Wood High-rises on the Horizon

By Tiffany Sloan, BC Business
May 15, 2013

“Concrete jungles” may become a thing of the past, thanks to a new initiative that will add wood-frame skyscrapers to Canadian skylines. On May 6, the Canadian Wood Council announced funding opportunities for high-rise wood demonstration projects of 10 storeys or more—taller than any other wood-frame building in the world. Chosen projects will receive up to $1 million from Natural Resources Canada toward innovative designs that showcase the applications and benefits of wood construction. More …

AIBC Council Meeting Summary: May 2013

At its most recent meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, AIBC Council considered a wide range of matters including:

• A submission by council’s Associate Options Task Force, detailing a framework of guiding principles for the admission and regulation of associate categories of membership. Council approved the following motions, as copied from the council submission itself:

1.       The following guiding principles for the admission and regulation of AIBC associates be adopted for future implementation:

a.       A reorganization of the current range of associate classes to a total of three:

Intern Architect Associate;

Retired Architect Associate (to be comprised of current retired architect and previously registered member classes); and

Architectural Technologist Associate (comprised of current architectural technologist, intern architectural technologist, building designer and residential designer classes);

b.       Discontinuation of the architectural graduate and student associate classes of associates (student associate class includes the subcategories architectural students, syllabus students and architectural technologist students);

c.        Replacement of all “.AIBC” designations with the three associate class designations in (a) above, and the establishment of guidelines, including bylaws, necessary for the use of these designations; and

d.       Establishing limitations and conditions, through bylaw creation and enforcement, of “independent practice” by AIBC associates, to conform with the expectation that work conducted by associates in the Architects Act exceptions occurs under the supervision of an architect.

2.       The following implementation principles be adopted:

a.         A transition process and timeline for implementation of the guiding principles in Motion 1 be established by the AOTF with the goal of implementing the replacement designations in Motion 1(c) by September 2013 and the balance of guiding principles by the AIBC 2014 annual meeting;

b.         The AOTF’s mandate and terms of reference be revised to reflect the tasks required for implementation of the guiding principles, including working with staff and external consultants as necessary;

c.          The AOTF’s composition be amended to include one intern architect associate liaison, one architectural technologist associate liaison, along with four elected council members and one LG appointee council member; and

d.         Staff be directed to work with the repurposed AOTF to develop required bylaws and other tasks related to implementation of the guiding principles.  

 

For additional information, see the summary report included with the AOTF submission.  Note: This is a supplementary information item. The report was not approved by AIBC Council. This topic is on the agenda for the upcoming annual meeting.

• Replacement of the 2012 rules for council meetings with a revised set of rules governing such matters as meeting structure and authority, decision-making, in camera meetings, conduct and decorum.
• Approval of a recommendation from the Voluntary Recognition Committee for the establishment of an AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award that would recognize outstanding, career-long body of work by a current or former member.
• A status report from the Strategic Planning Working Group, outlining discussions to date in constructing a five-year strategic plan for the institute. Information will be shared with the membership as part of the upcoming annual meeting.
• Additional reports from council’s Governance Committee, Registration Board, Fee Structure Committee, Finance Committee, and Intern Architect Registration Expediting Committee and Strategic Planning Working Group, along with a status report from the executive director.
• Approval of recommended revisions resulting from the review of council policies 3.0 Governing Process and 4.0 Council-Executive Director Relationship.

Council also passed motions pertaining to various consent items dealing with policy compliance, committee changes, examination results and registration amendments. A special meeting of AIBC Council will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The 2013 AIBC Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 1, 1:00 p.m. at the Simon Fraser University Downtown Vancouver Campus. Click here to view the 2013 Annual Meeting package documents.

Personal Information & Protection of Privacy

In response to concerns that have been raised recently, please be assured that the AIBC does not share personal information or provide mailing / distribution lists to its membership or the public. Note that some contact information for registered members is readily available to any person through various sources, including the AIBC web site.

Oral Review & Oral Review Preparation Workshop

The next set of oral reviews will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 25 and 26, 2013. The oral review is an interview-based examination open to those Intern Architects who have:

• completed and logged at least 2800 hours; and
• completed the required AIBC courses.

Applications, along with an employer’s letter and fee payment, must be received by Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Eligibility will be confirmed by the Registration & Licensing Department. For complete details and to download the application form, click here.

Oral Review Preparation Workshop

For those planning to take part in the oral reviews on June 25 and 26, 2013, the AIBC will be hosting a free Oral Review Preparation Workshop on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 6:00 p.m. at the AIBC offices. For any questions or to r.s.v.p. for the workshop, please contact Registration & Administration Coordinator Emily Tyler at etyler@aibc.ca.

BC Hydro

2013 Power Smart Forum

The Power Smart Forum is one of British Columbia’s leading energy conservation conferences. This year’s event will feature a host of information-sharing opportunities including breakout and workshop sessions facilitated by industry experts from across North America. It takes place in Vancouver on October 22, 2013; registration is anticipated to open in August 2013. Click here to learn more.

Special Meeting of AIBC Council: May 22, 2013

AIBC Council President David Yustin has called a special public meeting of council for Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the AIBC Offices. This will be a two-part meeting, beginning at 11:00 a.m. for a short period and recommencing at approximately 2:30 p.m.  The first agenda item concerns an update to the board of directors of the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. The afternoon session relates to directions from council’s Strategic Planning Working Group. Interested members of the institute and the public are welcome to attend.

New Site for Federal Tendering

The Government of Canada has announced that it will no longer be using MERX for its tendering process. Effective June 1, 2013, federal government opportunities will be posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders. This site will be the sole authoritative source of Government of Canada tenders subject to trade agreements or departmental policies requiring public advertising. Other significant changes with the new site include:

• no subscription fees;
• no registration to download opportunities or document request list;
• an improved search feature; and
• web/RSS notifications.

For additional information about the federal tending process, please click on the Tenders FAQ document.

University of Victoria Cultural Resource Management Program

Conserving Historic Structures (HA 489J)

The conservation of historic places is governed by well-established principles and standards. This intensive on-campus course will enhance one’s understanding of the practice of heritage conservation. It will address the central topics of the discipline, focusing on the preparation of a historic structure report. Through this course, participants will develop their ability to:

• Understand heritage conservation as a professional activity, guided by well-established core principles and standards of practice;
• Become familiar with the statutes, regulations, and codes that control heritage conservation in B.C. and Canada;
• Investigate and document the history and heritage values of a historic structure;
• Investigate and document the physical condition of a historic structure;
• Identify the materials and systems commonly encountered in historic structures, and analyze the nature, extent, and causes of their deterioration;
• Select appropriate conservation strategies and interventions for particular situations; and
• Prepare a historic structures report, drawing on the information learned in the course.

Instructor Richard Linzey BA (Hons) DipArch. Dipl. Cons (AA) is the Manager of Heritage Programs for the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. This one-week course takes place Monday to Saturday, September 30 – October 5, 2013 at the University of Victoria. The registration deadline is September 2, 2013; late registrations may be accepted if space permits. For more information, including registration information, click here.

28 Core LUs

University of Victoria Cultural Resource Management Program

Industrial Heritage (HA 489A)

Industrial plants can bring with them a series of challenges both from a technical and philosophical perspective. This intensive on-campus course will examine the nature of industrial sites and review the various approaches to their conservation. It will explore a technique for analyzing and understanding the processes and products of an industrial plant to allow the establishment of their appropriate values and significance – the underpinning of preparing a conservation program. The course will examine the issues surrounding industrial sites through the use of case studies and a field trip to provide firsthand experience. Through this course, participants will develop their ability to:

• analyze an industrial site and learn to establish the values and significance associated with it;
• examine the site from a cultural landscape perspective and the often-broad and complex relationships that exist within its surroundings;
• identify techniques for the recording and documentation of industrial sites;
• create a condition assessment of extant equipment as well as building structures;
• evaluate the best use potential of the site from simple stabilization through to interpretation and adaptive reuse; and
• prepare a conservation master plan.

Instructor Lorne Simpson MAAA MRAIC RCA is an Alberta-registered architect and senior partner with Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Design, Inc. in Calgary. This one-week course takes place Monday to Saturday, June 17-22, 2013 at the University of Victoria. The registration deadline is May 20, 2013; late registrations may be accepted if space permits. For more information, including registration information, click here.

33 Core LUs

Get to Know Your Intern Architect Committee

The AIBC’s Intern Architect Committee would like to get to know you. Learn about and get in touch with committee representatives through the IAP web site.  In addition, IAC members have created their Facebook group to help facilitate conversation and collaboration within the province’s growing community of Intern Architects. You can access it by clicking here. The IAC offers services and support to Intern Architects seeking registration, providing input to the AIBC’s Registration Board about the Internship in Architecture Program. Committee members organize Intern Architect-specific events, coordinate and maintain study materials, and help inform policy decisions by acting as a representative body for the Intern Architect community in British Columbia.

Intern Orientation

The AIBC will be hosting an Intern Architect Orientation on Thursday, May 30, 2013, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the AIBC offices.  All Intern Architects, architecture students and those interested in joining the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) are welcome to attend. This optional orientation will explore the general trajectory of the IAP including recent changes, experience submissions, and examination information for both the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) and the national Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ Architecture Registration Examination (NCARB ARE).  For additional information or to r.s.v.p. for the orientation, please contact Registration & Administration Coordinator Emily Tyler at etyler@aibc.ca.

Call For Council Election Scrutineers

The 2013 AIBC Annual Meeting (commencing at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 1) is fast approaching. One of the highlights of the annual meeting is the election of members to the governing council for the AIBC. Ballot counting will take place during the annual meeting, commencing shortly after the meeting is called to order. The ballot counting is done by scrutineers in accordance with AIBC Bylaw 24 as well as the Council Election Balloting Procedures established by AIBC Council. To that end, the institute invites expressions of interest from persons wishing to be appointed as scrutineers. In order to be considered, you must submit a letter of intent via e-mail to the Office of the Executive Director (mernest@aibc.ca) no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2013 and no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2013, with receipt confirmed by the date/time stamp of the AIBC e-mail server. Selected scrutineers will be appointed officially  by the AIBC Council President shortly after the annual meeting is called to order.

Vancouver Regional Context Statement

Last month, the City of Vancouver received a draft Regional Context Statement (RCS), essentially a long-term urban development plan for the city and aligned with the “Metro Vancouver 2040 – Shaping our Future” regional growth strategy. Key challenges identified in the RCS include managing population growth in ways that advance both sustainability and livability; building healthier communities; supporting economic prosperity; protecting the environment; responding to climate change; and protecting architectural lands. The draft RCS has been referred to a public hearing on Tuesday, June 11 in order to be adopted as a bylaw. If adopted, it will essentially serve as the city’s development plan. Prior to the public hearing, the public is invited to attend a community open house to learn more about the RCS and its potential impact. This will take place Thursday, May 16, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12^th Avenue. In addition, an online process for providing feedback and comments is available  until May 23, 2013. To participate, please click here. Those interested may also apply to speak at the public hearing or submit written comments for the city council. Click here for details. To access the draft RCS, please click here.

Lack of Diversity Limits Architecture

By Sam Lubell, The Architect’s Newspaper
May 9, 2013

Much has been made in recent weeks about the petition led by students at the Harvard Graduate School of Design to add Denise Scott Brown’s name to the Pritzker prize, which her husband Robert Venturi won in 1991. I agree, she should certainly be added. There is no question that she is just as deserving as her partner and co-principal at Venturi Scott Brown. Looking beyond this snub, the omission is a true reminder of the lack of diversity among Pritzker winners. Since its inception in 1979, the prize has gone to only two females (Zaha Hadid and Kazuyo Sejima). But the bigger problem is not with the Pritzker, it’s with architecture itself. Despite its generally liberal bent, it’s very hard to find a less diverse profession. More …

Members Approve Consensual Resolution Bylaws

The AIBC’s proposed consensual resolution bylaws have received strong approval from the institute’s voting members. The voting results, tabulated on May 7, showed a 96% approval rate from the nearly 400 members and honorary members who cast ballots. In keeping with the requirements of the Architects Act (Section 25), the institute has notified the Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology of the bylaws’ passage and now awaits the passing of a 45-day statutory disallowance period during which the provincial government may opt to disallow the proposed bylaws. If no action is taken by the province during that time, confirmation to members of final bylaw status will follow. Appreciation is extended to all members and honorary members who participated in this important process, as well as the members of the institute’s Bylaw Review Committee.