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AIBC members are invited to take part in “Designing Inside the Box,” a special design project of IDSWest 2009, taking place September 17-20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. More...
If you have trouble viewing this page, please click here.
AIBC members are invited to take part in “Designing Inside the Box,” a special design project of IDSWest 2009, taking place September 17-20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. More...
The early bird deadline for registrations to the 9th Annual Architecture Foundation of British Columbia Golf Tournament has been extended to August 7. This year's event takes place Friday, September 4, 2009 at the University Golf Club at the University of British Columbia. Players of all abilities are welcome to join in the fun and camaraderie – all in support of the AFBC. This major fundraising event supports the foundation and its dedication to the awareness, understanding and appreciation of the contribution architecture makes in our communities. Funds raised also help the foundation to support new architects and emerging firms through its various programs.
In addition, some sponsorship opportunities are still available. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of this event. Sponsorships will be filled on a first come, first served basis. For more information on registration, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please contact
Margo Johnston at: margo.johnston@shaw.ca.
Thank-you to our sponsors:
The AIBC recently moved to a new database. One of the changes resulting from this upgrade pertains to the log-in for the “Member Access” section of the AIBC web site, including the self-reporting of learning units. If you have bookmarked the old CES Reporting page, please do not use it to enter your self-reports. As of July 23, 2009, if you self-report using the old link, your self-reports will not be received and will not be entered into your transcript.
Your personal AIBC identification number is no longer being used as your log-in identification and password. Your new log-in I.D. and password can be obtained by going to the “Member Log-in” webpage, clicking on “Forgot your Log-in ID”, and specifying the e-mail address to which you would like the new password sent. Please note: this address must match the e-mail address the AIBC has for you in its database. If you do not have a current e-mail address on file, or if your e-mail address has changed recently and you have not updated your file, the system will deliver an error message. If your e-mail address has changed recently, please send the updated information to membership@aibc.ca prior to attempting to log in.
The AIBC Intern Architect Update is now an online blog. Revised regularly, the blog provides the latest information on IA courses, preparation seminars and examinations. Visitors can also post comments on an interactive message forum. To subscribe, please visit the site at http://internupdate.blogspot.com/.
The second edition of the Canadian Handbook of Practice (CHOP) is now available online. This new edition contains more than 50 checklists along with updated references and current practice advice. The PDF download can be purchased through the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s order centre (https://www.raic.org/chop/registration/registration.cfm) at a cost of $75 to licensed architects, intern architects and architecture students. A CD-ROM and printed version will be available later this summer.
Deadline: July 30, 2009
This project is well-intentioned and of interest to members. However, having reviewed the above-noted RFP, the AIBC is obliged to issue the following cautions. Among several concerns, as stated under the RFP’s General Conditions (article 16.0), are:
Item 16.1 – Design: the consultant may not reasonably “warrant and guarantee(s) that the permanent work is, and will be, free from all defects”.
Item 16.18 – Termination of Contract: the notion that the city may terminate the contract at its sole discretion, at any time and on any contract provision, is one-sided.
Item 16.19 – Payment on Termination: the provision that “On termination of the contract, the City shall not be obliged to pay the Consultant for any amounts under the Contract until the work is completed” is patently unfair.
Item 16.20 – Completion Costs: the stipulation that, In the event of termination, “the City may procure services similar to those so terminated and the Consultant shall be liable to the City for any excess costs for such services” is unwarranted.
Proposals that comply with the RFP as written would place architects and their firms in jeopardy as to business risk, professional conduct and insurability. Specific attention is drawn to AIBC Bylaw 28 and the related Code of Ethics, as well as Bulletin 64 regarding proposal calls and related issues.
These concerns have been shared with the City of Burnaby,
Michael Ernest MAIBC
Director of Professional Practice
The AIBC maintains a list of available mentors as a resource for new Intern Architects. If you are interested in being a mentor, please click here for the ember roster form. The information you provide will be included on a list made available to potential IAs upon request. As a mentor, you may self-report one non-core learning unit per IA, per year, under the category of professional service. Please check the Intern Blog at http://internupdate.blogspot.com/ for more information.
For those registrants wishing to complete the AIBC’s Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP), now is your chance. Follow the link to our Professional Development web page and check out the scheduled dates as well as the course descriptions. These courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out. Send in your completed registration form as early as possible for each course. The next offering is: BEEP Module II Building Science: Theory, Design, and Practice, scheduled September 17-18, 2009
6 Core LUs
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
Chinatown: Then and Now
Join Larry Wong for an intimate tour of Vancouver’s Chinatown. You’ll hear intriguing stories of the buildings and people that make up one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods. It happens on Wednesday, August 5, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Participants will meet in front of the Millennium Gate (south side of Pender Street at Taylor). Reserve early as the tour is limited to 30 people. The cost if $15 a person ($10 for Heritage Vancouver members). For more information and to register, please visit www.heritagevancouver.org or e-mail info@heritagevancouver.org.
2 Non-core LUs
Stoneology Seminar
The Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) is pleased to present Stoneology, a one-day seminar for architects, designers, and specification writers.
Sessions include:
Stone 101: Stone Quarrying, Selection, Selling, and Proper Application
Stone 201: Stone Testing, Specifying, Fabrication, and Install Recommendations
Care and Maintenance of Stone
Green Issues of Natural Stone
Two seminar dates are available: Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8. They take place at the TTMAC offices, 108- 3650 Bonneville Place, Burnaby, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. AIBC members are eligible for the same special pricing as TTMAC members. For more information or to register, please see the online registration form or call Len Tompkins at 1-800-201-8599.
6 Core LUs
Sustainable Community Development Certificate
“Sustainable community development” refers to developing the varied dimensions of a community as well as the land and environment upon which it depends. The Simon Fraser University City Program and the Centre for Sustainable Community Development offer a certificate designed to give you the practical information you need today. Delivered by the most experienced consultants and instructors available, this flexible program is comprised of eight two- and three-day intensive courses that can be completed in 10 months. The certificate is based on a six-point Community Capital Tool, developed by S.F.U. Professor Mark Roseland, which recognizes that sustainable communities seek solutions and strategies that advance six areas of community capital: physical, ecological, social, human, cultural, and economic. For more details and to register, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/scd-sustain.htm
Courses qualify for Core and Non-core LUs.
Old School: Courses for Building Conservation
This award-winning program brings theory and practice together and emphasizes hands-on learning. To complete the certificate, participants must take the core course Heritage 101: Understanding Heritage Conservation and seven elective courses. For a complete 2009 course listing, click here.
July 2009
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Submissions from three of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s awards programs will be on display at the AIBC Gallery for the month of July. This exhibit features award-winning projects from three programs:
2009 RAIC Awards of Excellence: Bestowed every two years recognizing the greatest achievement in the following categories: Allied Arts Medal, Innovation in Architecture, Advocate for Architecture, Architectural Firm and Green Building;
2008 Governor General's Medal's in Architecture: Recognizing outstanding achievement in recently built projects by Canadian architects. This program, administered jointly with the Canada Council for the Arts every two years, contributes to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increases public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society; and
2008 National Urban Design Awards: Part of a two-tier program held in cooperation with major metropolitan centres in Canada, recipients are previous year's winners from participating municipalities.
August 7 – 31, 2009
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Winning entries from the recently-held FormShift Ideas Competition will be on display at the AIBC Gallery from August 7-31. FormShift Vancouver saw the Architectural Institute of British Columbia teaming with the City of Vancouver to present an exciting new ideas competition that will help shape the changing face of the city. FormShift Vancouver invited architects, designers and anyone else with creative flair to submit innovative built form ideas. Come view recipients in the Vancouver Primary, Vancouver Secondary, Vancouver Wildcard categories, as well as those earning honourable mentions. For more information, please visit www.formshiftvancouver.ca.
Club AIBC, the official corporate benefits program for AIBC registrants, provides valuable insider discounts on a variety of products and services. Based on registrant feedback, the program is expanding its roster of corporate partners during the summer months. AIBC registrants can take advantage of new discounts on hotels, golfing, and numerous travel and leisure opportunities. Please check http://www.aibc.intrd.com for complete details.
Based on customer feedback, BC Codes is pleased to offer a consolidation of all BC Code 2006 changes for the BC Building Code binder (including Plumbing Services). This new product includes all amendments made to the BC Building Code up to April 2009. The amendments are provided as replacement pages with instructions for insertion into the BC Building Code binder. Also included is a new tab for Part 10. The cost of the package is $16.95 each plus GST, which covers publishing, printing and shipping. Please note: this updated package is available to the BC Building Code Binder (including Plumbing Services) only. Also, the errata and revisions will continue to be available free of charge at http://www.bccodes.ca/errata_revisions.htm. To place an order, visit http://www.crownpub.bc.ca/pubdetail.aspx?nato=7680002898 or call 1-800-663-6105. Please reference product number 7680002898.
The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) has released its 2009 list of Top Ten Endangered Places as well as its Worst Losses list, drawing attention to 17 architectural and heritage sites in Canada either threatened with demolition or already lost. The Top Ten Endangered Places list, compiled from nominations and news reports, includes one B.C. offering: Vancouver’s Pantages Theatre. Heritage Canada Foundation is a national, membership-based, non-profit organization with a mandate to promote the preservation of Canada’s historic buildings and places. For detailed information, visit http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/news/new.html#July7_09.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards will increase the fees for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) effective October 1, 2009. The new fee for each division will be $210 (U.S.), an increase of $40. This increase is due in part to recent incidents of examination content disclosure by ARE candidates. The NCARB was forced to replace a substantial amount of examination content that was posted online, as well as add two full-time staff members to monitor and investigate examination disclosures and copyright violations.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is updating its Intern Development Program (IDP) requirements to more closely align with the current practice of architecture. The new program requirements, which will be rolled out as “IDP 2.0,” will help ensure that interns acquire the comprehensive training that is essential for competent practice, and will make reporting experience fundamentally easier. The first phase of the three-phase program introduction happens this July. Detailed information is available through the NCARB web site: http://www.ncarb.org/.
AIBC members are invited to take part in a special design project at the upcoming IDSWest 2009 industry and consumer show, September 17-20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Sponsored by the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia and Western Living Magazine, “Designing Inside the Box” is your chance to share your original West Coast take on creating a unique space – one that makes people think. The catch? Each space will be contained within a shipping container. Originally intended for the design community, the invitation has now been extended to architects. Turn loose your imagination and tap into your creativity. For more information and to register, visit www.idswest.com.
The BC Cultural Crawl is a showcase of arts, culture and heritage taking place throughout the month of August in more than 90 British Columbia communities. You are invited to take part, beginning with a self-guided tour of province-wide, community-initiated events: music, theatre and dance performances, visual arts, festivals, museum and heritage exhibitions, culinary arts and more. Using the self-guided online resource, browse through the month’s local events, cultural crawls, and community art walks. Access itineraries, maps and other resources needed to plan your own exploration. Go to www.art-bc.com.
AIBC members are invited to take part in Resilient Cities: Urban Strategies for Transition Times, an upcoming Gaining Ground conference being held in association with Smart Growth BC and in collaboration with the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics. It happens October 20-22, 2009 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. With North American cities facing transformational challenges in sustainability, economy, and urban management, they are scrambling to comprehend and manage the shift toward ecological practices and greater resilience. Sustainability imperatives, the call for climate action, the prospect of a quickly shifting energy future, pressure for new approaches in almost every urban system, and the shock of the economic downturn are all part of the equation. This conference will explore strategies to make cities more robust, and will enable participants to advance their thinking on three key subjects:
For more information, please visit www.gaininggroundsummit.com
Construction has begun on the Green Dream Home demonstration project, an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home being built in Kamloops. The project is one of 15 chosen through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative, which encourages builders and developers to build the next generation of sustainable housing in Canada. It is being done through the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior in partnership with Thompson Rivers University. The design work is being done by architectural and engineering technology students at TRU. The Kamloops home, the first demonstration home of its kind in British Columbia, will integrate optimal solar orientation, energy efficiency and renewable energy systems into its design and construction, in addition to using natural materials with low levels of pollutants. To reduce water use, rainwater will be captured and drought-resistant native plants will be used on the site. The Green Dream Home will be built primarily by TRU students as part of their training program. Once completed, the home will be open for public tours and then raffled off to raise funds for a local charity. CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative provides a new approach to housing in Canada, striving to balance housing needs with environmental concerns. For more information, visit CMHC’s website at www.cmhc.ca.
The creative spirit of Arthur Erickson still resides in the unique, tranquil and secret garden behind a cedar fence on the Point Grey property where the world-renowned architect resided for more that half a century. The beautiful yet informal garden conveys Japanese and West Coast design influences with a large reflecting pond, typical of Erickson’s work. The Arthur Erickson House and Garden Foundation, a charitable non-profit society incorporated in 1993 to acquire the Erickson house and garden, is working with the City of Vancouver to acquire heritage designation and restoration, thereby protecting the property as a place of education and inspiration for future generations. To support this effort, the foundation is opening the garden for guided public tours at set times until October 29. Admission is $10, and advanced notice is required. For further information and tour reservations, please call (604) 738-4195 or e-mail aegarden@telus.net.
This year’s World Architecture Festival takes place from November 4 - 6, 2009 in Barcelona. Submissions are now being accepted for its prestigious awards program. In addition to the Completed Buildings category, event organizers have added three new sections from which to choose: Future Projects, Interiors and Fit Out, and Structural Design. For more information and to enter, visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.
The Cultural Development Network and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University are pleased to present "ReGenerating Community: Arts, Community and Governance National Conference" this coming September in Melbourne, Australia. This international conference will discuss local governments responses to creating new models of civic engagement. Submissions for conference papers and presentation are now being accepted. Conference themes include:
For additional information including the Call for Presentations form, visit the conference web site at http://www.cdn-generations.net.au/conference.htm
The organizers of Interior Design Show West are accepting entries for an open design competition that will be an exciting new part of IDSwest 2009 this September in Vancouver. PREFAB 20/20, building on existing concepts for pre-built structures, is intended to push the boundaries of architecture on the West Coast. It challenges architects to share their visions for a 400 sq. ft. home. A 20 ft. by 20 ft. space has been set aside at the tradeshow to highlighting select entries. PREFAB 20/20 is sponsored by IDSwest, AZURE magazine, the AIBC, and Architecture For Humanity. For detailed information on the competition as well as other highlights from IDSwest 2009, go to www.idswest.com/prefab.php.
World Architecture News is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural WAN Urban Design Sector Award 2009. This is the latest in WAN’s bi-monthly “Excellence in Design” award program, building on the success of its previous Education, Healthcare and Civic contests. This is an international competition that will be judged by a top-level panel headed up by Alastair Lansley, architect of London's stunning St. Pancras Station. Submissions are invited for projects in the transport, infrastructure, urban design, landscape and public realm areas in two categories: Completed and Unbuilt. The closing date for submissions is August 31, 2009. For additional information and to register, go to http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.urbanenterpage
The association for Applied Science Technologists and Technician of British Columbia is accepting nominations for its 2009 awards. ASTTBC Awards are intended to recognize and honor ASTTBC members, as well as individuals and organizations in the B.C. science and technology community, who have selflessly supported the association through volunteering or have made significant contributions to technology or the profession of technology. Nominations are welcomed from both ASTTBC members as well as non-members, and non-members are eligible for some of the awards. For more information or to nominate a deserving person, click here. The deadline for nominations is August 1, 2009.
British Columbia architecture students are encouraged to participate in “Brick-stainable: Re-Thinking Brick”, an international design competition sponsored by Potomac Valley Brick. Current “green” and “living” building initiatives acknowledge the importance of integrated design solutions to achieve sustainability goals. This competition seeks to explore the potential of brick construction in the creation of an energy efficient building and challenges design teams to maximize the physical characteristics of this construction in the creation of integrated design solutions. The project involves creating a hypothetical guest house utilizing brick that is a model of energy efficiency. By exploring the thermal qualities of clay masonry construction, designers are asked to create a net-zero energy building utilizing this as a primary material. A reputable jury will select winners in two distinct award categories: Whole Building Design and Technical Design, with nearly $30,000 in prize money to be given out. The deadline for entries is October 30, 2009. For registration and details, including site description and drawing, visit the competition web site at www.brick-stainable.com.
By Mimi Zeiger, ARCHITECT Magazine
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
After I graduated from college in 1994 and moved back home to the Bay Area, my dad handed me a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute? A practical electrical engineer with his own business, he was well aware that the construction industry was stymied by recession. With a new B.Arch. degree and a portfolio of conceptual drawings, I was hungry to enter the design profession and dismissive of any job-hunting manual. My summer was spent sending out dozens of résumés to firms. More …
TV New Zealand
July 28, 2009
Senior architects from New Zealand and Japan can now become registered architects in each other's countries under a new fast track registration arrangement. The access arrangement has been negotiated under the APEC Architect Framework and means senior Japanese architects who have been awarded the APEC Architect title in Japan can be registered in New Zealand by a much simpler and quicker procedure. More …
Canadian architectural firm Diamond + Schmitt has signed on to build Russia's first major opera house since the time of the czars, in the coveted $452-million revamp project for the Mariinsky Theatre
By James Adams, Globe and Mail
July 29, 2009
Jack Diamond normally isn't a vodka man. But he certainly was yesterday as he celebrated the Russian government's announcement that the Canadian architect had won an international competition to design one of the world's most sought-after commissions, the new Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Mr. Diamond, 76, was in the former Russian capital to hear the good news from some of Russia's most powerful politicians, including the ministers of economic development and culture, as well as Valery Gergiev, the influential and energetic artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre who first encouraged Mr. Diamond's company, Diamond + Schmitt Architects of Toronto, to vie for the commission. More …
By Tim Abrahams, Blueprint Magazine
July 29, 2009
We are still three years away from the London Olympics and already it looks like the buildings housing the infrastructure will be the best architecture to come out of the event. While the drama of Zaha Hadid’s pool is drained away by continual value engineering, the electricity substation by UK practice Nord will be completed this summer and will start functioning in 2010. It will set an impressive standard. A beautifully textured brick box that hides transformers and coolers; suited both to the semi-industrial context of the Lea Valley and to the architecture of London’s Victorian parks. More …
By Felicity Barringer, New York Times
July 29, 2009
Returning to their ranch-style house in Sacramento after a long summer workday, Jon and Kim Waldrep were routinely met by a wall of heat. “We’d come home in the summer, and the house would be 115 degrees, stifling,” said Mr. Waldrep, a regional manager for a national company. More …
Architectural Institute of British Columbia
100 - 440 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2N5
Tel: (604) 683-8588 toll free in BC 1-800-667-0753
Fax: (604) 683-8568 or toll free in BC 1-800-661-2955
info@aibc.ca
for staff contacts click here
