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.

2013 Annual Meeting & Council Election Information Packages

2013 Annual Meeting & Council Election Information Packages
Distribution has begun so that over the coming week, AIBC members and other registrants will receive in the mail printed material pertaining to this year’s annual meeting (official notice, meeting agenda, meeting protocols, members’ forum protocols, draft minutes from the 2012 Annual Meeting, audited financial statements, Treasurer’s Report, Registrar’s Report and Executive Director’s Report). In addition, all AIBC members and honorary members will receive information related to the 2013 Council Election (candidate information, election ballots and envelopes). Note: much of this information can also be found online. Click to view the 2013 AIBC Annual Meeting Booklet and the 2013 AIBC Council Election Booklet. Revised or additional information will be distributed electronically and posted on the AIBC web site if and as it becomes available. In that regard, draft minutes for the May 12, 2012 Special Meeting as well as amended agenda for the 2013 Annual Meeting are the now available online.

The 2013 AIBC Annual Meeting will take place on Saturday, June 1, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (registration at 12:00 noon) at the Segal Building, Simon Fraser University Vancouver Campus, 500 Granville Street. You are strongly encouraged to attend. You are also advised to review the information provided prior to the meeting, and to bring your own materials to the meeting.

Online Registration is now open. Architects and other registrants who attend the annual meeting are entitled to two non-core learning units. To assist in recording these learning units, it is asked that you register in advance for this free event by clicking here.

Hospital Uses Power of Architecture to Promote Healing

By Frances Bula, Globe and Mail
May 6, 2013

Gerry Latham has worked in a lot of hospitals in her 40 years as a nurse and administrator. She has seen the strain that old hospital buildings put on nurses, who spend too much of their time walking from one supply room to another, and on patients, whose already frail health is tested by living in rooms with one to three other patients, by the noise of the hospital, by infections. She has also seen the excitement of being in a new hospital fade, as people quickly realize the new building is shinier but it doesn’t work much better. More …

 

Milgard Windows & Doors

Why Fiberglass For Windows And Doors?

You are invited to attend this free luncheon presentation to learn how new innovations in fiberglass window frames help increase energy efficiency and window longevity, including what makes fiberglass a sustainable choice for a window framing material. Important considerations in specifying a window frame to achieve life-span, thermal and energy-efficiency goals will also be covered. It takes place Thursday, May 16, 2013, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. at Modern Classic Building Solutions, 1910 Ontario Street, Vancouver. Lunch will be provided. Please r.s.v.p. to Jasmine Nguyen at jasmine@modernclassicvancouver.com or by phone at (604) 558-1910 before Tuesday, May 15, 2013.

1 Core LU

Building Envelope Principles

For Intern Architects who missed the February session as well as those interested in taking this executive summary of the Building Envelope Education Program, Building Envelope Principles is being offered for a second time this year. This full-day course will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the AIBC Offices. Space is limited; click here to register now.  Note: Registration will close on Friday, May 24, 2013, so register early. For further information, contact Professional Development Coordinator Aleta Cho at acho@aibc.ca.

6 Core LUs

Light House Sustainable Building Centre

BOMA BESt for Government Buildings

There are more than 1,500 buildings certified under the BOMA BESt rating system, including public buildings across Canada. This free webinar will introduce you to the BOMA BESt rating system and its application to public buildings. Hosted by Light House’s Manager of Green Building Services, Curtis Dorosh P.Eng. MEM LEED AP, it will cover the pros and cons of this certification regime, going step by step through the certification process with examples of certified buildings and real performance metrics to help you decide if BOMA BESt is the right certification system for your building stock. Click here to register.

1 Core LU

Light House Sustainable Building Centre

Green Building Certification Showdown – What is The (BOMA) BESt Way to LEED® a Built Green™ Building?

Confused about green building certification systems? Trying to choose the right option for your new or existing buildings? Or do you just want to know more about what the various labels really mean? Join Light House and representatives from the Cascadia Green Building Council, BOMA BC, and Built Green Canada for a lively discussion of the pros and cons of each of these organizations’ green building certification systems. Learn how they fit in with municipal regulations, what is the typical timeline, and what are the associated costs. Bring your real-life questions and network with leaders in the green building industry at this engaging and practical session. It takes place Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 7:30 – 10:00 a.m. at the British Columbia Institute of Technology Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street, Vancouver. Breakfast included. Click here to register.

2 Core LUs