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Winners and other submissions for the 2010 Annual AIBC Architectural Awards will be on display at the AIBC Gallery this spring. More...

May 14 2010

AIBC Homepage

2010/2011 AIBC Council

The institute has a new governing council following its annual meeting on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Pierre E. Gallant MAIBC AAA MRAIC has been re-elected as President for the coming year. Other officers include Gordon C. Richards MAIBC MRAIC (Vice President), Tim Spiegel B.Sc. (QS) PQS (Treasurer), and Scott Kemp MAIBC MRAIC (Registrar). Veronica Gillies MAIBC MRAIC has been re-elected to council, while Joan Hendriks MAIBC and Lynne Werker MAIBC are newly-elected.

The four Liaisons to council, representing the three associate categories of Architectural Technologist, Building Designer / Residential Designer, Intern Architect, and representing the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC) include Michael Currie AT.AIBC, David E. Boswell BD.AIBC AScT, Nathaniel Nacionales IA.AIBC and Keath Seeton RID (Fellow).

Click here for a complete listing of 2010 / 2011 AIBC council members.

Click here to see the schedule for 2010 / 2011 council meetings.

2010 AIBC Annual Conference

Once again, the AIBC Annual Conference has been a big success. Appreciation goes out to all who participated, supported or otherwise contributed to that success.

A very special thank-you to our valued sponsors and exhibitors:

sponsor logos

In Passing: Desmond J. Parker

Desmond Parker MAIBC passed away peacefully on May 3, 2010 following a lengthy illness. He was 79.

Parker was an architect and city planner. Born in Australia, he graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1952 with his Bachelor of Architecture degree before acquired a post-graduate diploma in town and regional planning in 1954. In 1957 he arrived in Prince George via Vancouver in 1957. There he practiced architecture for 50 years. Parker came to be regarded as a driving force in Prince George. He was responsible for Prince George City Hall, major portions of Prince George Regional Hospital, the Victoria Medical Building, Prince George YMCA, St. Giles Church and St Michael’s Church. He was also the principle planner for the upstart communities of Houston and Mackenzie.

In 1989, Parker was appointed University Architect for the University of British Columbia, where he was responsible for selecting firms and individuals involved with the university’s $250 million, five-year expansion. He later returned to Prince George to serve as University Architect when the University of Northern British Columbia was established. In 2008, the institute awarded Parker the honorary title of “Life Member of the AIBC” in recognition of 30 years continuous membership.

He is survived by his daughter Sherry (Brian). A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 10, 1:00 p.m. at St Michael's and All Angels Church, 1505 - 5th Avenue. Prince George. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donation may do so to a memorial scholarship being established with School District 57, or to the Prince George Symphony.

2009 AIBC Annual Report

The 2009 AIBC Annual is now available in digital format on the AIBC web site. Click here to access the online PDF.

Continuing Education System Audit Results

In accordance with AIBC Council policy, up to 5% of registrants are randomly selected at the end of each reporting period and asked to provide back-up documentation of their self-reported learning activities. I am pleased to report that the recently completed audit for the reporting period that concluded on June 30, 2009, revealed 100% compliance. This result demonstrates the high professional standards and level of commitment to professional development held by AIBC registrants. Thanks to all for your cooperation.

Maura Gatensby MAIBC
Director of Professional Services

New Staff Member

The AIBC is pleased to announce that Emily Tyler has joined the institute as Registration, Licensing and Administrative Assistant. Through this role, Emily will be supporting both the Registration & Licensing and Administration/Finance departments. She will be the primary AIBC contact person for applicants seeking information about registration or licensing. Emily will also provide primary support services for Intern Architects filing CERB hours, logging examination results, and applying for assessments. Finally, she will also assist the Administration/Finance department with bookkeeping and accounts receivable processing. Welcome Emily.

2010 NCARB ARE Preparation Seminars - Revised Schedule

Over the coming months, the AIBC Intern Architect Committee will be holding a series of free ARE preparation seminars to help IAs prepare for the NCARB ARE exams. These seminars will be held approximately every two weeks, and will generally run from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the AIBC Architecture Centre (#100 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver). Click here for seminar topics, dates and times.

The seminars are designed to provide strategies and other tips for each exam. They are not intended to cover specific exam content. IAs will find it helpful to have some familiarity with exam materials and some experience with the graphic practice program prior to attending each respective seminar.

The next seminar will be Structural Systems on Monday, on Monday May 17, 2010, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Reservations to registration@aibc.ca are encouraged but not mandatory. For more information, please contact Manager of Registration and Licensing Roisin O'Neill at roneill@aibc.ca. Note: Schedule subject to change.

Fine-tuning Your Practice: The Practice Consultation Service Answers Your Questions at This Year’s Annual Conference

The AIBC Practice Consultation Service has proven to be tremendously successful, providing feedback to firms of all ages and sizes with respect to their standard office practices, and addressing questions relating to a variety of firm management topics. In kind, participating firms have provided their own valuable reflections on the process itself. The PCS has given them with a unique opportunity to step back and examine “the bigger picture”, and to ask more detailed questions relating to everyday practice management concerns.

At this year’s AIBC Annual Conference, the Practice Consultation Service Committee will address a number of PCS-related questions in an open forum intended to promote dialogue between practice consultants and fellow architects. Discover trends in practice management, design, and business process. Take home strategies for immediate implementation in your own work environment. Roundtable discussions will provide opportunities to share experiences in design firm management, including such topics as:

For more information about this session, or to learn more about the PCS and schedule a practice consultation, please contact Coordinator of Professional Practice Erica Holt  by phone (604-683-8588; ext. 314) or e-mail (eholt@aibc.ca).

Continuing Education Transcripts

Registrants required to report their professional development activities will have now received their second Continuing Education transcript for this reporting period, which includes all educational activities reported up to March 8, 2010. Please review your transcript to determine if it matches your own records. Should you have any questions, or if you believe that some learning units are incorrect or are missing, please e-mail Professional Development Coordinator Catherine Bolter (cbolter@aibc.ca) or Professional Development Coordinator Aleta Cho (acho@aibc.ca). The end of the Continuing Education System reporting period is June 30, 2010. Architects, Building Designers, Residential Designers and Architectural Technologists are required to report 18 learning units by this date, of which at least eight must be core learning units.

In the previous reporting period ending June 30, 2009, 89% of self reports were received online. Building on this success, we will be joining our colleagues in most of the rest of the country and going paperless; this current reporting period will be the last one in which paper copies will be accepted. As of July 1, 2010, all self-reports of learning activities must be reported online. If you need any assistance with online reporting, please contact Catherine or Aleta.

Maura Gatensby MAIBC
Director of Professional Services

Role Call: CACB

The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) was established in 1976 to assess and certify the academic qualifications of individuals holding a professional degree or diploma in architecture who intend to apply for registration. One of the roles of the CACB is the accreditation of schools of architecture in Canada, of which there are 10. Accreditation typically requires a self-evaluation on the part of the institution, followed by a site visit and review conducted by a team of volunteer architects. Site visits are typically five days during which the team reviews documentation, examines student and faculty exhibits, conducts open-ended interviews, and tours facilities to identify concerns that may not have been evident in the submitted report. The architects who visit these schools are volunteers under the direction of the CACB.  Members of visiting teams are charged with assessing the program's conformance with the CACB conditions, and with making a confidential recommendation on a term of accreditation to the CACB directors. Volunteers contribute their time, and are reimbursed for expenses. With eight Canadian schools due for accreditation visits over the next three years, the CACB is urgently seeking additional volunteers from across the country to increase the pool of people who can undertake the accreditation visits. If you are interested, please contact Mourad Mohand-Said, Executive Director of the CACB at info@cacb-ccca.ca. For additional information, visit http://www.cacb-ccca.ca.

Course Cancellation: BEEP Module V

Due to insufficient registration, the BEEP Module V scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2010 has been cancelled. The next offering is BEEP Module II Building Science: Theory, Design & Practice, scheduled for Thursday-Friday, June 3-4, 2010 (12 Core LUs). For scheduled dates and course descriptions of other upcoming BEEP courses, follow the link http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html. BEEP courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out. Send in your registration form as early as possible for each course.

Building Envelope Education Program Course Registration

For those registrants wishing to complete the AIBC’s Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP), now is your chance. Follow the link http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html and check out the course descriptions and scheduled dates. You can also access it from the AIBC home page. Click on "Course Registration" under Quick Links and register online. These courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out.

BEEP Module I:

Building Science and the Building Envelope (Available Online)

Topics for Module I include:

For more information, please contact Professional Development Coordinator Catherine Bolter at cbolter@aibc.ca or (604) 683-8588, extension 312.

18 Core LUs

courselistings

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


AIBC Vancouver Island Chapter Meeting

Modular Interior Construction Solutions
DIRTT (Doing it Right This Time) is a unique architectural modular wall company that provides a multitude of installations including for corporate, commercial, healthcare, retail, government and educational facilities. DIRTT refers to creating sustainable, successful workspaces by vastly improving the speed, precision, agility and custom abilities of modular interior construction. Several projects have been completed in Victoria, and this June Edge Office Solutions will be installing four floors of modular walls for BC Ferries at the Atrium. The meeting takes place Wednesday, May 26, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. at Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street. Please confirm attendance by May 24 to John Coe at jmcoe@shaw.ca.

1 Core LU

Simon Fraser University City Program

Acting Local: Municipal Government Responses to Climate Change (Kamloops)
In addition to development permit powers, what can local government do to meet ambitious greenhouse-gas reduction targets? This course will use a “climate change” lens to review a broad range of existing local government bylaws. For instance, do siting regulations prevent the positioning of a building to take maximum advantage of solar exposure? Is there still a bylaw on the books requiring the clearing of vegetation from vacant lots? Are there too many incentives in the zoning bylaw to demolish and replace existing buildings instead of adaptively re-using them? The one-day course will also explore new types of bylaw provisions, describing their scope and potential application to energy or water conservation as well as greenhouse gas reduction; providing core bylaw wording; identifying typical bylaw drafting and enforcement issues; and providing links to existing local government bylaws. The course is co-sponsored by the Planning Institute of British Columbia. It takes place Monday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Coast Canadian Inn, 339 St. Paul Street, Kamloops. The cost is $325 (GST included). For details or to register, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/course14popup.htm.

6 Non-core LUs

Free Public Lecture: Toward a “Just” Sustainability
Sustainability is often thought of as “science”. Presenter Julian Agyeman, professor and chair of Urban & Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, will argue that we have the science of sustainability, but what is missing is the “social science”: how to get people, policy makers, planners and politicians invested in and able to make change. To do this, we must take seriously the social justice and equity implications of sustainability. The event is sponsored by Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), Simon Fraser University Centre for Sustainable Community Development. and the S.F.U. City Program. It takes place May 5, 7:00 p.m. at SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Admission is free. As seating is limited, reservations are required. Reserve at www.sfu.ca/reserve.

2 Non-core LUs

Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers

Teaming with BIM: Do the Rewards Outweigh the Risks?
This seminar will bring together industry experts to discuss various applications and experiences of using BIM on actual projects. The focus of the seminar will be on the following areas:

It happens Thursday, May 20 at the Holiday Inn, 711 West Broadway, Vancouver. The session fee is $95 for members, $145 for non-members, or $255 for new members which includes a 2010 membership. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.bccr.net/upcoming_events.html.

2.5 Core LUs

Heritage Vancouver

Heritage Vancouver and the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC present A Historic Walking Tour of Jewish Strathcona and Gastown  In the 1880s and 1890s, the town of Granville quickly became the city of Vancouver following the arrival of the transcontinental railway. Jewish settlers participated in the city’s economic growth, political incorporation and cultural development. Jewish businesses opened in Gastown, and a wave of Eastern European immigration from the 1890s to the 1920s made Strathcona the new centre of British Columbia’s Jewish population. In Strathcona, Eastern European Jewish immigrants shared a language, religion, and concerns common to new immigrants in a foreign land. They soon established a synagogue, a mikvah (ritual bath), and cheder (Hebrew school) to meet their religious needs. Join Molly Winston, Education Coordinator for the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, and discover the landmarks, architecture and events of early Jewish Gastown and Strathcona. Winston will share anecdotes of Jewish daily life in the area. It takes place Sunday, May 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. The cost is $15 ($10 for Heritage Vancouver members) and includes a copy of the “In the Footsteps of Jewish Vancouver, 1886-2006” guidebook. Participants will meet at the corner of East Pender Street and Heatley Avenue, in front of the original Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. Space is limited to 30 people so purchase your ticket early.

2 Non-core LUs


Powell Street: A Walk into the History & Future of the Japanese Canadian Community

Join Heritage Vancouver on a guided walk through old Japantown led by Judy Inouye and Ray Ota, volunteers at the Japanese Canadian National Museum. Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with this historical tour back in time to the pre-war, bustling community of Japanese Canadians who lived and worked in the area. See where Japanese-style bath houses, tofu makers, the Maikawa Department Store and many other successful businesses anchored the community.  The date is Saturday, May 29, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Heritage Vancouver members), and the tour is limited to 30 people. Meet at 220 Jackson Street in front of the Japanese Buddhist Church. For more information or to purchase your ticket, visit http://www.heritagevancouver.org or e-mail info@heritagevancouver.org.

2 Non-core LUs

Wood Specialties Lunch and Learn

The British Columbia Wood Specialties Group invites you to a lunch-and-learn seminar in Victoria on Tuesday, May 18. This event will provide an overview of BC’s entire value-added wood products industry. Attendees will gain a better understanding of available products, environmental and green issues, and access to information relative to BC’s value-added wood industry. Representatives of B.C. Wood Specialties Group, a not-for-profit trade association representing the province’s value-added wood products manufacturing industry, will be joined by:

This free, two-hour seminar (lunch included) takes place at the Ambrosia Conference & Event Centre, 683 Fisgard Street. Architects are welcome to invite associates or clients they feel would benefit from attending this seminar. Please r.s.v.p. to Roy Manion at rmanion@bcwood.com.

2 Core LUs

Construction Specifications Canada

Breakfast Meeting: Specifications & LEED

This presentation will review some best practices with respect to writing specifications for LEED® projects and avoiding some common pitfalls, with a discussion of shared experiences and lessons learned. The information presented has been gained from years of experience working on a wide variety of LEED® projects including residential, institutional, commercial and industrial. Guest speaker Brenda Martens, a principal of Recollective Consulting, has 19 years experience in the building industry working on projects throughout British Columbia. It takes place Thursday, May 20, 2010, 7:00 a.m. at The Executive Hotel Vintage Park, 1379 Howe Street, Vancouver. To register, visit www.csc-vancouver.ca.

1 Core LU

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

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Renaissance Architecture and Restoring Strategies

The RAIC is offering two summer courses in Ferrara Italy on historic restoration and 21st  Century sustainable practices.

Renaissance Architecture and Restoring Strategies

This course offer a synthetic framework of the Renaissance innovations including art, architecture and cultural changes. The Renaissance in Italy went from the XIVth to the XVIIth century, with the climax in the first half of the XVIth Century, when all around Europe the papacy was a strong catalyst to the artistic production,  from architecture to the urban design, from art to literature, produced by many masters such as Palladio, Michelangelo and Raffaello. Ferrara, Italy has been one of the capitals of the papacy that, together with the dukedom, gave great support to massive examples of building innovations and elegant decorations. To safeguard and maintain this important building heritage, specific conservation policies and methods have been developed, testing innovative materials and techniques that will be presented during the course with lessons and guided on-site visits of private and public buildings.

21 Core LUs

 

Approach to Sustainable Architecture

The sustainable approach is now firmly joined with architecture all over the world. Italy has a growing experience of building design using an energy efficient approach, starting many years ago with a more “European” style coming from northern countries, resulting in a more “Mediterranean” strategy that includes both summer and winter evaluation in the building design. Research on sustainable architecture in Italy is following key ways: new performances for traditional materials and components (mainly applied to the refurbishment of buildings in the city centres); and the promotion of renewable energies through the upgrading of building envelopes and systems (to plan, improve and design new buildings). Italy is developing a specific background on the sustainable refurbishment of building heritage, merging its experience in restoration and conservation with the need for more efficient services and materials. Working primarily to maintain and manage their cultural real estate, Italian architects need to properly deal with the traditional using innovative technologies, testing with care the compatibility between energy requirements and historical matters. This course will give an outlook of the state of the art in Europe, with many national and international examples and showing how all issues are linked with energy efficiency and new trends for sustainable architecture that should be at the core of the environmental approach adopted for planning Expo 2015 in Milan.

21 Core LUs

For more information, please see the online PDF.

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

Upcoming Exhibit: 2010 Annual AIBC Architectural Awards

May 17 – June 7, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Winners and other submissions for the 2010 Annual AIBC Architectural Awards will be on display at the AIBC Gallery this spring. This year represented another record-breaking number of submissions across four award categories: The Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Awards in Architecture; The AIBC Innovation Award; The AIBC Special Jury Award; and the AIBC Emerging Firm Award. The AIBC Gallery is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Click here to view a slideshow of project submissions

clubaibc

Special Subscription Rate: Azure Magazine

This spring, Azure magazine, one of the leading magazines covering contemporary international architecture and design, is offering a special subscription offer to AIBC members. Each issue delivers readers inspiring ideas and cutting-edge innovations, from state-of-the-art green building to the latest in furniture and home accessories from around the globe. With this offer, you can receive eight issues of Azure (1 year’s worth) for only $20.00, taxes included. That's 40% off the regular subscription rate, and 70% off the newsstand price. Offer available to Canadian addresses only. To take advantage of this special offer, please sign up at: https://secure.indas.on.ca/care/azu/subscribe.php3?key=AAIBC10

BC Building Code Revisions for High-efficiency Plumbing Fixtures

Effective October 4, 2010, high-efficiency (4.8 litre) toilets or dual-flush toilets will be required in all new residential buildings (or when major renovations occur). In all other occupancies, the requirement for a maximum flush cycle of 6 litres will remain unchanged. Whenever urinals are installed, high-efficiency (1.9 litre) urinals will also be required. Information on the new standards can be found online at http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/consultation/het/index.htm. For further information, please contact Christine Webb, Senior Policy Advisor - Building and Safety Standards Branch - Ministry of Housing and Social Development (phone: 250-356-8165; fax: 250-387-8164; e-mail: Christine.A.Webb@gov.bc.ca).

New RAIC ED

The Royal Architecture Institute of Canada has announced the appointment of Jim McKee at the RAIC’s new executive director, effective July 19, 2010. McKee previous headed the Coalition for Cultural Diversity, involved in mobilizing cultural organizations in Canada and elsewhere in support of the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. He has also previous worked for the Writers Guild of Canada, Transport Canada, First City Trust and Deloitte & Touche. He replaces Jon Hobbs, who had held the position since 2001.

Review of New CSA Standard on Building Commissioning

The Canadian Standards Association is seeking public input on the first edition of a national standard on building commissioning. The CSA Z320 Building Commissioning Standard will provide a comprehensive process for validating and documenting the performance of a completed building and its systems. It applies to both new construction and renovations, and includes mechanical, electrical, vertical and horizontal transportation, control systems and architecture. The standard is open for public review for 60 days beginning March 10, 2010. To see the public review standard, visit https://review.csa.ca/opr/documents/3477Z320%20PR%20Draft%20March%202010.pdf. Comments can be submitted to Vanessa Mitchell at vanessa.mitchell@csa.ca.

2010 RAIC/SAA Festival of Architecture

Early bird registration for the RAIC/SAA Festival of Architecture, June 22 – 26 in Saskatoon, is available until Wednesday, May 19. After that, the full package price will increase by $100 to $850. When registering, be sure to scroll down to the Additional Tickets section for a ticket to the Jazz Festival Party on Saturday evening. Included in the ticket is great music, food and beverages all under a VIP tent in the historic Delta Bessborough Gardens. Reduced SAA room blocks are available at the Delta Bessborough (www.deltabessborough.com/sdra08) and the Hilton Garden Inn (www.hilton.com Group Code "SAADEL"). For more information, go to http://www.festival.raic.org/index_e.htm.

Edifice Exhibition

Heritage Vancouver and the City of Vancouver Archives are pleased to present Edifice – Exploring Art, Archives and Architecture featuring Vancouver artist Graham Winter. The exhibition is a multi-faceted exploration of early- to mid-20th Century downtown Vancouver buildings that represent the “modern” of the artist’s childhood and are now the subject of his latest series of realist paintings. The show is at the City of Vancouver Archives Gallery, 1150 Chestnut Street, from June 2 - August 26. You are also invited to attend an opening reception on Tuesday, June 1, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the gallery. Additional related events include a panel discussion, “Iconic Constructions, Iconic Reflections”, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday July 9 at the gallery; and “Downtown Vancouver in a New Light”, a guided walking tour on Saturday, June 12 beginning at 10:00 a.m.. Tickets for the walking tour are $25 ($20 for Heritage Vancouver members) at www.heritagevancouver.org. Admission to the Archives Gallery is free.

Sustainable Region Initiative

The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and Sustainability Community Breakfasts are outreach components of Metro Vancouver’s Sustainable Region Initiative (SRI). They involve a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help decision makers shape the future of the region by presenting a range of views and stimulating fresh thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labour and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, transportation, energy and agriculture. For more information, visit: http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/breakfasts/Pages/default.aspx.

Sustainability Community Breakfast
Topic: Taking Action: Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
Wednesday, May 20, 2010
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
British Columbia Institute of Technology Downtown Vancouver Campus, 555 Seymour Street

Climate change is a global issue that requires local action. Join us to hear about the successes and challenges experienced by the City of North Vancouver and Vancouver. Learn how Climate Smart and Metro Vancouver have partnered to offer training and tools for small and medium enterprises to reduce their GHG emissions. Featured speakers include: Mark Hartman, Building Energy Programs Manager, Sustainability Group - City of Vancouver; Eve Hou, Air Quality Planner - Metro Vancouver; Caroline Jackson, Environmental Coordinator - City of North Vancouver; and Elizabeth Sheehan, President - Climate Smart. To register, go to http://apps2.metrovancouver.org/sustainability/Smailing_list/EventRegistration.asp?EventID=13

Bike to Work Week

Bike to Work Week is May 31 – June 6, 2010. The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition encourages people to try biking to work, and celebrates with those who already do. Watch for commuter stations - celebratory pit stops along bike routes - where you can grab free food and drinks, bike maps, bike maintenance, and fabulous prizes. Participants are also eligible to win a new bike for recruiting the most co-workers or recording your commute online. Awards will also be given for workplaces with the highest participation, kilometers, and number of trips logged. Simply track your progress online. Visit www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca.

Public Forum: The Future of the Vancouver Art Gallery

AIBC registrants are invited to be part of the public dialogue on the proposed Vancouver Art Gallery relocation and its implications for the planning of civic space and a cultural precinct in Vancouver. The forum will be held on Thursday, May 20, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at the Robson Square Auditorium, 800 Robson Street. Panelists will include: Heather Deal, Councillor - City of Vancouver; Andrew Pask, Vancouver Public Space Network; and Gordon Price, Simon Fraser University City Program. This event is sponsored by the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning, Simon Fraser University City Program, and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada – Metro Vancouver Chapter.

Septessence

AIBC registrants are invited to Septessence, an upcoming art exhibition from the Federation of Canadian Artists. The exhibition features seven artists with seven spirits: Enda Bardell, Tanya Bone, Tony Yin Tak Chu, Sally Clark, Rose-Marie Goodwin, Gary Sim, and Helen Vokaty. The FCA Gallery is located at 1241 Cartright Street on Granville Island. The exhibit runs from June 1 -13, with an opening reception on Thursday, June 3, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. For further information, call (604) 681-8534 or visit http://sim-publishing.com/fcashow1.htm

Americas Convention of Civil Engineers

The Institution of Civil Engineers' 2010 Americas Convention comes to Richmond June 3 - 5, 2010.
Titled " Engineers @ the Heart of Society: Collaborating + Innovating for Our Common Future", it will focus on the growing need for collaboration across disciplines along with regional and global innovation. The conference will offer a mixture of serious discussions, inspiring examples, leading edge tools and provocative inquiry. It will open with a look at the challenges of low-carbon design. Other sessions will focus on climate change issues, sustainable development, innovation and globalization. To download a convention program and to register, visit http://ice-americasconvention2010.eventbrite.com/

Call to Design Professionals, Artists and Students: Green Revolution

In collaboration with the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, Leigh Square Community Arts Village in Port Coquitlam is compiling a multimedia exhibition that will examine the growing movement and impact of greening and sustainability in architecture, design and community practices. How can art and architecture be created that embraces or critiques the idea of “going green”? Showcase your current projects and future designs. Educate and promote a green future. Challenge yourself to work with alternative and recycled media in order to create an exhibition piece that has something to say about the “Green Revolution”. The exhibition will be held June 3 – July 26, 2010. The deadline for submissions is May 10, 2010. Entries can be made by e-mail to arts@portcoquitlam.ca, or via CD delivered to: Exhibition Committee, Leigh Square Community Arts Village, # 2100 - 2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C 3B8. For additional information, please visit http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/Dynamic/AssetFactory.aspx?did=8428 or contact Port Coquitlam Arts and Culture staff at 604.927.8442.

IDSwest 2010

Mark your calendars for the next Interior Design Show West, October 14-17, 2010 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. IDSwest is Western Canada’s premiere annual residential design show featuring 200 exhibitors showcasing quality products and services to an audience of architects, designers, industry professionals, consumers and media.   New program highlights this year include Future Masters, a showcase of young design talents and local design institutions; and Spare the Change, a design challenge with a $2 budget. For detailed information including speakers, exhibitors and schedule, keep an eye on the event web site at http://www.idswest.com/index.php.

CaGBC National Conference

The third annual Canadian Green Building Council National Conference takes place in Vancouver from June 8-10, and registrations are now being accepted. The theme for 2010 is Performance Matters: The next generation of buildings and communities, with sessions and workshops on how to foster an energy conservation and efficiency culture resulting in dramatic and permanent reduction in the use of electricity in new construction, existing home and commercial markets, and sustainable communities. Note: CaGBC Member pricing applies to AIBC registrants who attend the conference, and AIBC intern architects and student members are eligible for CaGBC student pricing (less than half price) by registering online. In addition, IAs and students are invited to attend the tradeshow free of charge on Thursday afternoon – simply provide the necessary identification at the registration desk. For more information and to register, go to http://www.cagbc.org/cagbc/conference/registration.php.

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:

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

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 at http://www.ip.uqam.ca/

Designers of the Year Awards

The deadline for entering WesternLiving magazine’s 2010 Designers of the Year Awards is Monday, May 17. Architects, designers and other creative types with portfolios containing at least three pieces of work are invited to enter any of the award categories, which include Architecture, Green Design, Interior Design, Industrial Design and Landscape. All designs —from architecture to jewelry — will be considered. There is also a new Arthur Erickson Memorial Award for an emerging architect or designer. Visit www.westernliving.ca for submission guidelines and further details.

Earth Awards 2010

Entries are now being accepted for Earth Awards 2010, a global search for sustainable innovations designed for the 21st Century. Submissions are invited in six categories: Built Environment, Fashion, Products, Systems, Future and Social Justice. Consideration will be given to ideas great or small, realized or prototypes, but which distinguish themselves in meeting six criteria: achievable, scalable, measurable, useful, original and ecological. The grand prize winner will receive $50,000 while category winners receive $10,000. The competition will culminate with an exhibition in sustainable design. The deadline for submissions is May 10, 2010. For more information, visit www.theearthawards.org

Hockey Trumps Planning in Toronto

Proposed waterfront sports complex a study in why Toronto will never be a great city
By Christopher Hume, Toronto Star

May 3, 2010

This is a story about why Toronto is not and never will be a great city. It is a tale of mediocrity told by a cast of characters ranging from our high-profile mayor, David Miller, to a faceless but senior bureaucrat named Richard Butts. More …

Skyline is Looking Up

By Derek Moscato, Metro News
May 3, 2010

It’s hard to believe, but Arthur Erickson might be proven wrong after all. The legendary West Coast architect, who passed away last year, quipped famously in 2007 that Vancouver’s skyline was getting much too “blah.” More …

By The Architects, For The People: A Trend For The 2010s

By Nicolai Ouroussoff, New York Times
May 3, 2010

Last week, when the city planning board here voted to approve construction of a four-block-long mixed-use development, the decision was barely noticed outside a small circle of civic boosters. But it was a turning point in the career of the project’s architect, Richard Meier. More …

Contractor Roundtable Discusses Present, Looks to Future

Brian Martin, Journal of Commerce
May 3, 2010

“We are an industry that doesn’t like change. Unless somebody is pushing us we don’t change easily. We likely need government to push us.” Those were the words of Anibal Valente, vice-president PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc and chairman of the B.C. Construction Association. Valente was speaking as part of a roundtable discussion on where the B.C. construction industry is today and where it is headed tomorrow. More …

10 for ’20

Ten building trends for the next decade
By Lance Hosey, Architect Magazine

In an early March cover story, Time outlined “10 Ideas for the Next 10 Years: A thinker’s guide to the most important trends of the new decade.” This got me wondering about the next decade in green building—a thinking architect’s guide to the most important ideas. More …

City to Tweak Waterfront Sport Complex Plan

By Christopher Hume, Toronto Star
May 11, 2010

Responding to a storm of criticism unleashed by a controversial scheme to build a sport facility on the waterfront, Toronto Mayor David Miller now says city staff members are prepared to “tinker” with the project. Tinker? More …

 

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