Call For Scrutineers

The 2011 Festival of Architecture and AIBC Annual Meeting are fast approaching. One of the highlights of the annual meeting is the election of members of (and liaisons to) the governing council for the AIBC. Ballot counting will take place during the annual meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 commencing at approximately 2:00 p.m. The ballot counting is done by scrutineers in accordance with Bylaw 24, policy and procedures established by council (a copy of the relevant document is available online here).

The AIBC seeks 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 Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Jerome Marburg (jmarburg@aibc.ca) no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Monday, May 2, 2011 and no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2011, with receipt confirmed by the date/time stamp of the AIBC e-mail server. Selected scrutineers will be appointed by the President at the beginning of the annual meeting on May 24, 2011.

Role Call: Motions Review Committee

AIBC Council has established a Motions Review Committee to assist the institute with the “members’ motions” portion of the members’ forum following the upcoming AIBC annual meeting on 24 May 2011.  This ad hoc Committee’s primary roles are: to review members’ motions (including those which are submitted and published in advance of the members’ forum) to ensure that they are consistent with professional expectations; and to manage the members’ motions portion of the members’ forum.

Architects interested in contributing to this engaging aspect of member-institute dialogue are invited to submit their expressions of interest.  While this calls for a reasonable understanding of AIBC processes and the ability to share in management of a dynamic session, members from diverse backgrounds and experience are invited to participate.

For further information, refer to the members’ forum protocols (here) on the AIBC web site. Please direct your expression of interest to Katherine Rau, Executive Assistant, at krau@aibc.ca.  The committee’s terms of reference are available upon request.

Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) – Industry Issues Luncheon with Design Consultants Featuring 10 Principles for Successful Tendering

The Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) has a Public Construction Committee of members who meet regularly with owners/buyers of construction services. This luncheon will cover:

• Successful Tendering Principles – Ensure you are creating, for your owner, a tendering process that secures the lowest compliant bid;
• BidCentral –SICA’s newest service, BidCentral, can increase efficiencies, offer greater control of document distribution and increase the number of qualified, compliant bids you receive. BidCentral’s online bidding module and publishing utility give you the tools to expertly manage your tendering process at no cost.
• Current industry issues – risk management and plantakers, qualification of bidders, and complicated tender forms.

This luncheon will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2011, 12 to 2 p.m. at the St. John’s Ambulance (1941 Kent Road, Kelowna). For further information and registration, please visit www.sica.bc.ca/pccconsultke.pdf

2 core LU

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia: Life Cycle Costing for Green Building Design Workshop

This workshop will introduce ASTM and ISO Building Economics Standards and impart the skills necessary to apply the Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodology to the evaluation and analysis of investments in buildings, specifically in the field of energy efficiency and Green Buildings. The seminar is divided into three progressive hands-on workshop sessions to gain experience in using the comprehensive Financial Tables provided, and applying the LCC technique to the evaluation and analysis of investments in buildings. Calculations are simply, only standard calculators are required for the workshops. Seminar covers:

• ASTM and ISO Building Economics Standards
• Selection of Financial Criteria
• LCC Financial Tables – Present Value Factors (SPV, UPV, SPV*, UPV*)
• Workshop A: Calculating Present Values
• Data requirements for calculating Life Cycle Costs
• Workshop B: Calculating Life Cycle Costs
• Supplementary evaluation measures  (NS, SIR, AIRR, DPB)
• Workshop C:  Supplementary Evaluation Measures
• Sources of LCC data and software
• Integrating LCC in the design process

Instructor Robert P. Charette, P.E., CVS, PQS is an associate adjunct professor at Concordia University in Montreal.  He is a member of ISO TC 59/WG4 on Life Cycle Costing and ASTM S/C E06.81 on Building Economics; he was co-chairman of the ASTM Task Group that developed the UNIFORMAT II Standard Classification of Building Elements, widely used for building design estimates and schematic phase specifications. This workshop will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Lunch will be provided). Venue to be announced. For further Information, visit http://www.apeg.bc.ca/prodev/events/life_cycle_costing_may11.html or contact Ailene Lim, Professional Development Coordinator, at alim@apeg.bc.ca (Phone: 604-430-8035  ext. 4899).

6.5 core LU

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia: Guards – Making It Right

This seminar is intended to educate design and construction professionals as well as building authorities on the various issues surrounding person guards that are common on many residential and commercial projects in North America, with emphasis on B.C. codes and practices. The ultimate aim is to educate and help to improve the overall success rate and quality of guards on building projects in B.C. through cooperation and teamwork between disciplines and trades. Instructor Robert Jirava, B.A.Sc., P.Eng, M.IStructE, Struct.Eng graduated from UBC in 1994 with a B.A.Sc. in civil engineering. He spent 10 years designing various structures including commercial and residential buildings, specialized steel structures and water park structures. In 2003 he helped found RDJ Structural Designs where he has been a principal for four years. His firm has diverse areas of expertise including industrial tilt-up, special indoor and outdoor theme park play structures, and aluminum guardrails. The firm performs designs for several dozen professional guardrail installers in Western Canada and the USA. This seminar takes place on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Location to be determined. For further information, please contact Shirley Chow, Professional Develompent Coordinator, at schow@apeg.bc.ca (Phone: 604-412-4865; Toll-Free: 1-888-430-8035 ext. 4865)

2.75 core LU

University of British Columbia Continuing Studies – Building Green with LEED®: LEED® Canada for New Construction 2009

This 36-hour course will provide an in-depth review of the LEED® Canada for New Construction rating system. The course will help building professionals develop their technical proficiency in keeping with the latest standard, supporting those planning to write the LEED® Professional Accreditation Exam with the Building Design + Construction Specialty. Using a wide range of examples, case studies and resource materials, it will prepare you to:

• Demonstrate technical proficiency with the specific requirements of the LEED® Canada NC Rating System 2009;
• Recognize the synergies between specific green building strategies;
• Work collaboratively within an integrated design process to implement these strategies;
• Perform cost-benefit analyses of green building strategies to calculate simple paybacks;
• Grasp the limitations of design and the practical application of the rating system; and
• Utilize the LEED® Letter Templates and other tools to develop certification documentation.

Instructors Brenda Martens, LEED® AP, and Eesmyal Santos-Brault, LEED® AP, are the principals of Recollective Consulting, a green building and sustainable community consulting firm located in Vancouver, and are regarded as amongst the top green building experts in Canada. Instructor Christian Cianfrone LEED® AP BD+C is an Associate and Building Energy Specialist with Morrison Hershfield Limited, a Canadian, employee-owned engineering firm.  Christian has several years of experience as an energy simulator, HVAC designer, and project manager on a wide array of projects within the green building and sustainability sectors.

This course will benefit professionals involved in the design and construction processes of green buildings. In addition, current LEED® APs may receive all of the continuing education requirements needed to update to the LEED AP BD+C credential. The course will be held at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, from July 11 to 15, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.cstudies.ubc.ca/leed or call (604) 822-5042.

36 Core LUs

The Dow Chemical Company Solar Design Competition

Dow Solar has announced its sponsorship of an international student design competition to encourage new discoveries that can lead to economical, sustainable energy homes that are culturally adaptable to multiple regions. This competition calls for the design of a building comprising three connected dwellings; each of the dwellings must use active and passive solar technologies to achieve near-zero energy solutions. In addition to the pioneering of innovative home energy designs, the competition will enable an ongoing dialogue and ideas assessment to inspire creative innovation around active and passive solar technologies. Registration for the competition will begin in August 2011. For further information, please visit www.dow.com/competition.

Light House Sustainable Building Centre – Market Insights: Existing Buildings – Addressing Performance From The Outside In

How well are existing buildings actually performing, and do we have the skilled workforce to operate our building stock efficiently? The May 2011 edition of Market Insights will be devoted entirely to the release of findings from two important studies that tackle critical issues facing existing buildings:

• The Myths and Realities of Real Building Energy Performance, prepared by RDH Engineering for the City of Vancouver, reveals startling information about actual envelope performance in 39 high-rise residential buildings.
• Eco Canada’s national Building Operator Scoping Study, prepared by Light House and Ipsos Reid, assesses the state of the building operator profession and the challenges facing the industry in delivering green building performance metrics.

Featured presenters include: Warren Knowles PEng, Senior Building Science Specialist – RDH Engineering; Dave Ramslie, Sustainable Development Program Manager – City of Vancouver; and Grant Trump, CEO – Eco Canada. Participants will also receive a copy of Light House’s Market Insights Quarterly Report, providing current market intelligence information on the green building sector. Market Insights is a premiere source for market intelligence on Canada’s green building sector. The quarterly breakfast seminars provide up-to-the-minute reports and analysis on statistics and trends in Canada’s green building industry along with special presentations on critical issues. This one will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 7:30 – 10:00 a.m. at the UBC Robson Square Theatre, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver. To register, please go to www.marketinsights.eventbrite.com. Register before May 11 and receive 15% off.

What Makes a Beautiful City?

By Elizabeth Pagliacolo, Azure Magazine

April 21, 2011

In the lead-up to Canada’s federal election, the future of cities should be on the minds of the 80 per cent of us that live in urban areas. What goes into a beautiful city was the topic of a discussion hosted at Toronto’s MaRS centre by the Martin Prosperity Institute, Salon Camden and the Design Industry Advisory Committee. Moderator Azmi Haq, of Salon Camden, got things going at the event, which took place two weeks ago, by quoting a student in Pakistan who said that justice and democracy are beautiful. He then turned it over to William Thorsell, the former CEO of the ROM, who instead discussed the plight of the physical city. More …

Simon Fraser University City Program – Events in Your Neighbourhood: Visions for Sustainability + Possibilities in Design

Join representatives of Canada’s leading environmental foundations, non-profits and businesses. Hosted by the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network, it will feature a special presentation from two of Canada’s most celebrated architects: Bing Thom CM MAIBC FRAIC AIA; and Peter Busby CM MAIBCD FRAIC AIA, MAAA, MOAA, BCID, LEED AP, DSc (Hon.).  IT happens Monday, May 9, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Fei and Milton Wong Theatre, SFU School of Contemporary Arts at Woodwards, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. The cost is $15. Register at http://thomandbusbymay9.eventbrite.com/.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Events in Your Neighbourhood: Heritage 101

This one-day hands-on course is designed to help both professionals and homeowners begin to understand old buildings and provide resources for making decisions about them. This course is grounded in the theory and practice outlined in the Standards and Guidelines. Marco D’Agostini, Presented by Senior Heritage Planner Don Luxton and Judy Oberlander, Principal –  Judy Oberlander and Associates. The date is Saturday May 7, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Flying Angel Club, 401 E Waterfront Road, Vancouver. The cost is $125 +HST. Visit http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/oldschool.html to register.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Free Public Lectures: “On Broadway” Design Lecture

Extending across almost the entire city, Broadway is not only an important street for walking, living, shopping and work but is also one of Vancouver’s busiest transit corridors. How can we make it better? Allan Jacobs, former Director of City Planning for San Franciscoand author of Great Streets, and Elizabeth Macdonald, Professor of Urban Design at theUniversity ofCalifornia,Berkeley, will speak to best practices in street design and provide advice on the design of Broadway. Scheduled for Monday, May 30, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at SFU Harbour Centre,515 West Hastings Street,Vancouver.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Free Public Lectures: Michael Geller – Forty Years On

May 2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of MAIBC Michael Geller’s graduation from the University of Toronto School of Architecture,  and the beginning of an active career in architecture, planning, real estate development, and community life. Since then, Geller has had a coast-to-coast career in both public and private sectors, involving ground-breaking projects from False Creek South to UniverCity. Join him for a four-decade retrospective of his work in Room 1900, SFU Harbour Centre Campus, 515 West Hastings Street. Thursday June 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. For further information, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/city/fpl.htm.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Free Public Lectures: The Crowdsourced City

Progressive cities are harnessing the power of mass collaboration and innovation. New technologies including cloud computing and mobile devices are allowing us to co-create our neighborhoods and improve community design. This forum will explore how these new technologies and social media can improve the transparency of policymaking, planning and projects. Lukas Biewald, Darin Dinsmore and Colleen Hardwick, leading innovators in the use of crowdsourcing, will demonstrate some of the available new techniques and platforms. It happens Tuesday, May 10, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street. Vancouver. Seating is limited; reserve your seat at www.sfu.ca/reserve.

Simon Fraser University City Program – Transit Network Design Course

Take part in a two-day, hands-on interactive course in real-world transit network design, led by Jarrett Walker, the author of Human Transit. Transit planning, like sculpting or carpentry, involves learning to use of a set of tools and materials. This interactive course includes a series of in-class exercises where students work together to design transit networks for a fictional city, based on its geography and a set of cost limitations. Issues covered include network design, frequency, right-of-way, basic costing, interactions with urban form and basic technology selection. This course is well suited for professionals, students, community leaders and local government workers. It takes place Thursday-Friday, June 9-10, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at SFU Surrey, 13450 – 102 Avenue. Register at http://www.sfu.ca/city/register.htm.