No More High Rises For Rebuilt Quake City

By Simon Collins, New Zealand Herald

March 2, 2011

Architects believe no more high-rise buildings will go up in Christchurch after last week’s earthquake. “The height of the city will drop,” said Peter Marshall, managing director of Christchurch-based Warren & Mahoney. Architects spoken to yesterday also expect tougher national standards for strengthening older buildings, potentially affecting thousands of buildings throughout the country built before earthquake codes began to tighten during the 1970s. More …

 

Role Call: White Rock Advisory Design Panel

The AIBC invites applications from architects interested in serving on the White Rock Advisory Design Panel. The role of an advisory design panel member is to give impartial, professional advice directly on any proposal or policy affecting the community’s physical environment in the public interest. To learn more about the procedures for serving on a panel, please refer to the following documents:

• AIBC Bulletin 65: Advisory Design Panels – Standards for Procedures and Conduct
• ADP Frequently Asked Questions

Note: the AIBC’s ADP Frequently Asked Questions resource has been updated to include additional question and answers. Architects are welcome to apply to join the roster of architects available for considered of nomination to an advisory design panel, including the one noted above. To access an application form, click here or visit the Member Resources section of the AIBC web site. Please forward all submissions to the attention of Practice Coordinator Ryan Dinh at rdinh@aibc.ca.

 

Advisory Design Panel Appointments for February 2011

The AIBC congratulates the following architects who have been appointed to serve on advisory design panels:

District of Chilliwack:

Robert Powers MAIBC

District of West Vancouver:

Tom Bunting MAIBC

Duane Siegrist MAIBC

Kim Smith MAIBC

Thank you to all applicants expressing interest in volunteering to represent the profession.

 

Vancouver Biennale BIG IDEAS

The Vancouver Biennale is pleased to present “BIG IDEAS: Responding to Public Art”, an incredibly thought-provoking and inspiring series of student art exhibitions. BIG IDEAS showcases senior high school student art based on conceptual responses to the Vancouver Biennale’s public art installations. The art explores current topics of homelessness, cultural identity, science and technology, societal norms and the environment, all inspired by sculptures from the Vancouver Biennale. Exhibitions are being held throughout March and April at six locations in West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Vancouver. Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend the opening receptions. The schedule is:

March 8 – 27, 2011: West Vancouver

Ferry Building Gallery, 1414 Argyle Avenue

West Vancouver Museum, 680 17th Street

Opening Receptions: Friday, March 11, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

April 7 – 23, 2011: North Vancouver

CityScape Community Art Space – 335 Lonsdale Avenue

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 7, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

April 16 – 28, 2011: Vancouver

Vancouver Main Library Gallery, 350 West Georgia Street

Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mew

Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main Street

Opening Receptions: Tuesday, April 19, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.vancouverbiennale.com.

 

AIBC Council Meeting – Tuesday March 8, 2011

The next meeting of AIBC Council is Tuesday, March 8, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. a t the AIBC Offices, #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver. This is an open meeting; registrants are welcomed to attend. To access the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, click here. Confirm your attendance by clicking here.

 

GeoExchange Conference 2011

GeoExchange BC will be hosting the 4th Biennial GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show, May 5 – 6, 2011 at Simon Fraser University – Burnaby Campus. Don’t miss this great opportunity to discover leading-edge technology and design, learn about policy and system advances, hear the latest geoexchange news from the earth energy source to point-of-use supply, and also network with colleagues and future clients. This year’s program will feature two conference streams for two distinct audience groups:

1. Ownership & Policy, meant for builders, developers, general contractors, homeowners, policy makers, municipal, and government officials
2. Design & Innovation, suited for architects, designers, engineers, contractors, installers, and other industry members

Download the program here: (Program at-a-glance). For more information and to register, visit http://www.geoexchangebc.com/geoconference.php.

Cobalt Client Seminar Series: How Building Envelope IS the HVAC System

The March session in the Cobalt Client Seminar Series for Vancouver will address how the building envelope is the primary energy saving system for any building. Presenter Geoff McDonell  P.Eng., LEED® AP, will take you through some basic building envelope design issues and the corresponding HVAC design and comfort approaches towards improved low energy/high comfort buildings. The Cobalt Client Seminar Series is designed to educate architects and other building industry professionals about specific aspects of building systems from an engineering perspective. Sessions take place at the Cobalt offices located at Suite 180 – 200 Granville Street, Vancouver. Session are free of charge, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., and lunch will be provided. To register for the March 29 seminar, contact Jen Slater by e-mail (clientseminar@cobaltengineering.com) or phone (604-687-1800). Space is limited.

1 Core LU

 

Architecture Diploma Program for Athabasca University

The Province of Alberta has given approval to a post-baccalaureate diploma in architecture program to be offered through the RAIC Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University. The program includes a work-study component. The existing RAIC Syllabus program will continue to fully operate in its current form while new courses are developed for delivery through Athabasca University. Once the new program is fully operational, students will have the option of the existing work-study, experience-based model along with select courses through the university, or taking additional courses resulting in academic credentials from Athabasca. The professional practice courses will begin to be offered in the spring with other courses being added to the curriculum as they become available.

 

Nominations for Chancellor, RAIC College of Fellows

Members of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada College of Fellows are invited to submit nominations for the position of Chancellor of the College of Fellows. The chancellor is a voting member of the RAIC Board whose duties include:

• Attending board meetings and participating in its strategic planning, policy development and monitoring and evaluation work;
• Acting as presiding officer at the Convocation of Fellows as well as meetings of the Officers of the College of Fellows; and
• Reporting on a regular basis to all members of the college.

The elected chancellor will serve a three-year term that will commence following the May 26, 2011 annual general meeting. Only RAIC Fellows in good standing are eligible to nominate and be nominated for this position, and candidates require five nominees. Completed nomination forms, accompanied by a 200-word statement from the candidate outlining personal background and vision for meeting the challenge of leading the college, must be received by the RAIC National Office by March 25, 2011. Election ballots listing of the names of all candidates will then be mailed to each RAIC Fellow. For more information, please visit www.raic.org/notices/fellows/2011/callfornominations_e.pdf.

 

Construction Specifications Canada Vancouver Chapter – CSC Breakfast Meeting: Village on False Creek Tour

You are invited to take part in an interactive walking tour to experience the design features of Vancouver’s Millennium Water Olympic Village, Canada’s first LEED™ certified Platinum neighbourhood and the largest sustainable community in North America. Presenter/guide Roger Bayley, B.E. Structural P.Eng was the design manager for project from 2006 to 2010. He also created The Challenge Series, which documented the Olympic Village development process including how the village addressed issues such as climate change, passive design, healthy communities, and energy management with a neighborhood energy utility system. It takes place Thursday, March 18 at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way. It begins with a 7:00 a.m. continental breakfast and a brief presentation followed by the walking tour from 7:45 – 9:00 a.m. The cost is $48 ($32 for CSC members and association executive directors). Registration is limited to the first 40 registrants, and walk-ins will not be accepted. Register online at http://vancouver.csc-dcc.ca. Dress weather-appropriate.

1 Core LU

 

Heritage Vancouver: An Evening at the Art Deco Marine Building Penthouse

Heritage Vancouver invites you to a special evening in the ultra-elegant, Jazz Age Penthouse of the iconic Marine Building. Located at 355 Burrard Street and opened in 1930, it was the landmark project of the architecture firm of McCarter & Nairne. In 1933, A.J.T. Taylor of British Pacific bought the building and built a lavish, Art Deco penthouse on the top floor, overlooking the city. While retaining many of its original features, the Penthouse is currently the office of Urbanics Consultants Ltd, the generous host and sponsor for the evening. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the two floors of the private penthouse, enjoy the Art Deco atmosphere and fabulous view, hear about its unique history, and share your personal experiences, stories and photos of the Marine Building. Heritage Vancouver President Donald Luxton will lead tours of the Marine Building lobby, and Heritage Vancouver Board Member Isaac Vanderhorst will intrigue you with stories about the venue’s remarkable history. It all happens Wednesday, March 30, 2011 starting at 6:00 p.m. Entry is a $100 donation to Heritage Vancouver (tax receipts will be issued) with all proceeds going to support Heritage Vancouver’s initiatives to conserve the city’s built heritage. Admission includes a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. Order your tickets on-line (print your receipt and bring to the event). They can also be purchased by cheque, made out to Heritage Vancouver Society and mailed to Heritage Vancouver, PO Box 3336, Main Post Office, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3Y3. Once you’ve mailed your cheques, contact info@heritagevancouver.org to confirm your spot. Purchase your tickets early as space is limited.

 

Call for Speakers: Power Smart Forum

BC Hydro’s annual Power Smart Forum is taking place from October 17-19, 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Bringing together top leaders and decision makers in energy efficiency and conservation, the forum continues to grow as British Columbia and North America’s leading energy conservation conference. The event coincides with the 2011 Power Smart Excellence Awards on the evening of October 17. Individuals who have successfully implemented energy efficiency and conservation strategies are invited to share their experience and expertise with forum delegates as a conference presenter. A list of proposed topics and guidelines can be found at www.bchydro.com/forum/call-for-speakers. Anyone interested in speaking at the conference is invited to make a submission. The submission deadline is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011. Additional information on the 2011 Power Smart Forum and Excellence Awards can be found at www.bchydro.com/businessevents. We would also like to remind you to join BC Hydro in supporting Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26 from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. by turning off unnecessary lights and equipment to help combat climate change. Sign up at www.earthhourcanada.org.

 

Simon Fraser University City Program – Urban Design Certificate Program: Urban Design: Implementation Methods (URBD 791)

The course will discuss how urban design projects get built and why they frequently fall short. The major barriers and solutions to making a project happen in highly political and complex decision-making environments will be addressed. Instructors and guest speakers include:

• Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning Division – City of Richmond
• Peter Fassbender, Mayor – City of Langley
• Peter Ladner business columnist, sustainability consultant and former politician
• Michael von Hausen, President – MVH Urban Planning and Design, Inc.
• Jay Wollenberg, President – Coriolis Consulting Corporation

It happens Friday and Saturday, April 8-9, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver. The cost is $600.

14.0 Non-Core LUs

Note: Applications for the Urban Design Certificate and Sustainable Community Development Certificate 2011 cohorts are now being accepted. The deadline for submission is July 15, 2011.

For a complete list of upcoming courses and events, and to register, please visit www.sfu.ca/city.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Urban Design Certificate Program: Urban Design: Studio II – Synthesis of Urban Form (URBD 779)

The synthesis phase focuses on developing urban design in a comprehensive physical form including all elements of urban design set sensitively in its urban context. Implementation tools include organization, phasing and funding strategies. Prerequisites: UD: Theory and Practice, UD: Visual Communication, UD: Studio I, UD: Economic Fundamentals, UD: Ecological Planning and Sustainable Design or prior approval of SFU City Program.

The dates are Thursday to Saturday, June 2-4, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at SFU Burnaby. The fee is $900.

21.0 Non-Core LUs

Note: Applications for the Urban Design Certificate and Sustainable Community Development Certificate 2011 cohorts are now being accepted. The deadline for submission is July 15, 2011.

For a complete list of upcoming courses and events, and to register, please visit www.sfu.ca/city.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Urban Design Certificate Program: Urban Design: Ecological Planning and Sustainable Design (URBD 787)

Learn more about integrating ecological planning into the urban design process using three themes: components, process and stewardship. Central to these themes are ecological design for sustainability and green/brown field case studies. Progressive concepts like “net environmental gain” and “eco-economics” will be examined through case studies. Instructors include:

• Erik Lees, Principal – Lees and Associates Consulting Ltd.
• Thomas Mueller, President – Canada Green Building Council
• Randy Sharp, Principal – Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture Inc.
• Michael von Hausen, President – MVH Urban Planning and Design, Inc.

It takes place Friday and Saturday, March 11-12, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver. The fee is $600.

14.0 Non-Core LUs

Note: Applications for the Urban Design Certificate and Sustainable Community Development Certificate 2011 cohorts are now being accepted. The deadline for submission is July 15, 2011.

For a complete list of upcoming courses and events, and to register, please visit www.sfu.ca/city.