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Professor Gustavo Mibelli is coming to Vancouver to present his two-day intensive Building Systems seminar. The course will be held September 25 and 26, 2010 at the AIBC offices. More...
September 17, 2010
Information Session for Foreign-registered Architects and Alternatively Qualified Individuals
The AIBC’s Registration & Licensing Department is hosting an information session for anyone registered as an architect outside of Canada and the United States, and interested in registering in British Columbia through alternative qualifications, as well as those candidates who may be eligible through Section 37 of the Architects Act. It takes place Friday, October 1, 2010 from 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. in the AIBC large boardroom (#100 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver). Those interested in attending are asked to r.s.v.p. to Manager of Registration & Licensing Róisín O’Neill at roneill@aibc.ca. Also, if you know of anyone who may be interested in attending, please encourage him/her to attend. Attendees are advised to review the information on the institute’s foreign-trained architect registration process prior to the session by visiting www.aibc.ca/fta. Note: lunch will not be provided so please feel free to bring your own.
Registration Deadline Extended:
ARE Preparation - Building Systems (Two-day Seminar)
Professor Gustavo Mibelli is coming to Vancouver to present his two-day intensive Building Systems seminar. The course will be held September 25 and 26, 2010 at the AIBC offices. Registration is now open, and the registration form is available on the AIBC web site. Detailed course information can be found on the second page of the registration form. Please submit your registration to the attention of AIBC Registration & Licensing Administration Assistant Emily Tyler by e-mail (etyler@aibc.ca) or fax (604-683-8568). Please note the deadline for registration has been extended to September 22, 2010.
Oral Reviews
The AIBC will be hosting its next set of oral reviews on October 20 and 21, 2010. Oral reviews are open to those Intern Architects who have:
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completed and logged at least 2800 hours; and
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completed the required AIBC courses.
Eligibility will be confirmed by the Registration & Licensing department. Click here to view complete details and to download the application form. NOTE: application, letter from your employer and oral review application fee must be received by October 11, 2010. If you have any questions regarding the oral review process or the application for registration, please contact Registration & Licensing Administration Assistant Emily Tyler at etyler@aibc.ca.
President's Message
Chers / Chères collègues,
Dear Colleagues,
The AIBC’s Annual Meeting was three months ago, council has had its planning session, and summer is well upon us. The time is right for an update to all members and associates.
Save the Date:
2011 AIBC / Architecture Canada Conference and Festival of Architecture
May 24 – 27, 2011
Vancouver Convention Centre
Save the date for next year’s AIBC Annual Conference, held in conjunction with Architecture Canada’s annual Festival of Architecture. Over four days, this event will bring together architects and allied professionals from across the province and around the country. The conference / festival theme, Architecture on the Edge, acknowledges the many ways in which west coast architects continue to push the boundaries in such areas as form and design, sustainability, community development and social awareness. Further information will be posted beginning this Fall; please check back regularly: www.aibc.ca.
Bulletin 61 (Second Edition): Seal of an Architect
The August 2010 revision to AIBC Bulletin 61 is now published and in effect (click here). This substantive revision provides comprehensive, practical advice and interpretation regarding the use of the architect’s seal, including specifying which instruments of service must be sealed, such as development permit drawings. The revision replaces the first (1994) edition of AIBC Bulletin 61 and Directors Chair 004 - An Architect’s Seal: Its Care & Control. The architect’s seal is a solemn confirmation and representation to the public that the architect who applied it not only takes responsibility for the document, but that the document was prepared by that architect under his/her direct supervision and control. The use of the seal is governed by the Architects Act, as supplemented by AIBC Bylaw and AIBC Council rulings found in the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. For information and advice on the electronic seal option, consult AIBC Bulletin 60: Signature, Seal and Delivery of Electronic Documents. Feedback and questions are welcome to the attention of Professional Conduct Coordinator Gayle Roberts at groberts@aibc.ca.
Formal Responses to Questions and Concerns Expressed Publicly at the 2010 AIBC Annual Meeting
During the AIBC Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 8, 2010, some members raised questions and/or made assertions for which formal responses are in order. Those responses have now been formulated and provided to the originating parties. Given the nature of the questions and concerns raised before membership in a public venue, they are also being made available to all registrants, by clicking on the items below:
2010/2011 AIBC Council Priorities and Working Groups
Following an extensive planning session, the newly-elected AIBC Council has identified four main initiatives for the coming year. Each is of significance to the future directions of the institute and the well-being of the profession. More...
Alert: Mandatory Training Programs
Recently, the AIBC has heard from firms concerned about the marketing of certain occupational safety and health training or professional development offerings. In at least one case, high-pressure tactics were used to induce a firm into signing on, including untrue statements that the training was mandatory under provincial labour laws. The institute has followed up with WorkSafe BC, which has confirmed that one or more private sector service providers may be misleading businesses into signing up for training programs that are not mandated by law. The matter is now being investigated on a national level by occupational health and safety authorities.
Members and firms are reminded to be wary of exaggerated claims made by any potential service provider, and to follow up with the proper authority or seek independent advice to confirm claims regarding mandatory training of any kind.
Important HST Information Update
Members and firms will have noted and already be using the HST-related information published in our June 4, 2010 eNews. That information was based upon material gathered from a number of reliable sources and remains largely correct. Regrettably, as we have become recently aware, some of that information relating to B.C. construction progress payments and the application of HST was incorrect. Many thanks to the sharp-eyed members who, in the course of applying the HST in their practices, discovered the difference and identified the issue for us. The correct procedures can be found here:
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http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/gi/notice246/notice246-e.pdf
(pages 29-30) -
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/notices/HST_Notice_001.pdf
(pages 14-16)
Looking ahead, we are working on updating AIBC Practice Note 13 regarding value-added taxes, as well as adjusting the AIBC Tariff of Fees for Architectural Services (and related bulletins) as any project’s "contract price" (i.e. the cost of construction before value-added taxes as defined in CCDC construction contracts, AIBC Tariff of Fees and AIBC consulting contracts 6C and 8C) has been reduced with the elimination of the formerly embedded Provincial Sales Tax.
Thanks for your understanding.
Maura Gatensby MAIBC
Director of Professional Services
Fine-tuning Your Practice: The Practice Consultation Service Answered your Questions at This Year’s Annual Conference
The AIBC Practice Consultation Service has proven to be a great success, providing feedback to firms of all ages and size with respect to their standard office practices and addressing questions relating to a variety of firm management topics. In kind, participating firms have provided their own valuable reflections on the process itself. The PCS has afforded them with a unique opportunity to step back and examine “the bigger picture”, and to ask more detailed questions relating to everyday practice management concerns.
At this year’s AIBC Annual Conference, the Practice Consultation Service Committee addressed a number of these questions in an open forum that promoted dialogue between Practice Consultants and fellow architects. Roundtable discussions offered the opportunity for attendees to share their own knowledge of design firm management relating to Digital Media & Information Management; Management of Projects (Process & Resources); and RFPs and Client/Consultant Agreements.
The feedback from the sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with members citing it as an excellent opportunity to engage consultants directly as well as listen to the experiences of other fellow colleagues.
As a useful introduction to some of the topics that may be covered during a practice consultation, please take a look at the Practice Self-Assessment Rating Form available for download on the AIBC web site:
http://aibc.ca/member_resources/practice/pdf/4.1_PCS_PSARF.pdf
To learn more about the PCS or to schedule a practice consultation, please contact Director of Professional Services Maura Gatensby MAIBC by phone (604-683-8588; ext. 334) or e-mail (mgatesnby@aibc.ca).
BEEP Module II Building Science: Theory, Design and Practice
Note: this two-day course has been rescheduled to October 14-15, 2010. For course description go to http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html and click on Building Envelope Education Program courses. To register, please fax or mail your completed registration form to Professional Development Coordinator Aleta Cho, #100 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N5, or e-mail to acho@aibc.ca. Please do not attempt to register on-line.
12 Core LUs
Building Envelope Education Program Course Registration
For those registrants wishing to complete the AIBC’s Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP), now is your chance. Follow the link http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html and check out the course descriptions and scheduled dates. You can also access it from the AIBC home page. Click on "Course Registration" under Quick Links and register online. These courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out.
BEEP Module I:
Building Science and the Building Envelope (Available Online)
Topics for Module I include:
- The Outdoor and Indoor Environment
- Conditions Within the Envelope
- Materials and Their Moisture Content
- Rain Penetration
- Pressure Differences Due to Wind
- Predicting Building Envelope Performance
For more information, please contact Professional Development Coordinator Catherine Bolter at cbolter@aibc.ca or (604) 683-8588, extension 312.
18 Core LUs
The AIBC 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
Hilti Firestop Seminar
The next chapter meeting will include a seminar from Hilti Firestop that looks at:
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life safety and how compartmentalization (firestopping) fits in with detection and suppression
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Hilti Firestop products and current firestopping innovation
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typical firestopping solutions for the different trades
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firestopping of combustible penetrants and the variety of systems available
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examples of poor firestopping and of good firestopping found on jobsites
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how to manage the firestopping process on your job and how to avoid pitfalls
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field review of installed Firestop and how to make the process effective
It is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Ambrosia Conference and Event Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria. There is no charge for this event. However, you must confirm your attendance by September 24 to donwlovell@gmail.com.
1 Core LU
SFU City Program
Acting Local: Municipal Government Responses to Climate Change
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 the 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 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. Other subjects include providing core bylaw wording; identifying typical bylaw drafting and enforcement issues; and providing links to existing local government bylaws. It will also explore what other jurisdictions are doing, so that local government resources can focus on areas where they are uniquely positioned to achieve results. The course takes place Friday, October 22, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ambrosia Conference and Event Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/course9popup.htm.
6 Non-core LUs
SFU and City of Surrey Transportation Lecture Program
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to transportation in Metro Vancouver with a particular focus on Surrey. Participants will learn about a wide range of transportation issues, from regional planning of development and land use through to the day-to-day operation and management of transportation systems. The Transportation Lecture Program, the first of its kind in B.C., is an opportunity to learn more about transportation and the role it plays in the shaping and development of a city. It will present a forum to discuss important regional and local transportation issues while providing representatives from the City of Surrey the chance to share their roles in transportation and related services as part of the larger transportation “jig-saw”. In turn, they will also have the opportunity to hear first-hand the issues and priorities that are important to local residents. Sessions take place October 6 to December 1,2010. Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at SFU Surrey Campus (Surrey Central Mall). For more details or to register, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/course10popup.htm.
27 Non-core LUs
For a complete list of SFU City Program course offerings, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/courses.htm.
Walking Tour – Mole Hill Community: Mixed-Income Living in Renovated Heritage Houses
Often called the oldest intact block of vintage houses in Vancouver, construction on the Mole Hill block dates back to 1888. By the 1950s, the future of the block was uncertain due to development pressures in Vancouver’s West End and the fact that most of its houses were being acquired by the City of Vancouver. In the mid-1990s, building on earlier citizen-led efforts to preserve the heritage of the block, the Mole Hill Living Heritage Society was formed to advocate for preservation and restoration of the houses as non-profit rental housing. The advocacy effort, which involved dozens of civic groups, was successful as the city and province partnered with the Mole Hill Community Housing Society to renovate 27 vintage houses as 170 units of affordable housing. The Mole Hill Community Housing Project was recognized with a City of Vancouver Honour Heritage Award as well as a Heritage Canada Provincial Award. Join Sean McEwen MAIBC, head architect on the Mole Hill Community Housing project, as he explores the historic Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes. Learn how the houses have been updated to accommodate affordable housing units while integrating a high standard of sustainability, innovative open space planning, and heritage preservation. The tour happens Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Heritage Vancouver members) and space is limited to 30 people. Payment can be made online via Paypal (account not required) or by cheque to Heritage Vancouver Society and mailed to Heritage Vancouver, PO Box 3336, Main Post Office, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3Y3. To hold your spot, please e-mail info@heritagevancouver.org to advise that your payment has been mailed. Participants will meet in the community square located mid-block in the lane between Comox and Pendrell streets (midway between Thurlow Street to the east and Bute Street to the west).
2 Core LUs
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Annual Housing Outlook Conference
Housing experts will discuss the key factors that impact housing supply and demand, offer up a 2011 forecast for the B.C. economy and Metro Vancouver markets, and examine trends in new home, rental and resale markets that are influencing developers and consumers. Bob Rennie, a leader in the local real estate community, will share his insights into Vancouver's changing condominium market and the integration of sustainable building practices. Participants will also find out about the tools and resources available from CMHC to help build affordable housing. This one-day conference promises important business information to help stay abreast of housing trends and make knowledgeable business decisions for the upcoming year. It takes place Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. CMHC will also be hosting a similar conference in Victoria at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa on November 22, 2010. Register by October 13 for a special early bird rate of $230 per person (plus HST). Special group table rates are also available. This event sells out every year so be sure to register early. Go on-line to www.cmhc.ca/conferenceregistration or call 1-800-668-2642.
3 Non-core LUs
Cascadia Region Green Building Council
LEED Canada for New Constructions 2009 (Vancouver)*
This one day interactive workshop provides a technical review of the LEED Canada NC 2009 Rating System. Technologies and strategies that can assist in achieving credits are discussed, and participants are given the opportunity to consider the synergies between various credits. Case studies have been created to assist participants in applying their learning in relation to a real project scenario. This workshop also briefly identifies changes that have occurred during the evolution of the NC 1.0 Rating System and Addendum, to the 2009 system.The event takes place on September 23, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St., Vancouver. For details, visit http://cascadiagbc.org/
7 Core LUs
LEED Canada Core Concepts & Strategies Workshop (Victoria)*
This full-day workshop provides essential knowledge of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systems and sustainable building concepts. This workshop presents LEED concepts at the credit category level – across building types and rating systems – and the basics on the LEED certification process. It provides the foundation required for more advanced LEED training. Project examples help demonstrate and reinforce learning. The workshop takes place on September 28, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Vancouver Island Technology Park at #2201-4464 Markham Street, Victoria. For details, visit http://cascadiagbc.org/.
7 Core LUs
*Any CaGBC workshop will meet eligibility requirements for the Green Associate exam.
Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for Buildings
Government and industry are looking closely at the materials of buildings and their environmental footprint. With emerging carbon reduction requirements and consumer awareness in Canada, building professionals are required to understand and identify processes that achieve effective carbon reduction. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely regarded as the most comprehensive approach for assessing environmental performance of products and services over their life cycle. The goal of this course is to prepare participants to put LCA into practice. This course will be of interest to building industry professionals, including engineers, architects, materials specifiers, product manufacturers, as well as building owners and developers. The instructor is Rob Sianchuk, B.Sc. WPP M.A.Sc. Candidate, Sessional Instructor at University of British Columbia. For more information, visit http://www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/life_cycle_analysis_for_buildings. The course takes place on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., September 28 – October 26, 2010.
15 Core LUs
RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Software Workshop
October 21-22 9.00AM – 5.00PM
Instructor: Doug Horn, Asct CEA LEED AP, Principle, Efficient Resource Solutions
This two-day course provides intermediate training for RETScreen, a software program for clean-energy project analysis. Intended for professionals and university students, this course will help participants to better analyze the technical and financial viability of renewable-energy and energy-efficient technologies. Modules include energy efficiency, renewable energy, and whole building in-depth analysis. Participants will acquire practical project experience through modeling and case studies, and take part in hands-on exercises. No prior experience with RETScreen software is required. Register online at http://retscreenoct21-22.eventbrite.com/ or contact Helen Carruthers at (604) 909-9560 or helenc@sustainablebuildingcentre.com to pay by cash or cheque.
13 Core LUs
British Columbia Building Envelope Council (BCBEC)
2010 Conference and AGM: Innovative Solutions – Building Tomorrow
The BC Building Envelope Council will be hosting a one-day conference. The conference will provide a discussion forum for the technical challenges and opportunities presented by increasingly sustainable building enclosure systems. Participants will share their experiences on a range of building enclosure issues including the investigation, repair, design, construction of projects, energy efficiency and retrofit strategies (including net-zero houses and energy-efficient high-rises.) The event takes place on September 22, 2010 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC. For details, visit http://www.bcbec.com/
6 Core LUs
BC Hydro Power Smart Forum
BC Hydro’s annual Power Smart Forum takes place October 25-27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The theme of this year’s forum, B.C.’s leading energy conservation conference, is Building the Green Economy. New to this year’s program is the opportunity to also attend BC Hydro’s Power Smart Excellence Awards on the evening of October 25. This year, the forum will feature internationally renowned speaker Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon as well as prominent B.C. business leaders including Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, BC Business Council CEO Virginia Greene, and Jonathan Rhone, President and CEO of Nexterra Systems. As in previous years, AIBC members have the opportunity to earn learning units for attending sessions. Please visit www.bchydro.com/forum for more information.
Non-core and Core LUs Available
Canadian Wood Council / Wood WORKS! BC
Webinar: The Wood First Act in B.C.
Do you have questions about the new Wood First Act in B.C.? The act, which
received royal assent on October 29, 2009, requires provincially-funded
projects to use wood as the primary construction material where appropriate
and within the BC Building Code. Wood WORKS! BC has been asked to assist
communities with the Wood First Act's “build with wood” requirements,
and is pleased to present this webinar designed to provide answers and
practical information. It features Werner Hofstatter, Wood WORKS! BC
Wood First Advisor who recently served as the Director of the Ministry
of Forest & Range's Wood First Initiative, along with Wood WORKS!
BC technical advisors Peter Moonen and Bill Billups. The webinar is available
online beginning Tuesday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m. Go to www.WoodFirstAct.Info.
1 Core LU
IMAGINiT Technologies
Revit Architecture 2011 BIM Management
Revit Architecture is a powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) program
that supports the ability to coordinate, update, and share design data
with team members throughout the design, construction, and management
phases. The objective of the Revit Architecture 2011 BIM Management course
is to enable students who have worked with Revit to expand their knowledge
in setting up office standards. Specific topics include setting up templates
with annotation styles, preset views, sheets and schedules, as well as
custom element types and families. By creating standard templates and
custom elements, a key component in the BIM process is to establish a
company foundation for different types of projects. Doing so ensures
that new projects flow smoothly and efficiently. The length of this training
session is one day. Please contact Kam Seignarack of IMAGINiT Technologies
for more information at 604-207-2114 or by e-mail kseignarack@rand.com.
6.5 Core LUs
Sustainable Design: Ecotect Analysis Fundamentals (Web-based Workshop)
Ecotect Analysis software is a comprehensive concept-to-detail sustainable
design analysis tool, providing a wide range of simulation and analysis
functionality. Users can interact with powerful 3D feedback to explore
factors such as solar energy, shadows and reflections, and day lighting.
Using Autodesk Ecotect Analysis, architects and designers can gain better
insight into building performance early in the process, helping to achieve
more sustainable designs, faster time to market, and lower project costs.
For more information or to register, please contact Kam Seignarack by e-mail
(kam.seignarack@rand.com) or phone (604-207-2114).
16 Core LUs
AEC Daily Online Learning
AEC Daily offers free online courses worth core learning units. For a list of offerings, please visit their online learning centre at http://www.aecdaily.com/en/236763?list=4.
Current Exhibit: First Nations Brick Artwork
Until September 24, 1010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
This exhibit affords a glimpse at the history and processes involved in creating one of the most popular and traditional architectural materials: brick. In British Columbia, bricks produced by the First Nations-owned Sumas Clay Products (based in Abbotsford) have played a pivotal role in building numerous historical landmarks going back centuries, including the original construction of many Gastown buildings, the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel and the restoration of Victoria’s post office. Of late, the brick-making art form has enjoyed a resurgence – especially in light of a renewed focus on historical restoration and preservation.
Offering a uniquely west coast perspective, this exhibit showcases a select group of hand-carved brick murals designed and executed by Sumas First Nation artist Raphael Silver and his father Ray Silver. This father/son team has been developing their skills over the course of several decades in many media. Their work is representative of that typically featured in public art installations, signage, and residential interior and exterior feature walls. Works on display are destined to become permanent public artworks in various Abbotsford parks. Produced at the Sumas Clay Products brick plant, these murals continue a tradition that began there nearly a century ago.
Upcoming Exhibit: Twenty + Change
Featuring Emerging Canadian Design Practices
September 27 – October 29, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Twenty + Change: Emerging Canadian Design Practices features twenty-one emerging firms from across Canada working in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. These projects rethink urban infrastructure, propose new models for public space and housing, and examine the unique relationship between single-family homes and their landscapes. Featured design practices include 5468796 Architecture Inc., AGATHOM Co., Altius Architecture Inc., Campos Leckie, D’Arcy Jones Design Inc., Dubbeldam Design Architects, Gow Hastings Architects Inc., Lapointe Architects, Lateral Office, Marko Simcic Architect, mcfarlane | green | biggar Architecture + Design, _naturehumaine (architecture+design), NIPpaysage, North Design Office, Paul Raff Studio, RVTR, spmb, Susan Fitzgerald Architecture, The Acre Collective, Urban Republic arts society / ph5 architecture Inc. Design firms were selected by a curatorial team consisting of Joost Bakker, Ian Chodikoff, Anne Cormier, Christine Macy and Chris Pommer.
Whistler Blackcomb - PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
AIBC registrants can enjoy a $5.00 discount per person at the Whistler PEAK 2 PEAK gondola. For more information on this and other Club AIBC offerings, please visit http://www.aibc.intrd.com.
BC Building Code: Important Changes to Letters of Assurance
The BC Building Code 2006 has been amended to clarify the roles and accountabilities of registered professionals who sign letters of assurance. These changes, referred to as Revision 10, are effective September 1, 2010. Members are strongly advised to carefully review these code changes, the newly revised Guide to Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 and the AIBC's newly-issued Practice Note 16: Professional Design and Field Review by Supporting Registered Professionals before issuing any letters of assurance.
Maura Gatensby MAIBC
Director of Professional Services
Funding for Facilitating Foreign-trained Architects
The federal government has announced $1.6 million in funding to facilitate the licensing of foreign-trained architects. The funding will be directed to Architecture Canada (formerly the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) for its Integration of Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects in Canada project. The goal of the project is to establish a fair, efficient and timely pan-Canadian system for evaluating and licensing architects with international education and work experience, making it easier for internationally-trained architects arriving in Canada to find work in their field. Architecture Canada will be working with Athabasca University to develop bridge-to-work programs and language training courses through its new Centre of Architecture. The initiative is part of the federal Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, under which recognition of foreign credentials and experience will be streamlined for eight priority occupations including architects. As a result, foreign-trained workers who apply to be licensed or registered will be advised within one year whether or not their qualifications will be recognized, or any additional requirements.
HBBH Now Part of DIALOG
Vancouver-based Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes has merged with three other Canadian businesses to form a new business entity known as DIALOG. It includes the former Cohos Evamy in Calgary, Toronto designers Mole White & Associates, and the Office for Urbanism, an urban planning and design group also based in Toronto. The move is intended to create a vital national professional practice built upon a multidisciplinary approach committed to collaborative design.
Architect Mentor Wanted
Architect or architectural student is being sought to mentor a Grade 10 student as part of the Vancouver School Board’s Vancouver Learning Network. The student involved, who has a passion for drawing and design, is planning to undertake an independent directed studies program focused on the skills required to become an architect, his lifelong goal. The program will be overseen by a VSB teacher to ensure the necessary learning outcomes. The mentor's main role will be to follow the student’s progress with his education plan, making suggestions and offering inspiring to explore some concepts in greater depth. This will likely involve meeting twice a month for an hour or two to share design ideas and discuss the logistics of making them workable, perhaps in the form of models or additional drawings. Exposure to the rudiments of CAD would also be beneficial. The course is slated to begin on September 7, 2010. If you are interested in this mentoring opportunity, please contact Glenn Pack at via e-mail at gpack@vsb.bc.ca.
BCDC-2 2008 Updated to Reflect the HST
Registered users of the BCDC-2 2008 document are advised that the document has been updated with regard to the Harmonized Sales Tax. To access the document visit http://www.pccbc.com/preregistration.html
Green Dream Home Demonstration
The Green Dream Home, an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly home in Kamloops, has reached the demonstration phase. The project is the first of two Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) EQuilibrium™ Housing Initiative demonstration homes in B.C. to be completed and opened for public tours, and the eighth to open across Canada. The home was built by Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior and Thompson Rivers University as part of an initiative to encourage builders and developers to build the next generation of sustainable housing. The Green Dream Home combines state-of-the-art energy-efficient design and construction techniques with renewable energy production.
CEBC Health Authorities Event
The Consulting Engineers of British Columbia invite you to attend a health authorities presentation and mixer. This event will be of particular interest to those members and associates who work in the health care sector. Presentations will outline the capital plans, organizational structure and upcoming major projects of BC's health authorities. Featured speakers include Mauricio Acosta, Director - Energy & Environmental Sustainability, Facilities Management for the Fraser Health Authority, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority; Marco Buccini MAIBC, Executive Director - Facilities Planning & Real Estate, Fraser Health Authority; and Dave Mackintosh, Director - Capital Projects, Facilities Management - Capital Implementation for the Fraser Health Authority, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. It takes place Tuesday, October 5 at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver. For more information and to register, visit http://www.cebc.org/subcalendar/event.php?event_id=37 or contact Ms. Alla Samusevich at (604) 687-2811.
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 Dialogue
Topic: A Green Regional Economy?
Some suggest that the way to stimulate economic recovery is through a focus on the green economy. But what is a green economy and does it truly exist in our region? Should the focus be on green jobs or, as suggested by some, should we forget the green and just focus on jobs? What opportunities are presented by our new economic reality and how can we facilitate a shift toward a healthy, prosperous and resilient regional economy? Presenters at the various sessions include Jim Cox, President - Surrey City Development Corporation; Lee Davis, CEO - Evans Reade Consulting; Bruce Irvine, Senior Planner - HB Lanarc; Bernie Magnan, Chief Economist and Assistant Managing Director - Vancouver Board of Trade, Jennie Moore, Director, Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship – BCIT; John Restakis, Executive Director - BC Co-operative Association; John Tylee, Director, Policy and Communications - Vancouver Economic Development Commission; and Bob Williams, Director - Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 |
North Shore |
Hollyburn Country Club |
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 |
Central Northeast |
Executive Plaza Hotel |
Healing Cities Conference
There is less than a month until the 2010 Healing Cities Conference, part of the larger Gaining Ground urban sustainability conference this October in Vancouver (see below). This integrative event will bring together architects, planners, developers, engineers, transportation professionals, massage therapists, physicians, counsellors, energy healers, spiritual leaders, and others interested in exploring how cities can be healed, and also be healing places for all of us to inhabit. Join practitioners, professionals, advocates and leaders from a variety of fields who are unified in their desire to advance the state of practice in urban sustainability. Build relationships and share ideas; your input is needed as this one-day conference explores new ways to approach the task of healing cities. For more information and to register, visit www.gaininggroundsummit.com/program.htm.
Preserving Modern Architecture
Architects, engineers, urban planners, landscape architects, designers, historians and others involved with the built environment are invited to attend a national conference on heritage preservation from October 14-17, 2010 at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Titled “Preserving Modern Architecture in Quebec, Canada and Elsewhere: Heritage Challenges and the Mobilization of Knowledge”, the goal of this conference is to provide an update on the conservation of the modern built heritage in Quebec and the rest of Canada, a heritage characterized by its abundance, unfamiliarity, fragility, and obsolescence. The patrimonialization of a built environment born of the modernist values of newness and universalism is no easy task, given its often negative associations with traditions and heritage preservation measured against the yardsticks of identity, and with the goals of sustainable development, one of the central societal challenges of this century. This event will delve deeper into the theoretical, methodological, and technical problems and the cultural and political issues raised by modern heritage conservation by focusing on two themes: the heritage challenges posed by modern buildings, civil engineering works, urban ensembles, and landscapes; and the mobilization of knowledge. For more information, please visit http://canada.icomos.org/documents/CallForPapers_EN.pdf.
Filberg House Tour
As part of its Arthur Erickson public program series, West Vancouver Museum has arranged a rare tour of the Erickson-designed Filberg House, a private residence in Comox. Designed in 1958, the Filberg House is considered to be one of Erickson’s finest residential designs. Located on a sea-side bluff with spectacular views overlooking Hornby and Denman islands, it has been described as "the most beautiful house in Canada". This one-day trip to Vancouver Island includes stops at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach prior to visiting the Filberg House. Participants also have the option of visiting two more architecturally-significant homes near Campbell River the following day. Tour guides over the course of the weekend include Simon Scott (photographer of Arthur Erickson's buildings), Bo Helliwell MAIBC and Kim Smith MAIBC of Blue Sky Architecture, and Barry Griblin. The tour is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, and space is limited. The cost is $185 ($285 for the extended two-day tour) and includes fee includes bus transportation, admission and lunch. For more information, call (604) 925-7179.
Glass Connections 2010 is a one-day session that presents the latest technologies for glass and metal professionals. The event offers a focused educational and networking event for glaziers, architects, engineers, designers, spec writers, commercial construction contractors and building owners. Seminars cover a wide range of industry-specific topics including photovoltaic technology for the glass industry, heat treatment of glass, insulating glass and manufacturing, training and retaining young glazing apprentices and Building Code Energy Efficiencies. It takes place September 30 at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre, 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby. For more information, click here.
Registration is now open for GreenLink 2010, a conference that aims to set realistic methods in sustainable thinking, development and action. This event will provide an arena to showcase innovative projects in green investment, clean technology and government policy. This year’s conference will also host several internationally-acclaimed speakers, including David Suzuki and Paul Harken. It takes place from October 5-6, 2010 at the Renaissance Harbourside Hotel, Vancouver. For more information or to register, visit http://www.rebootconference.com/greenlink2010/index.php.
RAIC Metro Vancouver Chapter Awards Dinner
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Metro Vancouver Chapter is proud to host its 2nd Annual Architecture Canada BC Chapter Awards Dinner on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. The evening will be a celebration of Advocates for Architecture, recognizing the contributions made by architects, emerging practitioners and the general public in the advocacy of architecture in Metro Vancouver and elsewhere in the province. The awards acknowledge those whose work and dedication to improving the built environment has made a difference and who might not be recognized through traditional architectural award programs. In addition, Bing Thom MAIBC FRAIC will present award-winning work from his firm. It takes place Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at the Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver. Open to all, tickets are $80 per person and may be purchased online or by mailing a cheque with registration information to:
RAIC Metro Vancouver Chapter
405-375 West Fifth Avenue
Vancouver B.C. V5Y 1J6
Funds raised will go towards future RAIC speaker series and advocacy of architecture in British Columbia. Seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible.
Gaining Ground Urban Sustainability Conference
The 2010 Gaining Ground urban sustainability conference, titled Eco Logical: The Power of Green Cities to Shape the Future, takes place October 4-7 in Vancouver. This three-day conference is themed around three crucial subjects: policy and industry buy-in; green economy; and complete community design and human health and well-being. It will focus on urban sustainability accomplishments and challenges, bringing together a wide network of urban sustainability practitioners who are playing key roles in numerous fields of professional and community practice. Featured speakers include Jared Blumenfeld, Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 (California, the Southwest and Hawaii); Michael Dichand, CEO of Gussing Renewable Energy; and Jeff Tumlin, Urban Transportation Planner, City of San Francisco. For additional information and registration, visit the conference web site at www.gaininggroundsummit.com.
CCA Architectural Grants
The Canada Council for the Arts would like you to be aware of the October 1 application deadline for following architecture-related grant programs :
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Assistance for the Promotion of Architecture - This grant program ($50,000 maximum) assists galleries, publishers and event organizers in producing books, exhibitions, films and events on contemporary architecture. More...
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Travel Grants - This program ($500 - $2,500) supports travel to public presentations of one’s work, and for research as part of a curatorial project. More...
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JBC Watkins Award - For Canadians pursuing post-graduate studies at a foreign institution ($5,000). Please contact the CCA’s architectural officer for application forms and guidelines.
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Prix de Rome for Emerging Practitioners - This prize ($34,000) lets a recent graduate travel internationally and intern in a firm of their choice. One candidate is put forward by each accredited schools of architecture. More...
A call for proposals for the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture will be issued this fall, inviting galleries, schools of architecture, architecture firms as well as individual critics, curators and practitioners to submit projects for the Canadian presentation in Venice 2012. Interested parties are invited to contact the CCA’s architecture officer.
Building SustainABLE Communities Conference
The Building SustainABLE Communities Conference, hosted by The Fresh Outlook Foundation, takes place at the Delta Grand Resort & Conference Centre in Kelowna from November 15 to 18, 2010. The Fresh Outlook Foundation is a non-profit organization that applies community-based social marketing (CBSM) strategies to encourage sustainable behaviour.
With more than 100 speakers, this year’s conference provides a wide range of topics in Sustainability Planning, Pollution Prevention & Mitigation, Green Economic Development, and Community Sustainability. The program has recently been expanded and Speakers' Bios & Abstracts are now available online.
Early bird registration is available until September 17, 2010. For more information, including program and registration details, please visit www.freshoutlookfoundation.org.
Greater Vancouver Commercial Building Awards
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is hosting its first ever Commercial Building Awards on September 23, 2010. The awards are meant to honour excellence in local commercial and industrial construction within Greater Vancouver, including recognizing the architects, designers, owners, developers, financiers, and realtors responsible for creating some of the most exciting and innovative projects in the region. Categories include:
- Mixed-use — Commercial/Residential;
- Community facilities including senior’s housing/church/schools/government/recreation facilities;
- Retail/shopping centres;
- Office;
- Industrial;
- Rental housing;
- Hospitality — hotels/motels/resorts; and
- Commercial renovation/restoration.
There will also be a Judges’ Choice Award for best overall entry. Adjudication will be performed by a select panel of judges respected for their expertise within the real estate community. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
Ride-Share Week 2010
The fourth annual Ride-Share Week takes place October 4-8, 2010. For the first time, this annual week of promotion and participation in ridesharing will be expanding province-wide. Organized by the Jack Bell Ride-Share Foundation, this event is designed to promote and raise awareness for active, sustainable transportation. Using the Jack Bell Ride-Share database (https://online.ride-share.com/en/my/), individuals and businesses can sign up to match journeys and start enjoying greener commutes. RSW Coordinators will receive a “Green Zebra Guide”, a local savings book for sustainable living. Promotional materials will be provided in mid-August, and prizes will be awarded to ride sharers, including a round trip for two to Edmonton on Via Rail’s *The Canadian*. For more information, contact Rae-Anne LaPlante at rae-anne@ride-share.com or (604) 879-RIDE (7433).
SustainaBUILD Conference
Mark your calendar for the 2010 Vancouver SustainaBUILD Conference this fall. The conference program features innovative content, ideas and cutting edge technologies related to sustainable development and green design. It takes place November 23 at Vancouver's Westin Bayshore Hotel. Early bird rates of $275 + HST will available from late summer through to November 2. For more information, including an online conference program and registration information, visit the conference web site at http://www.sustainabuild.com/vancouver/index.htm. Questions can be directed to Gillian Wright by e-mail (gwright@mmart.com) or telephone (604.739.2112 ext. 192058.)
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.
Call for Nominations:
UBC Margolese National Design for
Living Prize
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Applied Science is proud to announce the inaugural call for nominations for the UBC Margolese National Design for Living Prize. The $50,000 prize will be awarded annually to a Canadian who has made outstanding contributions to the development or improvement of living environments for Canadians from all economic classes. You are invited to nominate your most distinguished and accomplished colleagues. The Faculty of Applied Science is confirming a prestigious committee of nationally and internationally recognized experts from academia and the design profession who will assist in selecting the first recipient of the UBC Margolese National Design for Living Prize, to be announced early in 2011. This year’s nomination deadline is October 22, 2010. For detailed information about how to submit a nomination, please visit: www.apsc.ubc.ca/awards/margolese.
Quito Pan-American Biennale of Architecture
The Quito Pan-American Biennale of Architecture is now accepting entries from registered architects from the Americas. Held since 1978, the biennale is organized by the Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador (Association of Architects of Ecuador) Pichincha Province, and has grown to become a major international event. Academic lectures, exhibitions, and cultural events will also be held. Submissions are due by Friday, October 29, 2010. To download the application form, click here. Click here for more information. The event takes place from November 15 - 19, 2010 in Quito, Ecuador.
3rd International Holcim Awards
Entries are now being accepted for the 3rd International Holcim Awards. This competition, organized by the Holcim Foundation, celebrates innovative, future-oriented projects that contribute towards a more sustainable built environment. It recognizes sustainable practices in engineering, landscape and urban design, infrastructure, and materials and construction technologies. The main category is open to working professionals including architects, engineers, planners, builders and construction firms whose projects have reached an advanced stage in design with construction to take place no earlier than July 1, 2010. There is also a "Next Generation" category for students enrolled in the final year of a bachelor program, or in graduate or post-graduate programs. Entries must be submitted online by March 23, 2011. Go to www.holcimawards.org.
Northern Exposure Photo Contest
Entries are now being accepted for the Northern Exposure Photo Contest, as part of the BUILDEX 2011 Vancouver Conference & Exposition taking place February 23 and 24 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Student and amateur photographers are invited to capture Vancouver's amazing architecture. Winning entries will have the opportunity to be featured in the BUILDEX 2011 marketing campaign and be exhibited at the tradeshow. Deadline for submissions is September 27, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.buildexvancouver.com/contest/index.htm.
Call For Submissions: 2010 Design Exchange Awards
The Design Exchange Awards promote Canadian design excellence and recognize the critical role of design in all types of organizations including commercial entities (large and small businesses), not-for-profit organizations, and the public sector. The awards celebrate the success stories achieved through close partnerships between clients and designers. The DXAs are Canada’s only award program to judge design by results, balancing function, aesthetics and economic success. The final submission deadline of September 30, 2010. Visit the DX web site for complete details.
Western Living Awards
Recipients of Western Living Magazine’s Designers of the Year Awards for 2010 include Cedric Burgers MAIBC of Burgers Architecture Incorporated in West Vancouver, who took top honours as Eco Designer of the Year, and Intern Architect D’Arcy Jones who was chosen inaugural winner of the Arthur Erickson Award, given by the magazine in conjunction with the Arthur Erickson Foundation for Excellence in Architecture to recognize an emerging designer. Vancouver’s Alda Pereira received the nod as Interior Designer of the Year, while Architect of the Year for 2010 is Marc Boutin of Calgary-based Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc.
World-class Architect Interested in West Harbour
By Paul Morse, Hamilton Spectator
September 2, 2010
World-class architects don't come any bigger than Frank Gehry. And, if everything works out, Gehry will design a building for the city's west harbour lands that will put Hamilton on the map, says Richard Abboud, president of Forum Equity Partners. More …
West End Tower Project Postponed
By Jessica Barrett, Westender
September 8, 2010
It’s early in the morning, and the Woodward’s atrium is already humming with activity. As people traverse the public amenity attached to Vancouver’s most ambitious mixed-use development, the project’s lead architect, Gregory Henriquez, looks on, beaming. “This is my life’s work,” he says, surveying the town-square-type space bordered by retail outlets and buttressed by wings that house local non-profits, arts organizations, and educational institutions. Looking up, he points to the residential towers visible through large skylights — a mix of social housing, non-market rentals, and high-end condominiums — and happily reports that the community is finally starting to gel. More …
Optimism Breeds Opportunity
By Nicolai Ouroussoff, New York Times
September 9, 2010
For those who care about Architecture with a capital A there will be plenty of new buildings to consider in the coming year, many of them showing off an unexpected optimism amid a trying global economy. More …
Michelangelo, Radical Architect
His Laurentian Library toys with traditional forms, challenging our expectations of what buildings can do.
By Cammy Brothers, Wall Street Journal
September 11, 2010
The corner-turning lines to see Michelangelo's David at the Accademia in Florence or his Sistine Ceiling and Last Judgment at the Vatican Museums in Rome testify to the artist's continuing allure. But on any given day it is possible to stroll into his architectural masterpiece the Laurentian Library in Florence and experience it alone. How different from Michelangelo's time, when his contemporaries would throng to study his latest architectural invention. Each new structure became a school for aspiring architects, a training ground in the innovative modes of the master. More …
Is Sustainable Heritage Architecture an Oxymoron?
By Graham Murfitt, Journal of Commerce
September 13, 2010
An argument can be made that the inclusion of sustainability in building design has raised the bar for successful architecture. When it comes to carbon emissions, a groundswell of architects, engineers, contractors and building scientists around the world are committed to the notion that all buildings eventually should have a zero energy footprint. The movement is called the 2030 Challenge. More ...
Reinventing Detroit: The Road From Ruin
By Megan O'Toole, National Post
September 13, 2010
The clank of metal on metal jars the neighbourhood awake. The excavator unclenches its jaws and dives toward the blackened remains of a modest home on Eastwood Avenue. The machine spits out twisted piles of metal, plaster and concrete; the collapse, when it comes, is mercifully quick. More …
3-D Printing Spurs a Manufacturing Revolution
New technology is giving rise to never-before-possible businesses that are selling products like iPhone cases, doorknobs, perfume bottles and architectural models.
By Ashlee Vance, New York Times
September 13, 2010
Businesses in the South Park district of San Francisco generally sell either Web technology or sandwiches and burritos. Bespoke Innovations plans to sell designer body parts. The company is using advances in a technology known as 3-D printing to create prosthetic limb casings wrapped in embroidered leather, shimmering metal or whatever else someone might want. More …
Eye of the Beholder
For today’s students, the idea of urban beauty proves both elusive and downright confusing.
By Karrie Jacobs, Metropolis Magazine
September 15, 2010
Have you read any good essays on beauty? That was the question I kept asking in advance of a workshop I taught this summer at Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles. I had planned to use the idea of beauty as a lens through which to view a famously unbeautiful city. Part of my curriculum involved dispatching students to handpicked locations across Los Angeles to seek out that elusive quality. I was hoping to turn up an essay about beauty as it pertains to the postwar American city, one that might inspire the students to look at the urban fabric in new ways. More …