City of Vancouver Block 51 – Downtown Public Space Consultations

Join the City of Vancouver for two public events that explore the history and importance of Vancouver’s block 51. Learn about innovative public spaces from other cities and offer your thoughts on what future uses the 800-block of Robson and the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza can accommodate. These events will end with an illustrated brainstorming exercise that will collect ideas on what type of future uses are desired. Your participation will help shape the future of this central area, and your ideas will be brought to City Council this fall and given to the designer for the North Plaza.

17 October 2012 – A Look Forward
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street

Short and inspirational presentations will look at how this block has been used over the last few years and draw on inspiration from other cities.
Register for A Look Forward

15 October 2012 – A Look Back
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street

The 1973 National Film Board film “Chairs for Lovers” and a panel with members of the original team for Robson Square will set the context of how this block came to be.
Register for A Look Back

(Note: The future of the Vancouver Art Gallery will not be a part of the discussion.)

Learn more at: http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/robson-plaza-consultation.aspx

Mirvish and Gehry Partnership Will Transform Toronto

Christopher Hume, thestar.com
October 06, 2012

Frank Gehry is best known as an architect who designs icons; less well understood is that he’s also one who builds cities. For Toronto, that’s what’s important. When word came down this week that Gehry has been hired by impresario David Mirvish to remake his property at King and John, it was an announcement with implications that went well beyond the immediate neighbourhood. Indeed, the combined forces of Mirvish and Gehry will be enough to transform Toronto. More than that, they will change the way the world perceives this city — as well as Canada itself. More…

Rick Scobie: Celebration Event

A celebration event in memory of Frederick Arthur “Rick” Scobie, a long-time employee in the City of Vancouver Planning Department and well-known within the architectural community, will be held on November 29th at Seasons in the Park at Queen Elizabeth Park from 5:30 p.m. onward. It takes place in the “Garden Vista Room.”  Refreshments will be served.

NFCA Quality Assurance Program

The British Columbia Floor Covering Association, in conjunction with the Master Floor Covering Standards Institute, has recently developed a Quality Assurance Program for the benefit of building owners and operators and design professionals. To learn more, click here: QAP_notice_to_Architects

EuroLine Windows Inc.

EuroLine Technology Forum 2012

Highlights of this full-day forum include a discussion on the essentials of Passive House design (Guido Wimmers); a case study of a Saanich home built to passive design standards; a tour of the EuroLine manufacturing plant and showroom; an overview of the provincial government’s energy efficiency measures for windows and glazing assemblies (Andrew Pape Salmon, BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Minister Responsible for Housing), and a presentation on the acoustic performance of windows (Briét Coetzer BSc (Eng), MMus, EIT, BKL Consultants in Acoustics).It takes place Thursday, November 1, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Delta Town and Country Inn, 6005 Highway 17 (at Highway 99), Delta. Space is limited, so register early by visiting http://www.euroline-windows.com/events/bc/index.html.

4 Core; 2.25 Non-core LUs