Sandow Design Group announced today it has acquired Azure, after the formerly independent Canadian architecture and design publication entered bankruptcy protection. Azure joins a long list of architecture publications owned by Sandow Design Group including Metropolis, Interior Design, Design Milk, Architizer, and others.
Azure was founded in 1985 by Sergio Sgaramella and Nelda Rodger, a husband-and-wife duo, and is headquartered in Toronto. In 2000, Azure was named “Magazine of the Year” in the Canadian National Magazine Awards. Rodger died in 2023, after helming Azure for 38 years with Sgaramella. The company has a sister publication, Designlines.
Azure recently celebrated 40 years of print publication with a special May/June 2025 issue that also included updates to its graphic design.
Aside from its print publication and online presence, Azure launched AZ Awards in 2011 to recognize excellent work within the architecture and design worlds. It has also hosted conferences; this year, its Human/Nature event was themed on climate change adaptation through design.
“‘Design that matters’ was what my life and business partner, Nelda Rodger, placed at the center of our editorial focus, sprinkled with curiosity, innovation, and the intuition for discovering emerging talents,” Azure CEO Sergio Sgaramella said in a statement, after the acquisition was announced. “Sandow is Azure’s natural partner to continue on this path.”
Sgaramella added he is, “confident that Sandow Design Group will maintain and develop Azure’s unique mandate and perspective as an international media brand.”
Adam Sandow, Sandow Companies founder and CEO, said: “First and foremost, I want to honor the extraordinary visionaries who built Azure into one of the most admired voices in global design.”
“Sergio Sgaramella and his late wife, Nelda Rodger, created a publication defined by curiosity, intelligence, and an unwavering belief in the cultural impact of design. We are incredibly proud to steward Azure into its next chapter,” Sandow continued.
Moving forward, Elizabeth Pagliacolo will remain in her role as Azure editor in chief. Azure senior editor Stefan Novikovic was laid off as part of the acquisition, according to a post on LinkedIn.
Azure and The Architect’s Newspaper have collaborated as media partners.
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