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November 25, 2010
Pram In The Hall
Pram in the Hall is a series of interviews with some individuals who are raising families while practicing as design professionals. The interviews are not necessarily intended to be messages of encouragement or cautionary tales, but a means of raising important issues through a set of candid conversations.
The fourth and final installment of testimonials for the Pram In The Hall is now online. Click here.
Limitation Act Reform
The AIBC was among select organizations invited recently to respond to the provincial government’s White Paper on Limitation Act Reform. The institute had provided input in the initial stages of the reform process as well, dating back to 2006. The resulting draft’s numerous references to the AIBC’s earlier submissions are encouraging, indicating that advice from profession, along with other industry partners and participants from other sectors, was both heard and heeded. While the document lays out a number of questions (to which the institute has responded), its fundamental approach is consistent with the express views of the AIBC – the objective being legislative reform resulting in a system that is fair, equitable and in the public interest. This entails changing not only the basic and ultimate limitation periods, but also the “trigger” mechanism for those periods. Appreciation goes out to the following AIBC Council representatives, members and staff who contributed to the AIBC response: Chip Barrett MAIBC; Jerome Marburg LLB (Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel); Owen Pawson LLB (LG Appointee to Council); Simon Richards MAIBC; and Barry Weih MAIBC (AIBC Council). To view the White Paper on Limitation Act Reform, visit www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/index.htm. To see the AIBC response, click here.
Michael Ernest MAIBC
Executive Director
Register Amendments
At its November meeting, AIBC Council was pleased to welcome the following additions to the register of members:
By Internship |
Marin Katov |
By Alternative Qualifications |
Kea Anantawong |
|
By Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement |
William Rutledge |
By Reciprocity |
Jean-Philippe Delage (Quebec) |
|
By Inter-recognition |
Edwin Berzins |
By Reinstatement |
Ben Pond |
For a detailed listing of all recently-approved register amendments, click here.
Save the Date: AIBC Holiday Open House - Wednesday, December 8
Celebrate the season in style at the 2010 AIBC Holiday Open House. Join us after work and share in festive live music, food, and fun with colleagues and friends. The event takes place Wednesday, December 8, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the AIBC offices (#100 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver). To confirm your attendance, please r.s.v.p. to communications@aibc.ca by December 3. We hope to see you there.
Save the Date:
2011 AIBC / Architecture Canada | RAIC Conference & Festival of Architecture
May 24 – 27, 2011
Vancouver Convention Centre
Save the date for the 2011 AIBC Annual Conference, being held in conjunction with the annual Architecture Canada | RAIC Festival of Architecture. Over four days, this event will bring together architects and allied professionals from around the province and across the country. The conference / festival theme, Architecture on the Edge, acknowledges the many ways in which west coast architects continue to push the boundaries in such areas as form and design, sustainability, community development and social awareness. Further information will be posted shortly; please check back regularly: www.aibc.ca. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are also available. To learn more, please call (604) 683-8588 ext 331.
Bulletin 61 (Second Edition): Seal of an Architect
The August 2010 revision to AIBC Bulletin 61 is now published and in effect (click here). This substantive revision provides comprehensive, practical advice and interpretation regarding the use of the architect’s seal, including specifying which instruments of service must be sealed, such as development permit drawings. The revision replaces the first (1994) edition of AIBC Bulletin 61 and Directors Chair 004 - An Architect’s Seal: Its Care & Control. The architect’s seal is a solemn confirmation and representation to the public that the architect who applied it not only takes responsibility for the document, but that the document was prepared by that architect under his/her direct supervision and control. The use of the seal is governed by the Architects Act, as supplemented by AIBC Bylaw and AIBC Council rulings found in the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. For information and advice on the electronic seal option, consult AIBC Bulletin 60: Signature, Seal and Delivery of Electronic Documents. Feedback and questions are welcome to the attention of Professional Conduct Coordinator Gayle Roberts at groberts@aibc.ca.
Fine-tuning Your Practice: The Practice Consultation Service Answered your Questions at This Year’s Annual Conference
The AIBC Practice Consultation Service has proven to be a great success, providing feedback to firms of all ages and size with respect to their standard office practices and addressing questions relating to a variety of firm management topics. In kind, participating firms have provided their own valuable reflections on the process itself. The PCS has afforded them with a unique opportunity to step back and examine “the bigger picture”, and to ask more detailed questions relating to everyday practice management concerns.
At this year’s AIBC Annual Conference, the Practice Consultation Service Committee addressed a number of these questions in an open forum that promoted dialogue between Practice Consultants and fellow architects. Roundtable discussions offered the opportunity for attendees to share their own knowledge of design firm management relating to Digital Media & Information Management; Management of Projects (Process & Resources); and RFPs and Client/Consultant Agreements.
The feedback from the sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with members citing it as an excellent opportunity to engage consultants directly as well as listen to the experiences of other fellow colleagues.
As a useful introduction to some of the topics that may be covered during a practice consultation, please take a look at the Practice Self-Assessment Rating Form available for download on the AIBC web site:
http://aibc.ca/member_resources/practice/pdf/4.1_PCS_PSARF.pdf
To learn more about the PCS or to schedule a practice consultation, please contact Director of Professional Services Maura Gatensby MAIBC by phone (604-683-8588; ext. 334) or e-mail (mgatensby@aibc.ca).
Building Envelope Education Program Course Registration
For those registrants wishing to complete the AIBC’s Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP), now is your chance. Follow the link http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html and check out the course descriptions and scheduled dates. You can also access it from the AIBC home page. Click on "Course Registration" under Quick Links and register online. These courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out.
BEEP Module I:
Building Science and the Building Envelope (Available Online)
Topics for Module I include:
- The Outdoor and Indoor Environment
- Conditions Within the Envelope
- Materials and Their Moisture Content
- Rain Penetration
- Pressure Differences Due to Wind
- Predicting Building Envelope Performance
For more information, please contact Professional Development Coordinator Catherine Bolter at cbolter@aibc.ca or (604) 683-8588, extension 312.
18 Core LUs
The AIBC 2010 PD/CES Course Schedule and Registration Form are available online at www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html.
Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)
Inaugural Luncheon Meeting Seminar: Concrete Structures – Evaluation & Repair
This presentation deals with the evaluation and repair methods utilized on aged concrete structures. The evaluation stage focuses on the visual review of the concrete structure, destructive and non-destructive testing methods used to evaluate the condition of the concrete, and analysis and interpretation of testing results. Presenter Roger Steers M.Eng. P.Eng. LEED AP of Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. will also discuss available repair recommendations along with issues encountered during the restoration work. It happens Friday, December 3, 2010 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Ambrosia Conference & Event Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria. As this is the inaugural chapter meeting, there admission is free. A buffet-style lunch is included; if you have special meal requirements, please notify CSC at least four days prior to the event. Please r.s.v.p. by November 26 to tbergen@rjc.ca.
1 Core LU
Bradlee Distributors
Our Connected World: A Peak into the Future, with Some Very Cool Insights
Bradlee Distributors invites you to an evening of food, networking, and learning on Thursday, December 9, 2010. As this event is for AIBC registrants, the educational components will be specific to architects and design professionals. It begins with cocktails at 5:00 p.m. followed by a catered dinner at 6:00 p.m. The educational seminar, led by Marilyn Sanford of La Scala, will run from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. This free evening takes place at Bradlee Distributors showroom, 13780 Bridgeport Road, Richmond. Please r.s.v.p. to Alexis by phone (604- 244-1744) or e-mail (agavin@bradlee.net).
1 Non-core LU
Cascadia Green Building Council
Vancouver LEED® Users Group (VLUG): Health Care Design and LEED® Canada 2009
The Abbotsford Regional Hospital & Cancer Centre is Canada’s first LEED®-NC 1.0 Gold acute care hospital, and first LEED® Gold cancer treatment centre. It was designed and built as a state-of-the-art, 60,000 m2, 300-bed health care facility. Now operational under a public/private partnership agreement, it provides specialized health services to more than 330,000 residents in the Greater Abbotsford area and the Fraser Valley. This presentation, with a unique perspective provided by the design -build team comprising the project architect /LEED® AP and the builder’s monitoring & evaluation coordinator, will examine this project as a case study to see how LEED® Canada 2009-NC can be applied to health care projects seeking LEED® Gold certification. Presenters include: Ray Eldridge AScT, LEED® AP BD+C PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. – ARHCC, Project Building Systems Manager; and Jean-Pierre Mahé B.Sc. M.Arch. MAIBC AAA MRAIC LEED® AP Morrison Hershfield Ltd – ARHCC, Project Architect. The date is Friday, November 26, 2010 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Teresan Gas Building, 1111 Georgia Street, Vancouver. For more information and to register, please visit http://cascadiagbc.org/events/2010/november/leed-users-group-vancouver-vlug/view.
1 Core LU
Simon Fraser University City Program
Leading Edge Solutions to House Everyone
We are in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. There are times when up to thirty to fifty percent of people in a community cannot access affordable housing. What can we do about it when our traditional models are failing us? In this interactive course, learn directly from practitioners who are advancing new ideas and approaches to create affordable rental and home ownership for low- and middle-income earners. Case studies are focused on affordable rental and home-ownership, and will feature:
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A range of strategies such as inclusionary zoning, private-sector-led innovation, partnership deals, housing organizations and price resale restriction.
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Policy and tools to improve the investment climate for affordable housing, uphold existing housing stock and maintain affordability over time.
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Approaches to make affordable housing green.
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Strategies to put a real face on the affordability crisis to better leverage funding and resources.
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Information covering the guts of each deal, including roles, responsibilities and risks - equally relevant to local government, the non-profit and private sectors.
It takes place November 26–27, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the SFU Downtown Campus, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. For details or to register, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/course4popup.htm
12 Non-core LUs
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Drafting / CADD Technologies - Professional Upgrading and Training
AutoCAD® Revit Architecture®
This course offers customized training for professionals in CAD-related professions. Using up-to-date online training tutorials, professionals can work at their own pace to complete the material for each level of software training. The instructor will work individually with course registrants to explain complex concepts, trouble shoot problems, and assess/give feedback and direction. Professionals are invited to bring in samples of the type of drawings they would like to create, and the instructor will assist in obtaining a satisfactory result. Upon mastery of course material, A Recognition of Achievement will be awarded and the course will be added to each participant's Kwantlen transcript. Progress and courses completed will vary by individual. Training is purchased in 12-week (36-hour) blocks for $495 + HST per block. The cost of online training material is $100 + HST per year (includes all Autodesk® software). It takes place January through June 2011 at the Kwantlen Cloverdale Campus. Courses are held Tuesdays from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Online distance training can be provided in appropriate situations. For more information, please visit http://www.kwantlen.ca/trades/cadd/upgrading-training or contact CADD Department Chair Joanne Massey by email: joanne.massey@kwantlen.ca or phone: (604) 598-6123.
36 Core LUs
CWC/Wood WORKS!
Wood Design Luncheon Conferences: BC's Wood First Act - What it Means to You
This series of seminars, offered through the Canadian Wood Council and sponsored by Forestry Innovation Investment under the Wood WORKS! BC project, will provide essential information on the Wood First Act, among other wood-related topics. Learn about the rationale, the legislation, the implementation and the benefits for your community. These events include informative seminars on wood design and construction; the latest information about wood products; and
exhibits devoted to wood products. The following dates and locations are available:
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Kelowna: Wednesday, November 24 *ENDED
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Kamloops: Thursday, November 25 *ENDED
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Victoria: Tuesday, November 30
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Nanaimo: Wednesday, December 1
Free admission and complimentary luncheon is provided for all pre-registered guests. For details, or to register, visit www.wood-works.org or contact Lorna Malone at lmalone@wood-works.ca
3 Core LUs
Xero Flor Canada Ltd.
Green Roof Technology Workshop
Xero Flor, a recognized pioneer in the green roof industry, invites you to attend a one-day green roof technology workshop being held in Vancouver on Monday, November 29, 2010 at the Plaza 500 Hotel. Keynote presenter Karen Liu PhD, along with Chris Eichhorn ILD, Bob Thurston of Siplast and Sasha Aguilera from Xero Flor Canada, will cover all pertinent issues such as various green roof systems; benefits and scientific data; roofing assemblies; load capacity; fire and wind uplift considerations; LEED® credits; leak detection; and maintenance. The registration fee of $135 (HST included) covers meals, binder and certificate of attendance. Registration and breakfast starts at 8.30 a.m., and the workshop concludes at 4:00 p.m. To register online and for more information, please go to http://www.xeroflor.ca/workshops.html.
6 Core LUs
Vancouver Heritage Foundation
Old School: Courses for Building Conservation
This fall, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation presents an educational series that explores the strong connection between working with existing buildings and being “green”. These courses explore how repairing, re-using and recycling buildings and their materials can be the least invasive strategies in relation to environmental impact. Participants will also learn what related resources are available in B.C. For more information including a course listings, dates and fees please visit http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/oldschool.html.
Core LUs Available
IMAGINiT Technologies
Revit Architecture 2011 BIM Management
Revit Architecture is a powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) program
that supports the ability to coordinate, update, and share design data
with team members throughout the design, construction, and management
phases. The objective of the Revit Architecture 2011 BIM Management course
is to enable students who have worked with Revit to expand their knowledge
in setting up office standards. Specific topics include setting up templates
with annotation styles, preset views, sheets and schedules, as well as
custom element types and families. By creating standard templates and
custom elements, a key component in the BIM process is to establish a
company foundation for different types of projects. Doing so ensures
that new projects flow smoothly and efficiently. The length of this training
session is one day. Please contact Kam Seignarack of IMAGINiT Technologies
for more information at 604-207-2114 or by e-mail kseignarack@rand.com.
6.5 Core LUs
Sustainable Design: Ecotect Analysis Fundamentals (Web-based Workshop)
Ecotect Analysis software is a comprehensive concept-to-detail sustainable
design analysis tool, providing a wide range of simulation and analysis
functionality. Users can interact with powerful 3D feedback to explore
factors such as solar energy, shadows and reflections, and day lighting.
Using Autodesk Ecotect Analysis, architects and designers can gain better
insight into building performance early in the process, helping to achieve
more sustainable designs, faster time to market, and lower project costs.
For more information or to register, please contact Kam Seignarack by e-mail
(kam.seignarack@rand.com) or phone (604-207-2114).
16 Core LUs
AEC Daily Online Learning
AEC Daily offers free online courses worth core learning units. For a list of offerings, please visit their online learning centre at http://www.aecdaily.com/en/236763?list=4.
Extended! BCIT Architectural Science Degree
2010 Graduating Projects
Now until December 22, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Make plans to attend the annual grad show for the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Technology in Architectural Science program. This four-year baccalaureate degree program provides the architectural and engineering communities with graduates while also allowing students to ladder to a professional degree such as a Master of Architecture. This year’s graduating projects include Aural SFU (a music school); Centre for Ceramics; and a Community College for White Rock. For further information about the exhibit or program, contact Program Head Peter Levar MAIBC MRAIC at plevar@bcit.ca.
Holiday Shows at the Arts Club Theatre
This offer is valid for all three of our holiday shows: White Christmas The Musical; It’s a Wonderful Life; and The Patron Saint of Stanley Park. Buy tickets to two shows and get 10% off. Buy tickets to all three shows and you get 25% off. Simply choose the shows you are interested in and contact Mike Mackenzie at (604) 687-5315 x253 or e-mail mmackenzie@artsclub.com. This offer is valid through Mike only, not available in person, online, or through the Arts Club Box Office. Pass this on to your friends, family and colleagues – but please note this offer is not applicable to previously purchased tickets, and is only available until Monday, November 22 at 5:00 p.m. For more information on the Arts Club Theatre Company, visit www.artsclub.com.
Public Review for the 2011 BC Building Code
AIBC registrants are invited to participate in the public review for the 2011 BC Building Code. (Note: the AIBC will be providing a formal response) This public review focuses on recommended variations from the model 2010 National Building Code. The purpose of this public review is to gather feedback on 14 variations that are being recommended by the Building and Safety Standards Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The feedback you provide will be considered in the development of the 2011 BC Building Code expected to take effect in the fall of 2011. The opportunity to participate in the public review will continue until December 21, 2010. The online public review is hosted through the Building and Safety Standards Branch web site: http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/consultation/code_variations/index.html. If you have any questions, please contact Codes Administrator Jarrett Hutchinson at telephone (250) 356-8163 or email codequestion@gov.bc.ca.
Enhanced Language Training for Architects
The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia has introduced a new pilot program to support foreign-trained architects. Enhanced Language Training for Architects will help participants Improve their working language levels, be better prepared to work without communication and cultural problems, and gain confidence in undertaking complex tasks and management positions. This course is ideally suited for foreign-trained architects with a Canadian Language Benchmark level no lower than 6, as well as landed immigrants, permanent residents and Canadian citizens who required improved language skills for their profession. Canadian Language Benchmark levels can be determined through testing offered by ISSofBC. Continuous intake for this program runs from January 17 to April 11, 2011, and participants can choose sessions ranging from four to 17 weeks. Morning, afternoon and evening classes are available on both part-time and full-time schedules. Note: there is no course fee, and space is limited. For more information, contact Project Coordinator Camilla Dietrich (Phone: (604) 684-2561 ext. 1182; e-mail: camilla.dietrich@issbc.org) or Registrar Kristin Chow (phone: (604) 684-2561 ext. 1188; e-mail: kristin.chow@issbc.org), or go online to www.issbc.org.
Sustainability Community Breakfast
The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and Sustainability Community Breakfasts are outreach components of Metro Vancouver’s Sustainable Region Initiative (SRI). They involve a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help decision makers shape the future of the region by presenting a range of views and stimulating fresh thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labour and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, transportation, energy and agriculture. For more information, visit: http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/breakfasts/Pages/default.aspx.
Sustainability Community Breakfast
Topic: The Ripple Effect: Inspiring Youth Sustainability
Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
British Columbia Institute of Technology Downtown Vancouver Campus, 555 Seymour Street
For many young people in Metro Vancouver, affecting real change means making a personal commitment to sustainability. Hear the inspiring stories of two young British Columbians who have decided to make an immediate difference, and find out which partnerships and what actions have helped them chart their own remarkable journeys. Speakers: Jennifer Hao, Grade 11 Youth Leader - Burnaby North Secondary School; and Emily Jubenvill, Youth Director - Fraser Basin Council Board of Directors, and Greenest Person in Canada 2008. To register, go to http://apps2.metrovancouver.org/sustainability/Smailing_list/EventRegistration.asp?EventID=137.
Wood First in Surrey
The City of Surrey has introduced a new Wood First Policy in support of the province’s Wood First Act, which aims to increase demand for wood products by requiring provincially-funded projects to use wood as the primary building material within the BC Building Code. Surrey is the 27th B.C. community and first major centre in the Lower Mainland to adopt such a policy,” states Mary Tracey, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC. Under this policy, the city will consider the use of wood in all city-funded capital projects wherever it makes economic and practical sense.
Visions for Surrey
Surrey residents are invited to discuss the future of their city in a unique series of events intended to bring about innovative and sustainable community development. Entitled TownShift: Visions for Surrey, this series of public presentations will highlight the architectural and urban design propositions for Surrey’s town centres that were developed through the TownShift: Suburb Into City ideas design competition. The competition was launched in November 2009 to attract fresh design ideas concerning the future growth of Surrey’s five growing town centres: Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton and Semiahmoo. “Return of Ritual”, a submission from Vancouver’s Renante Solivar, took top honours from the more than 138 submissions representing 20 countries. In this, the second phase of the project, residents will now have a chance to view and offer their opinions about several designs intended to make Surrey’s town centres more walkable, livable, engaging and sustainable. The public presentation schedule includes:
Cloverdale |
Thursday, November 18 *ENDED |
Fleetwood |
Tuesday, November 23 *ENDED |
|
Guildford |
Thursday, November 25 |
Semiahmoo |
Tuesday, November 30 |
|
Newton |
Thursday, December 2 |
While each event is different (focusing on the specific town centre), they will share the same agenda:
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6:00 p.m. Open house display of selected competition panels, meet the designers and organizers (refreshments served)
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7:00 p.m. Visual presentation outlining key design ideas for that town centre
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8:00 p.m. Community dialogue: public comments, queries and suggestions to move TownShift’s ideas forward
All five evenings are free and open to the public. For further information, including design highlights for each community, go to www.townshift.ca.
Revised Energy Efficiency Act
New Retrofit Standards for Commercial, Industrial, Institutional and Residential Buildings
As of January 1, 2011, province's the Energy Efficiency Act will regulate commercial, industrial, institutional and residential buildings (five storeys and higher or greater than 600 metres squared). The regulation will cover the retrofit of existing buildings which do not undertake ASHRAE compliance (e.g. building envelop renovation of mid-rise condominium buildings). New buildings that undertake ASHRAE 90.1 compliance as covered by the British Columbia Building Code will be exempt. The amended regulations can be found online at http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/10_389_93.
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Invitation to Participate National Energy Code Review
The Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) invite you to participate in a public review of proposed changes for the 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB). The public review, one of the main steps in the process for developing model national code documents, provides a nation-wide forum for review and comment on the changes proposed. The 2011 NECB is a model code developed by the CCBFC in partnership with the provinces/ territories and the National Research Council of Canada. B.C. is considering the adoption of this model code into provincial building regulations. The fall 2010 public review, which takes place from October 4 to November 26, is seeking comments on a new objective, new functional statements, and proposed technical changes. To participate, visit the National Codes web site at http://www.nationalcodes.ca/eng/public_review/2010/introduction.shtml.
BC Building Permit Statistics
On November 5, BCStats released its most recent statistics covering all types of building permit values for all BC Districts and Communities. The report covers the years 2001 to 2009. The findings indicate that Overall Building Permit values peaked in 2007 across Canada and in British Columbia and declined in 2008 and 2009. However, for the period January to September 2010, compared to January to September 2009, Building Permit values increased by over 27% across Canada and over 36% in British Columbia. To view the complete document, click here.
BC Building Code: Important Changes to Letters of Assurance
The BC Building Code 2006 has been amended to clarify the roles and accountabilities of registered professionals who sign letters of assurance. These changes, referred to as Revision 10, are effective September 1, 2010. Members are strongly advised to carefully review these code changes, the newly revised Guide to Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 and the AIBC's newly-issued Practice Note 16: Professional Design and Field Review by Supporting Registered Professionals before issuing any letters of assurance. Maura Gatensby MAIBC |
NOTE: A new dynamic PDF of AIBC Practice Note 16 is now available on the AIBC web site. Click here. |
2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture
The Canada Council for the Arts is now accepting submissions proposing the Canadian representation at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture. The proposed presentation should communicate excellence, innovation, and currency in contemporary Canadian architecture including buildings, landscapes and places, or in works of critical and (or) design research on architecture, landscape architecture or the urban environment. The successful applicant will have responsibilities in all aspects of the Canadian presentation, including:
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conception, design and production of the exhibition;
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shipping, insurance, installation and dismantling of the exhibition;
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opening, closing, operation and staffing of the Canada Pavilion;
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coordination with the National Gallery of Canada, the administration of the Venice Biennale and the Canadian Embassy in Italy;
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promotion and media relations; and
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opening ceremonies
The selected applicant will be responsible for delivering the proposed project, without substantial alteration, while assuming responsibility for expenses incurred by the project beyond the envelope provided by the Canada Council. Note: a new structure is being developed to assist, and potentially take on some of the responsibilities currently assigned to the successful applicant. However, the nature and extent of this structure will only be known at a later date. The selected team may be invited to take part in the conception and implementation of this structure.
The nominal applicant must be an incorporated Canadian organization, institution, or registered business, and the project team must include professional expertise and experience in contemporary Canadian architecture. Submissions will be assessed by a committee composed of experienced professionals chosen for their specialized knowledge in contemporary Canadian architecture, landscape architecture, the urban environment, and public exhibitions. Selection will be made according to the following criteria:
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the architectural merit of the works to be represented;
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the capacity of the project to capture the attention of visitors, convey the presentation’s key ideas and promote contemporary Canadian works of architecture to a broad and diverse public;
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the feasibility of the project, including the likelihood that the proposal will be realized in its integrity, with a special focus on anticipated costs and realism of fundraising expectations; and
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the demonstrated capacity of the applicant to complete projects of this nature in an expedient, responsible, and professional manner.
Interested parties are invited to contact the Program Officer Brigitte Desrochers (e-mail: brigitte.desrochers@canadacouncil.ca; phone: 1-800-263-5588) to receive an information package and discuss the specific challenges of this event. The deadline for submissions is December 6, 2010.
Grounded: The Works of Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg
Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, the Vancouver-based planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm, invites you to celebrate the publication of Grounded: The Works of Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, a rich compendium of works to date accompanied by seven essays about contemporary landscape architecture, planning and urbanism. Essays topics include contemporary urbanism, dynamic process, cultural landscapes, supernatural, contemporary commemoration, global flows and bodily places. It is co-authored by Ken Greenberg, Jacqueline Hucker, Dr. Eduard Koegel, Bruce Kuwabara, Kelty McKinnon, Doug Paterson and Julian Smith. The celebration will be held on Thursday, December 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Inform Interiors, 50 Water Street, Vancouver. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Help Plan the Future of the Cambie Corridor
In June 2010, an emerging Cambie Corridor Plan was presented to the public. Policies related to residential and commercial locations, densities, heights, building types, and public benefits were presented. Based on feedback received at the open houses and other public events, the plan and concepts have evolved. Please come to an open house to learn about the next iteration of the Cambie Corridor Plan. The open houses are designed for residents to drop-in, view proposals, talk to staff and provide input. Feedback from the open houses will continue to help in the preparation of a plan for the corridor.
Saturday, November 27, 10am - 4pm
Oakridge Centre Auditorium
650 W 41st Ave. (at Cambie St.)
Monday, November 29, 4 - 8pm
Oakridge Centre Auditorium
650 W 41st Ave. (at Cambie St.)
Thursday, December 2, 4 - 8pm
Docksteader Warehouse
8515 Cambie Street (south of Marine Drive)
For more information, call:
(604) 871-6947 or e-mail cambiecorridor@vancouver.ca
vancouver.ca/cambiecorridor
Drawing on the Land: Contemporary Landscape Architecture Exhibition
This fall, the BC Society of Landscape Architects presents Drawing on the Land: Contemporary Landscape Architecture Exhibition the Pendulum Gallery (885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC). The exhibit offers gallery visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the thought process that goes into designing and humanizing open spaces. The show runs from November 15 to December 4. The gallery is open to the public from Monday to Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
2011 Architecture Canada Award Submissions
Architecture Canada is now accepting submissions for its 2011 Awards of Excellence as well as the Governor General's Medals in Architecture, Architectural Firm Award, Young Architect Award and Prix du XXE siècle. Under the Awards of Excellence Program, awards are given every two years in the categories of Advocate for Architecture, Allied Arts Medal, Green Building, and Innovation in Architecture. For detailed information on the various award categories and submission process, please visit www.raic.org. The deadline for submissions to the Awards of Excellence Program is December 9, 2010. The deadline for the other 2011 awards is January 13, 2011.
Vancouver Heritage Awards
Submissions are invited for the City of Vancouver’s 2011 Heritage Awards, which acknowledge special accomplishments, projects and efforts that have furthered the goal of heritage conservation in the city. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the city's Heritage Conservation Program. Nominations will be accepted for:
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restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive re-use or continued maintenance of a heritage building or structure, a significant interior of a heritage building, or characteristic features of a heritage building or structure;
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use of innovative engineering techniques or restoration/conservation methods in upgrading a heritage building or structure which may include seismic upgrading; preservation of a heritage landscape or other natural feature; heritage advocacy of a group or individual in the preservation of a heritage site or increasing public awareness of heritage issues;
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publication, education program, exhibit, or activity that promotes heritage conservation;
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and efforts in community or neighbourhood revitalization tied to heritage conservation or awareness.
Eligible projects must have been completed within the last six years, and those that have previously received a City of Vancouver Heritage Award are not eligible. The deadline for nominations is January 14, 2011. For detailed information and nomination forms, visit http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/heritage/awards/awardsinformation.htm.
3rd International Holcim Awards
Entries are now being accepted for the 3rd International Holcim Awards. This competition, organized by the Holcim Foundation, celebrates innovative, future-oriented projects that contribute towards a more sustainable built environment. It recognizes sustainable practices in engineering, landscape and urban design, infrastructure, and materials and construction technologies. The main category is open to working professionals including architects, engineers, planners, builders and construction firms whose projects have reached an advanced stage in design with construction to take place no earlier than July 1, 2010. There is also a "Next Generation" category for students enrolled in the final year of a bachelor program, or in graduate or post-graduate programs. Entries must be submitted online by March 23, 2011. Go to www.holcimawards.org.
Accessibility Award for HCMA
The West Vancouver Community Centre, a project of Vancouver’s Hughes Condon Marler Architects, is one of two recipients of the inaugural ONCE Award. This award was introduced by the ONCE Foundation for Cooperation and the Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, a nonprofit charitable foundation whose mandate includes promotion for the creation of universally-accessible environments, products and services. The HCMA project was chosen for its new standards in accessible design. The honour was announced as part of the recent World Architecture Festival, with selections made form more than 235 WAF short-listed projects representing 55 countries.
World Architecture Festival Winners Announced
By Diane Chan, Azure
Zaha Hadid may have nabbed the ultimate prize – World Building of the Year – for her MAXXI museum in Rome, but the WAF awards in Barcelona celebrated a multitude of projects around the world. More than 1,000 architects gathered last week at the Centro de Convenciones Internacionales de Barcelona to compete in more than 20 categories and take home the ultimate prize: WAF’s prestigious World Building of the Year award. More …
Horrific Accident Prompts Quebec Building-code Reform
By Rhéal Séguin, Globe and Mail
November 10, 2010
Months after a slab of cement came crashing down 18 floors onto a Montreal restaurant killing 33-year-old Léa Guilbeault, the Quebec government is revamping the province’s building code to prevent such a horrific accident from ever happening again. More …
You Have to Pay for the Public Design
By Alexandra Lange, Design Observer
November 15, 2010
On the topic of the dismantling and uncertain future of Harry Bertoia's bronze screen at SOM's 1954 Manufacturers Hanover Trust on Fifth Avenue, Ada Louise Huxtable undoubtedly said it best. But after my attempts to sound the alarm through my smaller social networks (Twitter, editors, scholars, Design Observer), I find myself continuing to think about Bertoia, public modernism, and what others' lack of alarm (and the building owners' lack of awareness that anyone might care) means about how we like our design. My conclusion: we like our chairs better than our museums (the Whitney), or hospitals (Michael Reese), or public sculpture (the screen). More …
Why 60 W. Cordova is the Unthinkable
By Barbara Gunn, Vancouver Sun
November 13, 2010
For most of the people who will monitor the rise of the 60 W. Cordova building from the old parking lot near the Army & Navy store, its ascent will be no more than a construction curiosity. For a few, however, that ascent will represent a first opportunity to do something they may have never thought possible -- to own a home. The building will be a collaborative effort involving multiple players, all of whom have been intent on turning renters into owners. It will be what its architect is describing as an "affordable ownership experiment in Vancouver." Further, Gregory Henriquez says, it could be a model for affordable-residency projects in other Vancouver neighbourhoods. More …
City Shaping II: Will Architecture Go Horizontal?
By Charles A. Birnbaum, The Huffington Post
November 12, 2010
Landscape architecture has become very fashionable... to architects. Moreover, its co-option and absorption into architectural practices has resulted in a revealing turf war with Andrés Duany as a vocal protagonist. He's the Princeton-trained architect who, as a founder of the Congress for the New Urbanism, adopted the ideas, vision and values of the early 20th century landscape architects/planners John Nolen and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., to launch a movement that led to more than 300 new towns, regional plans, and community revitalization project commissions for his firm. It also exerted a significant influence on planning and development practices in the United States and abroad. More …
Modernist Buildings Have a Story to Tell: Preserve Balance between Past and Present
Brent Bellamy, Winnipeg Free Press
November 15, 2010
In 2007, the American Institute of Architects launched a public survey to identify "America's Favourite Architecture." With the Empire State Building, the White House and the Washington National Cathedral finishing in the Top 3, the list exposed a strong public connection with heritage buildings. Of the Top 50 favourite structures in the United States, only five were built after the Second World War. More …
World's First Business of Architecture Degree Launched
By Elizabeth Hopkirk, Building Design Online
November 18, 2010
The world’s first architectural masters degree combining design with management has been launched by a Spanish university in collaboration with the Royal College of Art and New London Architecture. The 13-month programme, which begins in February, will be taught in English both online and with face-to-face periods in London and at IE University’s business campus in Madrid. More …
From Green Extreme to Mainstream: Passive House Program Gains Momentum in U.S.
By Michael Cockram, Architectural Record
November 16, 2010
Just a few years ago, the first North American Passive House Conference was attended by a handful of passionate adherents trading tips around folding tables in Urbana, Illinois. But this year, with a keynote speech by green energy prophet Amory Lovins, and attended by roughly 350 practitioners from across the country, the 2010 conference, held from November 4 to 7 in Portland, Oregon, helped establish Passive House as a viable force in the green building movement. More ...
Disgraced Cumbrian Architect Jailed for Conning Family
Workington Times & Star
November 17, 2010
A disgraced architect who conned a west Cumbrian family into paying £6,500 for work he had not done has been sent to prison for nearly four years. It was the third time Richard Lindsay – struck off by the Architects Registration Board for “disgraceful professional conduct” – had appeared in court for dishonesty in relation to his unsuspecting clients. More …