2010 Annual Fees (Registrants and Firms)

With a new year upon us, it is time for payment of annual fees for members, associates, affiliates and firms. All registrants and architectural firms should have now received their invoices, which were issued in December. For those who have not yet received your notice, please check your junk e-mail or anti-spam folders for the period of December 22-27, in the event that the e-mail was filtered and redirected. You can also search for the missing e-mail by the sender address: AIBCannualbilling@aibc.memberpro.net. If you are unable to find your invoice after searching your e-mail folders, please contact Manager of Registration and Licensing Roisin O'Neill (roneill@aibc.ca) to have the original correspondence re-sent.

To pay fees online, simply go to http://aibc.memberpro.net and log on. This link will take you by default to the Firm Log-in page from which you can pay your firm fees.  If you also need to pay your individual registrant fees (or only need to pay your individual fees), simply click on the “Member Access” option on the red title bar at the top of the page.

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.

Those registrants who have both a personal registration and a firm license (certificate of practice) are reminded that you will need to access two different web pages, as per the instructions provided, in order to submit separate payment for each invoice.

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 Roisin should you have any related questions or concerns. Your patience is appreciated as we continue our transition to the convenience of online payments.

Next Oral Review Session – March 2010

Due to the timing of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the next oral review session will be held on March 23 and 24. The application form is available to download. Oral reviews are open to those Intern Architects who have both completed and logged at least 2800 hours, along with the required AIBC courses. Alternative Qualifications Candidates who are eligible to sit the oral review may also apply.

Those candidates planning on take part in this round of oral reviews are invited to attend an Oral Review Preparation Workshop on Wednesday, March 3, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the AIBC offices.

Update: AIBC Bylaw Proposals Disallowed

Prior to Christmas, the AIBC was informed that the bylaw proposals voted on by members earlier in 2009 and tabled with government had been disallowed as is government’s prerogative under the Architects Act. The institute has now received the rationale for that decision. The proposed bylaws related to a requirement that AIBC Council publish to its membership any proposed changes to the Architects Act or enabling legislation, as well as carry out advance consultation with members who might be affected by any proposed new legislation. According to the Honourable Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development:

“I have been advised that there is no authority under the Architects Act for the making of bylaws requiring consultation by Council with the membership of AIBC. Having received that advice, I recommended to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that the bylaws be disallowed pursuant to section 25(2) of the Act on the basis they are ultra vires the Act. The Lieutenant Governor in Council accepted that recommendation and has disallowed Bylaws 36.1 and 36.2.”

The order in council was passed on November 26. While the provincial government was not prepared to approve the bylaws, the minister did express support for the principles of disclosure and consultation on matters of legislative reform, in keeping with AIBC Council’s ongoing member engagement activities.

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.

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.

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.

Consultation spots are available throughout 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

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Centre for Architectural Ecology

Grow2000: Planting in the Pacific Northwest

The course will provide participants with a good understanding of the role that green roofs can play in the conservation of biodiversity in urban environments. They will explore an ecological approach to plant selection and design into current green roof design practices. Using critical thinking to analyze the underlying issues of sustainability, biodiversity and natural processes, students will develop an appropriate plant selection for green roofs in the Pacific Northwest. They will study in detail a range of plants available in regional ecosystems and investigate their growing requirements as well as some non-native plants used in the green roof industry. They will also study the relationships between plant function, plant form and canopy complexity on plant survival and habitat implications. Students will practice the basic principles of plant design based on site conditions, plant function, species mix, berries, pollen, and habitat, through the preparation of a planting plan for an actual project. The course includes a green roof tour and visit to a local nursery. To register, please visit www.greenroof.bcit.ca or contact Administration and Technology Transfer Coordinator Jonathan Hays by email (Jonathan_Hays@bcit.ca) or or by phone (604-456-1007).

January 23, 30, and February 6, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (18 hours over 3 days)
BCIT, Great Northern Way Campus (555 Great Northern Way, Vancouver).

18 Core LUs

BC Wood

Wood Products R&D Tour: FPInnovations and the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP)

You are invited to join BC Wood and partners FPInnovations (Canada's national wood products research institute) and CAWP (The University of British Columbia's Centre for Advanced Wood Processing) to learn what is new and innovative in wood developing products. FPInnovations and CAWP develop and test innovative wood developing products such as new building systems, engineered wood products, windows, doors, flooring and furniture.

The session takes place Wednesday, February 3, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (lunch provided) at FPInnovations, 2665 East Mall (UBC campus, near the stadium), Vancouver. Space is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible by calling Barbara Bell at barbara.bell@fpinnovations.ca or 604 803 1169.

3 Core LUs

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

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

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.

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.

Click here to preview a slideshow of current project submissions.

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

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.

Vancouverism Exhibit

Vancouverism - Architecture Builds the City, a exhibit produced by Trevor Boddy, is on display January 16 to March 27, 2010 in the new Woodwards Atrium, West Cordova between Abbott and Cambie streets in Vancouver. The exhibit, which has already received international attention through shows in London and Paris, has been updated for its Vancouver debut. It calls attention to how local talent has influenced architecture not only in the city, but around the world. Featured architects and firms include: Peter Busby; James K.M. Cheng; Arthur Erickson; Fast + Epp; Gomberoff Bell Lyon; Gregory Henriquez; Richard Henriquez; Roger Hughes; Oliver Land / LWPAC; Margot Long / PWL; Nick Milkovich; Neale Staniskis Doll Adams; John and Patricia Patkau; and Bing Thom. The exhibit offers up photographs, drawings, videos, scale models, and full-sized building details. An official opening of the exhibit takes place Friday, January 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Architects Respond to Haiti Quake

On January 12, a powerful earthquake hit the impoverished nation of Haiti, causing widespread damage and loss of life estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Architecture for Humanity, the international non-profit design services organization, has already begun working with local Non-governmental Organizations to support the rebuilding effort. An appeal is being made to the architectural community for the supply of construction and design professionals as well as support in the provision of earthquake resistant housing and community structures. To contribute to the rebuilding effort, visit http://architectureforhumanity.org/donate/form?program=hati. For update on the situation in Haiti, you can go to http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/updates/2010-01-13-haiti-quake-appeal-update-massive-quake-and-aftershocks-caus.

Laurie Olin on Landscape Architecture

H.J. Webb and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture are pleased to present as pat of the 2009-2010 lecture series, “Civic Delight” with Laurie Olin FASLA RLA. Olin, a Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, is also a successful author and highly-regarded landscape architect. His portfolio of award-winning projects includes Bryant Park in New York and the J. Paul Getty Centre in Los Angeles. In 2008, his Philadelphia-based firm received the 2008 Landscape Design Award from the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for excellence in landscape design and dedication to sustainability. This free lecture takes place on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at the UBC Forest Science Centre.

Canadian Design Exhibition

AIBC registrants are invited to the opening of High Performance: Evolution and Innovation in Canadian Design. It takes place Tuesday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. at Charles H. Scott Gallery at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, 1399 Johnston, Granville Island, Vancouver. The exhibition was designed by Campos Leckie Studio and Oliver Neumann in collaboration with the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture as well as the Design and Computation Group at the University of Toronto. inter/section, the exhibition installation, demonstrates the potential of contemporary wood fabrication technologies to generate formal variation from standardized wood construction materials within the constraints of material efficiency, ease of assembly/disassembly, and adaptive reuse. High Performance: The Evolution and Innovation in Canadian Design is presented with support of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

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.

Webinar: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 11:00 am – 12:00 noon

How do we maintain livability in the region while advancing sustainability? Presented by Johnny Carline, CAO/Chief Administrative Officer – Metro Vancouver. He and other Metro Vancouver staff will be available for the “question and answer” portion of the webinar. To register for this free event, visit https://metrovancouver.webex.com/mw0306l/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=metrovancouver.

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/

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.

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.

Creative Hope for a Troubled 'hood

By Marsha Lederman, Globe and Mail
January 12, 2010

Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is a subject the city's artists have returned to again and again: Roy Arden's photography, Rebecca Belmore's performance art, Chris Haddock's Da Vinci's Inquest . Now, art is poised to serve not simply as a reflection of the neighbourhood but as an agent for change, with a large, innovative arts complex set to open in the heart of the troubled area. More …

Vancouver Engineers its Own Urban Dream

By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
January 12, 2010

Reporting from Vancouver, Canada - William Rees spent much of his childhood on his grandfather's farm in the province of Ontario. What struck him once, after a day of working in the fields, was the sudden realization that everything on the dinner table -- the chicken, the milk, the carrots -- he had helped produce. More …

State Adopts Greenest Building Codes in U.S.

By Marisa Lagos, San Francisco Chronicle
January 13, 2010

Newly constructed hospitals, schools, shopping malls and homes in California will be some of the greenest in the world, after a state commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the most stringent, environmentally friendly building code standards of any state in the nation. More …

The Gallery in the City

By Sean Ruthen MAIBC MRAIC, re:place Magazine
January 13, 2010

In April of last year, people in Toronto lined up for three consecutive days to be the first to see the newly reopened Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The seven year project was the vision of the late Kenneth Thompson, a prominent Toronto businessman and gallery supporter, as well as gallery CEO Matthew Teitelbaum and architect Frank Gehry, and with the cutting of the ribbon, the $276 million renovation added nearly one hundred thousand square feet to the hundred year old institution. With a similar project currently set to open in Edmonton - as the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) underwent a two year renovation by architect Randall Stout (coincidentally a former architect at Frank Gehry’s office), adding 85,000 square feet to their existing gallery for the much more modest sum of $88 million - it would seem that many city’s across Canada are renovating their ‘cultural infrastructure’, as we here in Vancouver will likewise soon see a major renovation of our art gallery. More …

Clip-on Architecture: Reforesting Cities

by Vanessa Keith, Urban Omnibus
January 13, 2010

Much of the literature related to the role of the built environment in climate change has focused on new technologies and new ideas which might be implemented in new buildings. Tabula rasa eco-cities trumpeting their green credentials and high levels of environmental sustainability are being planned in the U.S., China, and Abu Dhabi, among other places, and green is the word of the day. Despite these ambitious plans for new cities, one might ask, with all the urban fabric which currently exists, why build at all, and most especially on such a massive scale? More …

Flawed Building Likely a Big Element

By Henry Fountain, New York Times
January 13, 2010

Engineers and architects who have worked in or visited Haiti say that substandard design, inadequate materials and shoddy construction practices likely contributed to the collapse of many buildings in the earthquake that struck Tuesday. Cameron Sinclair, executive director of Architecture for Humanity, a nonprofit design group based in San Francisco, said he was “horrified” when he visited Port-au-Prince and Gonaïves last October to assess the quality of construction there. More …

Surrey Has Ambitious Future in Its Sights

By Brian Lewis, The Province
January 14, 2010

If we want a stronger Canada as well as stronger provinces, then our cities have to be stronger, too. That's the way Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts sees it, even though our cities receive only about eight cents out of every tax dollar Canadians pay. More …

 

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