2010 BC Safety Authority’s Annual Report

The 2010 BC Safety Authority’s Annual Report is now available. You can find it here. Please contact Jim Allaway at Jim.Allaway@safetyauthority.ca if you would like to receive a printed copy.

Role Call: Investigations Committee – Large Firm Architect Wanted

Position Filled. Thank you.

The AIBC is seeking an additional member for its Investigations Committee from a large architectural firm.  The committee is well represented regionally and by small to mid-size practices, but currently has no large firm participation.  The committee conducts investigations of unprofessional conduct complaints and makes recommendations to the Institute as to how to proceed.  The committee meets once per month (generally one summer meeting).  Members interested in contributing to the Institute’s professional conduct process are invited to submit their expressions of interest with a brief biography or c.v.  The AIBC believes that the public interest and the profession are best served by a committee that includes members with diverse backgrounds and experience.   For further information or to submit expressions of interest, please contact Thomas Lutes, the AIBC Director of Professional Conduct & Illegal Practice, at (604) 683-8588 ext. 321 or tlutes@aibc.ca.

Advisory Design Panel Appointments: May 2011

The AIBC would like to congratulate the following architect who was nominated by the AIBC and was appointed to serve on Advisory Design Panel in May 2011:

First Shaughnessy Advisory Design Panel

• James F Bussey MAIBC

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

Mandatory Continuing Education System Reporting Deadline

Architects, architectural technologists , residential designers and building designers are reminded that they are required to report their continuing education activities by June 30, 2011. 18 learning units (hours) must be reported, of which 8 must be for core activities.  All reports must be completed on line.

It is recommended for those subject to the mandatory continuing education system to review their transcripts online and address any deficit as soon as possible. For those who attended the recent annual conference, please note that record will be reflected online in about a week.

Maura Gatensby MAIBC
Director of Professional Services

City Of Vancouver Bulletin on Alternative Solutions

The City of Vancouver has issued a new administrative bulletin, 2011-004-AD Alternative Solutions – Intake and Processing. This is the fourth city bulletin issued in 2011 (previous bulletins addressed WorkSafeBC compliance and city inspections, requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in multi-family dwellings, and building by-law requirements for solar hot water heating systems). The new bulletin, as well as all current City of Vancouver Building By-law bulletins, can be found here: http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/LICANDINSP/bulletins/index.htm.

Heritage Vancouver Society – Historical and Architectural Walking Tour of Commercial Drive

Join local historian Maurice Guibord for an exploration of the architectural and historical fabric of Vancouver’s eclectic Commercial Drive and surrounding residential neighbourhood, an area that was first opened up by the Interurban tram system and that remains in full evolution today. You’ll see examples of gentrification at its best and worst, and some surprising examples of re-use. It goes Saturday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon followed by lunch or coffee on the Drive afterwards for those who want to stay and chat. The cost is $15 ($10 for Heritage Vancouver Society members). For tickets, go to http://www.heritagevancouver.org/walkingtours.html#commercialdrive. Participants will eet at the northwest corner of Commercial and Charles Street.

2 Core LUs

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia – Introduction to Seismic Analysis of Building Structures

This introductory seminar on seismic analysis of building structures provides an overview on the effective use and implementation of dynamic analysis for building structures including soil-structure interaction. It has been developed in response to the need of structural engineers for a better understanding of how to use dynamic analysis in design of buildings, as per BCBC 2006 and the new NBCC 2010. It features an introduction to innovative seismic force resisting systems such as buckling inhibited braces, viscous dampers, and base isolations with an introduction to nonlinear analysis. Specific topics include:

• Review of Basic Concepts of Structural Dynamics
• Response Spectrum and Ductility Concepts
• Structural Modeling
• Basic Concepts of Soil Structure Interaction
• Piles and Rocking Foundation
• Basic Concepts of Nonlinear Analysis
• Analysis of Buildings with Buckling Inhibited Braces
• Analysis of Buildings with Viscous Dampers and Base Isolation Systems
• Case Studies: Dynamic Analysis of Structural Systems

This full-day event will be held Thursday, June 9, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, 999 Canada Place. Breakfast and lunch are included. Go to http://www.apeg.bc.ca/prodev/events/seismic_analysis_2011.html.

8 Core LUs

Vancouver Heritage Foundation – Old School Courses: Shingles, Shiplap & Stucco- The Exterior of Your House Explained

Course to be rescheduled – date TBA.

Discover why it is important to understand the evolution of a building, including its current condition and potential, prior to embarking on its preservation, rehabilitation or restoration. Delivered by Heritage Consultant Jeanette Hlavach MCIP and James Burton MAIBC, Birmingham & Wood Architects, this session will include two case studies. The Mission to Seafarer’s Building will be used as a “lab” both for visual observation purposes and investigation of the building’s exterior components. In addition, a section of Strathcona along Heatley Street will provide examples of different materials and various conservation treatments of building exteriors. This one-day course takes place Saturday, June 11, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Mission to Seafarers (Flying Angels Club), 401 East Waterfront Road, Vancouver. The cost is $125 + HST. Register at http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/oldschool.html.

7 Core LUs

IMAGINiT Technologies – Autodesk: Manage Your Building Data (Richmond)

The “information” part of Building Information Modeling goes well beyond what one puts into a design model. E-mails, project schedules, costs and construction documents make up a good portion of the data needed to communicate with various team members. As the industry moves into integrated project deliveries and adopts BIM as the standard, how will you manage the overwhelming data that is a part of each and every project? This session will delve into Autodesk’s new data management solutions. Presented John Janzen of Autodesk, along with a panel of experts, will discuss how to centralize data and reduce time spent organizing and searching for project files and information. It will be held Friday, June 17, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Sandman Signature, 10251 Saint Edwards, Drive, Richmond. Register at http://events.rand.com/mk/get/BLDG_PROJECT_DATA.

3 core LUs 

2011 Festival Success

The 2011 Festival of Architecture wrapped up on Friday, May 27 following four action-packed days of professional development, networking and celebration.

The festival, an Architectural Institute of British Columbia and Architecture Canada | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada partnership, brought together nearly 800 delegates and guests who enjoyed six streams of professional learning covering major trends affecting the profession.

Festival highlights included the opening-night keynote presentation by renowned Vancouver architect Bing Thom CM MAIBC FRAIC AIA, who captivated his audience with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of several landmark projects including the newly-completed, award-winning Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Thom’s message echoed the festival‘s “Architecture on the Edge” theme, emphasizing the many ways that B.C. architects are charting new paths and setting new standards in collaboration, sustainability, community building and design. Thom was honoured later in the week as recipient of the prestigious Architect Architecture Canada | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal.

The festival culminated with the unveiling of this year’s AIBC Architectural Awards recipients. Nine B.C. architect-led projects were celebrated as part of the Presidents’ Dinner & Awards Gala on May 27 (click here for more information).

The next AIBC Annual Conference takes place May 9-13, 2012 in Vancouver (details to follow).

A special thanks goes out to our various festival sponsors whose support was vital to our success:

2011 Advocate for Architecture Awards

Do you know of someone who is tireless in his or her promotion of architecture in B.C.? Is there an unsung hero who deserves recognition for their efforts to raise the profile and public awareness of the profession? The goal of the 3^rd Annual Advocate for Architecture Awards, hosted the B.C. Chapter of Architecture Canada, is to recognize architectural professionals, emerging practitioners and members of our community whose efforts have increased society’s awareness and appreciation of the significant role architecture plays in our lives. These awards celebrate those whose work and dedication to improving the built environment have made a difference and who might not be recognized through traditional architectural award programs. Nominees should have furthered the public’s awareness and appreciation of design excellence through their leadership or outstanding service to the community in the area of architectural or environmental design advocacy. Award categories include:

• Professional – to an individual trained in architecture who, through his/her influence as a client, project manager, volunteer, teacher or approving authority, has encouraged the profession and fostered the creation of good architecture;
• Emerging Practitioner – to a student, intern architect or recently registered professional whose work or other activities has furthered the appreciation of architecture and the built environment; and
• Community – to a member of our community whose appreciation and advocacy for architecture and architects have improved the environment and our communities.

For program information and a nomination form, go to http://www.raic.org/bc/index.php/category/awards/. Winners will be announced at the third annual BC Chapter of Architecture Canada Awards Dinner, Wednesday October 12, 2011 at the Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver. The cost is $65/person with all proceeds raised from this dinner will go towards future B.C. Chapter speaker series events and the advocacy of architecture in B.C.. Seating is limited, so please register early. For more information and tickets, visit www.raic.org/bc.