Projects include UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering, IAMI TRIUMF radiopharmaceutical facilities, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories modernization, and biotherapeutics, viral vector, and clinical laboratories. His approach embeds radiological, biosecurity, biosafety, sustainability, and operational resilience principles early in design. He is also a founding and former board member of the AIA Canada Society and serves on Sustainable Labs Canada’s Professional Development Committee and Vancouver Chapter board, advancing national dialogue on sustainable laboratory design. Trained as both an Architect and a business professional, he holds Architecture degrees from the University of Mumbai and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, along with an MBA from the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research in India. After completing his graduate studies in the US, Som worked on science facilities for major campuses, federal laboratories, and global pharmaceutical companies. Before relocating to Canada, Som served as pre-construction lead for Shapoorji Pallonji’s Design-Build business in Mumbai—Asia’s oldest construction firm—and later as a client advisor with JLL. Amit Price Patel Architect AIBC, Urban Designer Partner at DIALOG. Amit Price Patel is a Partner at DIALOG and an award-winning architect, urban planner, and urban designer with more than 25 years of experience shaping housing, neighbourhoods, and cities across North America. His work spans affordable and supportive housing, Indigenous and multigenerational communities, mixed-use development, large-scale master planning, and transit-oriented communities. At the heart of Amit’s practice is a belief that thoughtful design can improve quality of life, advance equity, and create places that foster opportunity and human connection. He brings particular expertise in housing innovation, inclusive urbanism, sustainability, and the transformation of underutilised urban land into complete communities. Born in Brampton, and raised as a motel kid in rural Missouri, Amit's work combines design leadership with a pragmatic understanding of how cities evolve and how architecture can contribute to more resilient, inclusive communities. Amit has previously worked in San Francisco, St. Louis, Boston and Johannesburg and is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Washington University in St. Louis. Amit recently taught an advanced Master of Urban Design studio at UC Berkeley and has served as a design expert for the Mayors’ Institute on City Design. Smitha Vidyasagar Architect AIBC Associate Principal at ARCADIS. Smitha Vidyasagar, is an Associate Principal and Studio Manager at Arcadis in Vancouver, bringing more than 20 years of experience in architecture, design, and construction. Her career spans major international projects in India and Dubai, complemented by over a decade of work across Metro Vancouver and Calgary, giving her a broad perspective on diverse project types and markets. As a Project Lead, Smitha has successfully managed complex developments from concept to completion, including mixed-use communities, market condominiums, and affordable housing projects. She is passionate about creating places that are not only visually compelling but also meaningful to the people who use them and that help build stronger, more connected communities. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Smitha balances design excellence with strategic project delivery, client goals, and business objectives. She is equally committed to mentoring emerging professionals and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. A graduate of Bangalore University, Smitha’s appreciation for vibrant, engaging spaces extends beyond architecture and into the natural environment. Living in the Pacific Northwest, she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and spending time with family and her doggo. ABOUT SOSA CANADA Society of South Asian Architects, Canada is the first community, based not-for-profit organization in Canada that represents the interests of South Asian architects and design professionals by embracing and advocating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the professions of architecture and design. SOSA’s goal is to support communities by creating opportunities for mentorship, education, networking, and outreach.