2010 Annual Fees

With a new year upon us, it is time for payment of annual fees. All registrants and architectural firms should now have received their personal or business invoices. If not, kindly let us know. We did experience some growing pains in the integration of our new database system, so your understanding and patience are appreciated. Those of you who have been thoughtful enough to contact us in that regard can be assured of a personal reply. Your feedback is already helpful.

The response to the institute’s continued move towards a convenient online payment process has been most positive, in addition to the notable efficiencies it has created for both you and the institute. To pay fees online, simply go to http://aibc.memberpro.net and log on. If you have forgotten your login code or do not know your password, please go to the Members Login page at www.aibc.ca and click on “Forgot Your Logon ID?” A temporary password will then be e-mailed to you. The institute will accept payment by cheque, money order, VISA or MasterCard. Note: cheques must be drawn in Canadian funds from a Canadian bank. You may also pay by debit card or cash in person at the AIBC offices. Unfortunately, payments by phone cannot be accepted.

Your 2010 AIBC annual fee is due and payable on or before February 1, 2010. Otherwise, one’s “good standing” will be discontinued. If payment is still not received in due course, membership rights and privileges will be at risk. For those wishing to change status or not renew registration at all, you must advise the institute prior to February 1, 2010 because you may only resign if your membership is in good standing. For detailed information regarding AIBC fees and charges, see Bulletin 01: 2010 Fees, Fines & Charges. Please feel free to contact Manager of Registration and Licensing Roisin O'Neill at roneill@aibc.ca should you have any related questions or concerns.

Online Course Registration is Up and Running

Those interested in registering for AIBC courses can now do so online. We do appreciate the patience shown while we’ve been working out various technical glitches.

MAIBCs, ATs, BDs and RDs: As participants in the AIBC’s Continuing Education System, you should have already acquired your Logon ID and Password. This is what you will need to register online for a course. Once you’ve accessed your file, click on “Events” to see the course schedule.

Intern Architects and Applicants: You should have received an e-mail in December about getting new logon instructions that will allow you to access your file. If you do not have your Logon ID and Password, please go to http://aibc.memberpro.net/main/body.cfm?menu=login and click on “forget your Logon ID or Password?” You will then receive an automated e-mail with the necessary instruction. Should you require additional information or support, please contact Aleta Cho at acho@aibc.ca or Catherine Bolter at cbolter@aibc.ca.

Call for Submissions: 2010 Annual AIBC Architectural Awards

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia invites submissions for the 2010 Annual AIBC Architectural Awards. This awards program celebrates excellence across the following distinct award categories:

• The Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture (Medal and Merit);
• The AIBC Innovation Award;
• The AIBC Special Jury Award; and
• The AIBC Emerging Firm Award.

The awards program goals are:

• To honour excellence in completed architectural projects;
• To celebrate recent achievements of AIBC member architects and firms;
• To recognize the role of AIBC members and associates in British Columbia’s
  built environment;
• To encourage public interest in B.C. architects and architecture; and
• To promote AIBC members as architectural leaders provincially, nationally and internationally.

This is a juried competition, and winning selections will be celebrated at the 2010 President’s Dinner & Awards Gala, part of the AIBC Annual Conference this May. The submission deadline is Monday, March 15, 2010 at 12:00 noon. Detailed information regarding submission guidelines and entry fees can be found online at http://www.aibc.ca/conference2010/awards/index.html. Questions can be directed to communications@aibc.ca.

Role Call: Whistler Advisory Design Panel

The AIBC is seeking a registered architect to serve as a member of the Whistler Advisory Design Panel (ADP). This is a volunteer position, appointed by Whistler Council. Terms include:

• A one-year appointment, renewable for up to three years;
• Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month, usually from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.;
• The majority of meetings will take place in Whistler;
• There is a travel allowance ($10/meeting for travel from Whistler, $50/meeting for travel from Vancouver/Lower Mainland);
• Lunch is provided; and
• Matters for review concern the context and design of development proposals in Whistler.

Architect members of ADPs are dedicated to carrying out their duties and responsibilities to high professional standards in the public interest, working on a team of volunteers with diverse backgrounds to advise on community planning, development permits and proposals.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please review Bulletin 65: Advisory Design Panels - Standards for Procedures & Conductand then complete the application form. The deadline for applications is Thursday, January 21, 2010. For more information please contact Coordinator of Professional Practice Erica Holt by phone (604-683-8588, ext. 314) or e-mail (eholt@aibc.ca).

Advance Notice for Potential AIBC Council Nominees

AIBC Council invites you to consider running for election. All architects in good standing are entitled to nominate and elect their representatives to council. Once elected, council members are called upon to represent the public interest and support the good of the profession as a whole. Responsibilities include participation in council meetings, involvement with assigned boards and task forces, contributing to council’s development of policy, and planning for the institute’s future directions. Registrants from the associate categories of Architectural Technologists, Building Designers/Residential Designers, IDIBC-registered Interior Designers, and Intern Architects have a parallel opportunity to nominate and elect a non-voting council liaison from within their respective ranks. Those elected serve two-year terms. Watch for the formal “Call for Nominations” in early February. Nominations will close on March 18, 2010.

Call for Submissions: AIBC Gallery Olympic-themed Exhibit

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia invites submissions for an Olympic-themed exhibit that will be on display in the AIBC Gallery throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The exhibit will highlight the work of B.C. architects and firms involved in designing games-related venues, and participating firms are invited to contribute to this exhibit. The details:

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
(To confirm your registration, please e-mail project name and architect / firm details to communications@aibc.ca.)
Exhibit Materials Submission Deadline: Friday, February 5, 2010
Exhibit Dates: February 10 – March 1, 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 11, 2010
(Note: All participating firms, as well as their clients, family and colleagues are invited to attend the opening reception. Advance reservations are required; please e-mail communications@aibc.ca.)

Submission Requirements:

• Three panels (30” x 30”) – including project photography, design description, innovative features (required) and project team listing
• Model and plinth (optional)
• Note: If space allows, there may be an opportunity for additional display materials. However, advance AIBC approval is required.

The AIBC reserves the right to use submitted project images and descriptions for promotional and media purposes, as required. Materials will be returned following the exhibit. Exhibit dates and details subject to change. Please contact communications@aibc.ca for more information.

President’s Message

December 2009

It is the time of year for reflection, an examination of paths travelled and those unfolding. More...

AIBC Bylaw Proposals Disallowed

The AIBC has been informed that the bylaw proposals voted on by members earlier this year and tabled with government, have been disallowed as is government’s prerogative under the Architects Act. The institute has not yet received reasons for this decision. A formal letter informing us of government’s decision is expected shortly and will be shared with the membership.

2009-2010 AIBC Volunteer Recognition Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the AIBC’s annual Volunteer Recognition Awards. There are three award categories:

• AIBC Honorary Membership - for significant and outstanding contributions by a non-registrant towards increasing awareness and appreciation of architecture. Click here for the nomination form.
• AIBC Special Certificate of Recognition - for recent and general volunteer contributions demonstrating expertise and leadership in specific initiatives for the benefit or enhancement of the practice and profession of architecture by an individual registrant or firm. Click here for the nomination form.
• The Barbara Dalrymple Memorial Award for Community Service - in recognition of lifetime or exceptional contributions by an individual registrant or firm. Click here for the nomination form.

You are encouraged to submit the names of individuals you believe are deserving of formal recognition for their volunteer contributions to the institute and the profession. The deadline for nominations is February 3, 2010.

2010 AIBC Annual Conference

Community Building: The Social Impact of Architecture
2010 AIBC Annual Conference

May 6 - 8, 2010
Vancouver Convention Centre

Now more than ever, social challenges are beckoning change and transformation on a global scale. The theme for 2010, Community Building: The Social Impact of Architecture, celebrates the many ways in which today’s built environment defines our communities, and the critical role that architecture plays in articulating that definition. From simple homes and functional business space to state-of-the art hospitals and schools, from gritty streetscapes to iconic sport facilities, our communities are a true reflection of our complex society. Through vision, innovation, and social awareness, architects play an important part in shaping not only what our communities are, but what they can be. Through five learning streams, the 2010 AIBC Conference will explore architectural history, modern innovation, new challenges, best practices, and some of the innovative ways in which architects are responding to the social call for action. Detailed information can be found online at www.aibc.ca/conference2010.

Firm Updates Overdue
Outstanding Annual Updates Required Immediately

The Architects Act and AIBC bylaws require every firm to file an annual update with the AIBC. Firms that have not yet updated their profiles must do so immediately to ensure accurate publication in the 2010 AIBC Directory. Firm update information and instructions (including firm login identification and password information) were e-mailed to every firm on October 15, with an identified owner / administrator and e-mail address, and mailed to all other films for which we have no email address. To complete your update, you must log on to your on-line firm profile (http://aibc.memberpro.net).

Free Practice Consultation Service Making a Positive Impression

Response to the AIBC’s Practice Consultation Service (formerly Practice Standards Consultation Service) continues to be overwhelmingly positive. Participating firms have provided excellent feedback respecting benefits to their firms and the informative nature of the process itself. As a result, firms of various sizes have been able to better standardize their project organization of projects and improve their processes. Here’s what some have to say about their PCS experience:

“This experience has been a smooth and cooperative process. The precise statements and the clear understanding created a great communication tool. My interview was neither threatening nor worrisome, but rather a helpful wake-up call on methods of practice where I should be using more standard check sheets rather than relying [solely] on my 39 years of practice!”
- Ben Levinson MAIBC

“We have found the process valuable to our firm. The methodical, step-by-step preparation process … has been an excellent opportunity for us to step back and review what we are doing right and what we can improve upon.”
– Hugh Cochlin MAIBC

The PCS is not a design review. Rather, it is a positive, educational, interactive process that allows members to consider their practices through external feedback from volunteer practice consultants — fellow architects who have stepped up to share their wealth of experience, understanding and knowledge. Their advice may pertain to any area where support is needed or wanted, and the visit can provide a good opportunity to chat about a variety of topics relating to a member’s practice. The process affords a closer look at how one’s firm manages itself and its projects, including organizational structure, contract management procedures and office administration.

The process is simple and straightforward. Members begin by filling out a Practice Self-Assessment Rating Form that serves as a starting point for self-evaluation and provides an introduction to the firm for the practice consultant. The next steps are to gather project documents and administrative records for three projects that are representative of the firm’s work, in preparation for the practice consultant’s visit and interview.

A very limited number of consultation spots remain for 2009, with additional spots available in 2010. For more information on how you can take advantage of this valuable resource, please contact Coordinator of Professional Practice Erica Holt by phone (604-683-8588; ext. 314) or e-mail (eholt@aibc.ca).

Update: Bulletin 01 – Fees, Fines and Charges

An updated version of Bulletin 01 - Fees, Fines and Charges is now available online at http://www.aibc.ca/bulletins/Bulletin_01.pdf. This new version incorporates changes to address the AIBC’s newly-established Alternative Qualifications Assessment process for Architectural Technologists, along with minor syntax adjustments and modified sequencing for improved clarity and transparency.

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 2009 PD/CES Course Schedule and Registration Form are available online at www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html

Simon Fraser University City Program

Featured Course: Making Change Happen: Building Commitment to Create Sustainability

This course enhances the ability of participants to be effective sustainability champions, regardless of whether they are newcomers, social-change enthusiasts or old-hand sustainability leaders. Participants benefit from the expertise of lecturers from the public and private sectors. The first day moves from an exploration of what it takes to make change happen, to a hands-on workshop on facilitating effective change processes. The second day introduces key change ideas and leads into an interactive team exercise based on a real-life case study. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to create a personal plan for taking change ideas and tools forward in their work. It takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on January 22 & 23, 2010,. The cost is $600. For details and registration information, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/course7popup.htm

14 Non-core LUs

Construction Specifications Canada - Vancouver Chapter

The Integrated Design Process and its Impact on Sustainable Design

A quiet revolution is taking place in the practice of architecture – not so much a new idea as a refinement of an older, more traditional way of working. The Integrated Design Process (IDP) has come to mean many different things to architects and consultants working on sustainable design around the world. This presentation will focus on the formal eight-step IDP as practised and developed by Bunting Coady Architects. Teresa Coady AIA, MAIBC, MRAIC, AAA, LEED® AP will illustrate how its implementation can help to create “living, breathing buildings” that enhance, rather than destroy, our environment. The date is Thursday, January 21, 2010, 7:00 a.m. at the Executive Hotel Vintage Park, 1379 Howe Street, Vancouver. Parking is available at the back and underneath, $3 for three hours.

1 Core LU

AIBC Vancouver Island Chapter Meeting

The next meeting of the AIBC’s Vancouver Island Chapter is Thursday, January 28, 2010, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street. This event is sponsored by Steelcase Inc. Speakers Craig Anderson and Joe Basic will discuss acoustics in buildings, touching on options for improving acoustical environments. This is a free event. However, preregistration is required for catering purposes. Please confirm you attendance by January 26 to John Coe at jmcoe@shaw.ca.

1 Core LU

Cascadia Region Green Building Council

Design & Build New Energy-Efficient Hospital and Healthcare Facilities Workshop

The BC Hydro Power Smart New Construction Program and Cascadia Region Green Building Council are pleased to offer this new full-day workshop for architects, engineers, owners, developers, and designers involved in new healthcare and hospital facilities. Panel discussions and networking opportunities follow the afternoon session. Morning session speakers include Heather Burpee M. Arch, Integrated Design Lab + Dept of Architecture, University of Washington; Chris Corps BSc MRICS, President - Asset Strategics Ltd.; Luis Damy P.Eng., Manager - High Performance Building Program, BC Hydro; Joel Loveland M. Arch, Integrated Design Lab + Dept of Architecture, University of Washington; Ray Pradinuk MAIBC, Principal - Leader Healthcare Research and Innovation Group, Stantec Consulting; Dennis Wilde, Principal - Gerding Edlen Development; and Jessica Woolliams LEED Ap, M. PL, BC Director - Cascadia Region GBC. Afternoon session speakers include Boriana Arguirova P. Eng., Associate and Project Manager - Building Engineering, Stantec's Health Care Group; Paul Marmion P. Eng., Senior Principal - Healthcare Research and Innovation Group, Stantec Consulting; and Caesar Ruest, Autodesk's BIM Solutions Executive. It takes place Thursday, January 28 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. To register, please call Jessica Woolliams (604) 909-9559. Additional information including pricing can be found online at http://www.cascadiagbc.org/events/2010/january/.

7.5 Core LUs

Heritage Vancouver

An Evening at the Penthouse (1947)

Join Heritage Vancouver for an evening of entertainment at Vancouver’s historic exotic night club, The Penthouse (1947).  Step back in time with Danny Filippone with a behind-the-scenes tours of one of Vancouver’s famous landmarks. You’ll visit the Steak Loft Dining Lounge and the VIP room where his uncle Joe Filippone entertained high profile guests such as Frank Sinatra. It happens Wednesday, January 13, 2010. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., tours at 6:15 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., talks at 7:45 p.m., and the show starts at 9:00 p.m. The Penthouse is located at 1019 Seymour Street, Vancouver. Advance tickets are$30 ($25 for Heritage Vancouver Members). If not sold out, any remaining tickets will be available at the door for $30.

1.5 Non-core LUs

IMAGINiT Technologies

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

Current Exhibit: Okanagan Architecture Exhibit

January 6 – February 9, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Opening Reception: January 12, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Several works completed by Okanagan-area architects will be presented at the AIBC Gallery from January 6 – February 15, 2010. The exhibit features projects completed by architects working and living in a common Canadian landscape – a valley defined by its desert climate, bountiful lakes, pine forests and blue sky. Many of these projects have been recognized with Governor General and Lieutenant Governor awards. The exhibit aims to advance public knowledge of quality design, and to highlight the architect’s role in enhancing communities and improving lives. This exhibit is sponsored by the B.C. Chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

An opening reception will be held January 12. Advance reservations are required; please email communications@aibc.ca to confirm your attendance.

Upcoming Exhibit: Olympic Architecture

February 10 – March 1, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia presents a unique Olympic-themed exhibit from February 10 to March 1, 2010. Designed to coincide with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, this exhibit highlights the innovative work of B.C. architects and firms involved in designing games-related venues. Highlights include the award-winning Richmond Oval, Hillcrest Curling Facility, UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre and Vancouver’s Olympic Village.

The AIBC Gallery is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. An opening reception will be held Thursday, February 11. Advance reservations are required; please e-mail communications@aibc.ca to confirm your attendance.

LetsGoForDinner.com

For your culinary needs this winter, take advantage of LetsGoForDinner.com, an online membership program that allows you save at your favorite restaurants. Mention your ClubAIBC affiliation, and save $25 on gift certificates redeemable at Water Street Cafe, Wild Rice, Century Restaurant, and a wide range of restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler. For more information, or to sign up, visit http://www.LetsGoForDinner.com.

ClubAIBC has added new partners to its corporate discount program. To find out more about ClubAIBC's new offerings, visit http://www.aibc.intrd.com

Healthy Built Environment Survey

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) seeks the assistance of AIBC registrants in identify the learning needs of architects, planners and design professionals regarding healthy built environments. For several years now, PHSA has been working with stakeholders from various sectors to promote healthy built environments (see http://www.phsa.ca/HealthProfessionals/Population-Public-Health/Healthy-Built-Environment/default.htm). Professionals working within and outside of the health sector share a role in creating and advocating for environments that support healthy lifestyle choices. By collaborating with health care professionals in their community, architects, planners and design professionals will be better positioned to support decisions that promote healthier environments. With this in mind, the PHSA is developing new educational resources, and your input will help to ensure these resources can be effective. Please take the 5-10 minutes needed to respond to the survey found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M2LQT55. Completed surveys are requested by January 15 if possible. If you have any questions, please direct them to Jane McCarney, Manager - Centres for Population and Public Health, at jmccarney@phsa.ca. Your input and advice are very much appreciated.

Vancity Purchases Dockside Green

Vancity has announced its purchase of the award-winning Dockside Green mixed-use development. The credit union, a majority partner in the Victoria inner city project, has assumed 100 per cent ownership after agreeing to purchase the shares of developer Joe Van Belleghem. Vancity President and CEO Tamara Vrooman says her company is committed to the success of Dockside Green and will build on the work of the previous partnership through which the foundation for a highly livable community with leading-edge green practices has been laid. The next stage of Dockside Green’s building program includes affordable housing components. Dockside Green has won numerous awards for its innovative, LEED® platinum design, including a 2009 AIBC Special Jury Award.

EOI: St. Augustine's School

The St. Augustine’s School building committee is requesting Expressions of Interest for the provision of
Architectural Services for a new school building on the site of the existing school at 2145 West Eighth
Avenue in Vancouver.

St. Augustine’s is a co-ed elementary school in the Catholic independent school system with students
from kindergarten to grade 7. Fund raising is underway for a new school. It is the intent of the
building committee to retain an architectural firm to assist with preliminary planning and building
layout. The resulting design drawings will be used by the committee, forming part of a submission to
the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Once funding goals for the new school have been achieved, it is our
intent that the architect will be retained for complete design services. The proposed approximate
3,000 gsm building may be constructed in two phases.

Interested architectural firms are invited to submit their Expression of Interest for this
project by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Interested firms can view the complete call for
expressions of interest at: http://www.faithandfoundation.com/Support_Construction.html

RFP: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Terrace B.C.

AIBC members are invited to submit proposal to provide architectural services for the design and construction of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Renovation Project. The Church has identified a need to upgrade its facilities in order to correct deficiencies related to age and the evolving needs of the community. For more information, visit the AIBC's "Competitions and Expressions of Interest" web page.

Monograph on Evaluating Building Structures

The National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) has announced a new monograph that provides architects and design professionals with a much-needed methodology to evaluate existing buildings for new or continuing use. Building Evaluation for Preservation, which details each step of the evaluation process, looks at both interior and exterior building structures using an easy-to-implement approach that reduces the possibility of costs and setbacks encountered during the development of a project. In doing so, it gives a clear and comprehensive approach for making the critical decision of whether to adapt and reuse a building or to demolish and rebuild. It covers structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, and offers techniques to better understand how to evaluate each system separately. The cost is $300 ($200 for current NCARB Record holders). To order, go to http://www.ncarb.org/publications/pdpmonographs.html.

New Standards for Adaptable Housing

An amendment to the B.C. Building Code concerning the Adaptable Dwelling Units comes into effect December 31, 2009. This revision establishes new standards for adaptable housing applicable to single-storey suites in new residential, multi-unit buildings, whether adaptable housing is built voluntarily or required by local governments. The updated document can be found online at http://www.bccodes.ca/errata_revisions.htm. Those customers with online versions of the BC Codes will have their material uploaded after December 31. CD customers are asked to ensure their computers are connected to the internet after December 31st in order to automatically receive the upload.

Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy

Metro Vancouver is consulting local residents and other stakeholders on the latest draft of its regional growth strategy, Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping our future. This draft incorporates feedback gathered from municipalities and members of the public in the spring of 2009. The draft will now be shared and discussed at a series of public meetings throughout January, which you are invited to attend. For dates, locations and to register, as well as detailed information on the draft plan, visit www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/strategy.

Canadian Society for Marketing Professional Services

The Canadian Society for Marketing Professional Services invites you to attend two half-day workshops on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Titled “Learn the Art of Differentiating Yourself”, these sessions will teach you how to differentiate yourself, your firm, and your services from the competition. Presenter Dr. Janet Sanders, a recognized industry leader on marketing, branding and presentation skills, will discuss how to create rapport, develop trust, and successfully change your firm's approach to creating proposals. The breakfast session, “The First 30 Seconds: What to Say and Do, and NOT Say and Do, in the First Critical Meeting With a Prospect”, goes from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. The luncheon workshop, “How to Break Out of the Pack by Breaking Out of ‘Same Old, Same Old’”, runs from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. Both take place at the Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver. The fee is $175 for single sessions and $300 for the whole day ($95 and $175 for CSMPS members). For more information, contact Wendy Thompson by phone (604-818-6614) or e-mail (info@csmps.com), or visit the website at www.csmps.com.

Save the Date: Building SustainABLE Communities

The Fresh Outlook Foundation is hosting its fourth Building SustainABLE Communities conference in Kelowna, BC from November 16 to 18, 2010. Speakers include:

• Terry Tamminen: Climate action advisor to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and BC Premier Gordon Campbell. Author of Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Energy Addiction. 
• Dr. Reginald Bibby: Sociologist at the University of Lethbridge and Canada's premier tracker and interpreter of social trends.
• Michael Kinsley: A senior consultant with the Rocky Mountain Institute who has helped build sustainable economies and environments since 1983.

For more information, please visit www.freshoutlookfoundation.org.

City of Vancouver Olympic Service Levels

Staff from many City of Vancouver departments will be providing support to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As a result, some services levels will be affected for the period of the games, February 11-28, 2010. This includes Development Services, Planning, Licenses and Inspections as well as the Engineering Services Group (Crossroads location). New applications, fully completed, will be accepted for trades, tenant improvements, laneway housing, renovations to conditional one- and two-family dwellings, new “outright” one- and two-family dwellings, tree removal, signs, and “over the counter” development and building permits. Enquiries only will be accepted for project facilitation, rezonings, subdivision and strata approvals, and larger development and building permits. Inspections, building licenses, occupancy permits, property research and copies of building plans will be processed on a limited basis. Those who anticipate requiring any such services during the Olympics are encouraged to contact the city in advance. Additional information can be found online at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/developmentservices/

Metro Vancouver Non-road Diesel Engine Initiative

Between November 24 and December 1, 2009, Metro Vancouver (Greater Vancouver Regional District) held three public workshops across the region to review the proposed Non-road Diesel Engine Initiative with industry representatives and members of the public.  The goal of the initiative is to reduce particulate matter emissions from non-road diesel engines in order to improve air quality and public health in Metro Vancouver, and reduce the effects of climate change.  The region is now forming a working group with representatives from industry and government. The working group will be asked to meet, review and discuss the details of the proposed initiative, which is slated to go before the Metro Vancouver (GVRD) Board of Directors for their consideration in 2010. If you would were unable to attend the workshops but would like to provide feedback, please download the workshop presentation and discussion guide, or complete the discussion guide online, at www.metrovancouver.org/services/permits/DieselEmissions/Pages/DiscussionGuide.aspx and return it to Metro Vancouver by January 15, 2010. To learn more about the Non-road Diesel Engine Initiative, please visit www.metrovancouver.org/services/permits/DieselEmissions or contact Metro Vancouver.

Call for Papers: Heritage Challenges Conference

École de design and Institut du patrimoine of Université du Québec à Montréal are organizing a conference entitled “Preserving Modern Architecture in Québec, Canada, and Elsewhere: Heritage Challenges and the Mobilization of Knowledge”. It will be held in Montréal from October 14 - 17, 2010. Submissions are currently being accepted for conference presenters. For detailed information, including the Call for Papers, visit the conference web site (available in January) at http://www.ip.uqam.ca/

2010 BC Real Estate Convention

The 6th Annual BC Real Estate Convention takes place April 8-9, 2010 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This annual event, which brings together developers, realtors, municipalities, financial institutions, insurance agencies, associations and many other involved in the real estate industry, will be of interest to anyone involved with residential or commercial real estate. It features highly informative speakers, seminars, exhibitions, networking and investment opportunities. Admission is free with pre-registration. Go to http://www.bcrealestateconvention.com/bcrec/main/frame.php?main=22.

Globe 2010

Globe 2010, the Biennial Conference and Trade Fair for Business and the Environment, will take place March 24 – 26 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This is the largest and longest-running event dedicated to the business of the environment in North America. The conference themes for 2010 include corporate sustainability innovation, climate change & carbon management, the future of energy, financing the low carbon economy, and the urban infrastructure revolution. Additional topics such as water and clean technology will be covered. For more information, or to register, visit www.globe2010.com

IHC2010

Registrations and abstracts are now being accepted for the International Housing Conference 2010, taking place in Singapore from January 26-20. 2010. This event, organized by Singapore’s Housing and Development Board with a theme of “Sustainable Housing: Charting New Frontiers”, will bring together eminent experts, leaders and professionals to share their experience, perspectives and vision on the subject of sustainable development with a focus on housing. For more information on the conference program and topics, visit the website at http://www.internationalhousingconference.com/. To register, go to http://www.internationalhousingconference.com/online.html.

Call for Nominations: 6th Annual BC Wood Design Awards

Wood WORKS! BC, a project of the Canadian Wood Council, is now accepting nominations for the annual Wood WORKS! BC Wood Design Awards, to be held on March 29, 2010 at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver. These awards recognize leadership and innovation in wood use while publicly recognizing and encouraging continued excellence in the building and design community. Award categories include: Residential; Green Building; Multi-unit Residential; Commercial; < $10M Institutional Wood Design; >$10 M Institutional Design; Interior Beauty of Wood; Western Red Cedar; Architect; and Engineer. There is also a new award category this year for BC Premier’s Wood Champion. Chosen projects will showcase the special qualities of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. Projects commissioned after January 2007 are eligible, and the deadline for nominations is February 11, 2010. For award program information and nomination forms, visit the Wood WORKS! BC website at www.wood-works.ca/ or call Lorna Malone at 1 (877) 929-9663, ext 4.

Shuko Montréal l Design Competition

The City of Montréal is sponsoring a nationwide ideas competition for the redesign of the Champ-de-Mars métro station area of the city. The station, which features glassworks by renowned artist Marcelle Ferron, is one of the few Montreal landmarks remaining from prior to the construction of the Ville-Marie expressway. The immediate perimeter of the station forms a link between downtown Montréal and Old Montréal, and is one of the main pedestrian access routes to the historic district. Entrants are invited to submit development proposals that integrate smoothly with the existing public spaces and take into account the current and future built environment, including the impending development of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and the planned covering of the Ville-Marie expressway. Proposals must promote citizen appropriation of the urban environment and provide a development framework that facilitates movement through the city. The competition, which is being conducted on an anonymous-entry basis, is open to all design professionals, students or consortia whose main place of business is in Canada. It is a single-stage competition, with two submission categories, one for professionals and the other for students. The language of the competition is French. However, the conceptual approach may include a text in English. The competition jury will use such criteria as enhancement of the architecture and glassworks of Champ-de-Mars métro station; reinforcement of pedestrian links and access routes; and innovative and esthetic qualities. Jury members include:

• Melvin Charney, architect;
• Odile Decq, architect and Director of the École Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris;
• Jacques Des Rochers, Curator of Canadian Art, Montréal Museum of Fine Arts;
• Michel Dionne, architect, Cooper, Robertson & Partners, New York;
• Raphaël Fischler, urban planner and professor at the School of Urban Planning, McGill University;
• Mario Masson, landscape architect and Division Manager, Service du développement culturel, de la qualité du milieu de vie et de la diversité ethnoculturelle, Ville de Montréal;
• Alessandra Ponte, associate professor, School of Architecture, Université de Montréal;
• Philippe Poullaouec-Gonidec, landscape architect and holder of the UNESCO Chair in Landscape and Environmental Design at Université de Montréal.

Registration is required by January 15, 2010. Proposals must be submitted no later than February 10, 2010. For more information and to register, visit http://www.realisonsmontreal.com/fr/projet/Amenagement-des-abords-de-la-station-de-métro-Champ-de-Mars. Entrants who have questions about the competition must submit them by e-mail to the Design Montréal office at info@realisonsmontreal.com no later than January 15, 2010.

A Fresh Look at 20th Century Architectural Heritage

The International Union of Architects has launched an international competition that will invites participants to share their own expression of 20th Century architecture using today’s design tools. Architecture students from around the world are invited to create image models of significant architectural creativity realised during the last century. All phases of the competition will be conducted on-line, and all image models must be based on digital photographs created using Autodesk® ImageModeler™ and Autodesk® Stitcher™ Unlimited software (the software will be made available to competitors free of charge for the duration of the competition.) Working as teams or individuals, students are free to choose the structure they wish to represent, from a major landmark to an unknown building, with the condition that it was built between 1901 and 2000. Registration is open until April 26, 2010. For full information, visit www.archi.fr/3D_20th.

DNV ADP

Congratulations to MAIBCs Robert Bradbury, Cedric Burgers and Lynne Werker, who have been appointed to the District of North Vancouver’s 11-member Advisory Design Panel. Bradbury and Burgers join Stephen Quigley MAIBC as the three designated architectural representatives on the panel, while Werker has been chosen in the capacity of Visual Arts Specialist. The panel provides advice to the district council and municipal staff on design matters including building schemes, heritage sites, revitalization proposals and other community development projects.

2009 Wood Design Award Winners

Wood Design & Building magazine has announced the recipients of the 2009 Wood Design Awards, a North America-wide program that inspires wood building innovation by recognizing achievements in wood architecture. This year’s honourees include the following AIBC representation:

• Honour Award:  Richmond Olympic Oval (Cannon Design Architecture Inc.)
• Citation Award:  Kingsway Pedestrian Bridge (Busby Perkins + Will Architects Co.)

Sixteen projects were selected from 130 total entries. The 2009 jury featured Silvio Baldassarra, Vice President of NORR Ltd. Architects and Engineers; Keith Boswell, Technical Director of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; and Wendy Evans Joseph, Partner of Wendy Evans Joseph Architecture. Selected projects push the boundaries of conventional wood building practices and highlight the special qualities, versatility and sheer beauty of wood as a building material. For additional information on this year’s recipients, go to http://www.cwc.ca/Events/BuildingAwards/?Language=EN

Architecture 2009: To Soar, Yes – But Also to Get Burned

By Lisa Rochon, Globe and Mail
December 24, 2009

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Though architects in Canada managed to escape relatively unscathed while economic tumbleweeds blew through 2009, there were deep cuts south of the border. A state of paralysis still grips the American building industry. But one image sums up the grim reality of an oil-fat, now cratered economy: traditionally-dressed men in Dubai at a National Day parade leading floats containing the architectural models of the city's swirling, twirling, tricked-out skyscrapers. More …

Trying to Be Responsible and Cutting-Edge, Too

By Alice Rawsthorn, New York Times
December 27, 2009

Let’s look back at what design was like a decade ago. If I’d mentioned the “S word” you’d have thought it meant “style,” not “sustainability.” An electric car would have been one of the EV1s that General Motors spent a fortune developing, only to end up sending to the crusher. And you wouldn’t have heard of an iPod or iPhone. More …

At the Intersection of Architecture and Activism
Firm enriches the 'weft and weave' of the city with socially conscious projects in often challenging neighbourhoods

By Anthony Reinhart, Globe and Mail
January 2, 2010

In more ways than one, George Street is a one-way road headed south. Home to Toronto's largest homeless shelter, part of the street is known as Crack Alley, where dealers feed off the remains of people's lives and lawns are beaten bare by circular walks to nowhere. "I've travelled around all the other supposed dangerous neighbourhoods in the city," Jonathan Kearns says, "but I never felt so apprehensive as I did when I ventured down George Street." More …

World’s Tallest Tower Scales Heights of Delusion

By Rowan Moore, London Evening Standard
January 5, 2010

As an emblem of the change of decade, there is nothing more deliciously poignant than yesterday's opening of the $4 billion, 818-metre latest tallest building in the world, the Burj Dubai. It wraps up all the fantasy and excess, the hubris, recklessness and spectacle of the past 10 years into a single, glittering, photogenic, headline-friendly package. More …

 

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