“Vancouver Specials” – What Makes Them So Unique?

Scout Magazine,
July 29, 2013

Vancouver’s architecture is often difficult to distinguish as many of its homes are adaptations or amalgamations of more recognized styles. By cataloguing them, we gain an understanding of our homes and neighbourhoods, which gives us all a sense of pride in our city. With this is mind, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation is providing Scout with an exclusive new series that we call The Roof Over Your Head. More …

Vancouver is Stalled on The Highway to Livability

By Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun
August 1, 2013

When I first arrived in Vancouver in the mid-1970s, the city had just stopped a freeway from entering downtown. It had blocked a massive hotel from being built at the entrance to Stanley Park. These were seminal moments in our history, signalling Vancouver’s radical departure from the accepted idea of the North American city. For once, government observed the sanctity of the neighbourhood. Livability trumped the car culture. This had happened earlier and elsewhere, most notably in Manhattan in the late 1960s, when urban theorists like Jane Jacobs stopped the construction of the Lower Manhattan Freeway through Greenwich Village; and in Toronto in 1971, when the Ontario government halted the completion of the Spadina Expressway (which Jacobs, who by then had moved back to Canada, also campaigned against). More …

VIRAIC

Island Architecture Exhibition

The Vancouver Island Chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada | Architecture Canada is partnering with the Port Theatre in Nanaimo, to host its first architectural exhibition. Titled “ARCHITECTURE:  Making a Difference”, this exhibition featuring the work of Vancouver Island architects will be on display in the theatre lobby from August 6 – 10, 2013. An opening reception will be held at the theatre on Thursday, August 8, 2013, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. featuring keynote speakers Terry Williams Retired Architect FRAIC, and Sandra Thompson, the former development officer and general manager of the Port Theatre (located at 125 Front Street, Nanaimo). For further details, click here.

1 Core LU

Evergreen Line Letters of Assurance

The AIBC has officially endorsed the letters of assurance developed for use on the Evergreen Line Skytrain Rapid Transit Project. The institute previously reviewed the draft proposal and identified necessary changes that have been subsequently addressed by the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and Translink. The project is slated for completion by 2016. For additional information, visit here or visit here.

2013 Conference Early Bird Pricing Extended

Ends August 30, 2013

There is still time to take advantage of reduced pricing for the 2013 Conference, taking place October 23 – 26, 2013 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. The early bird deadline has been extended to 12 noon on Friday August 30, 2013.

This year’s conference, titled Sea Change: Architecture on the Crest is being co-presented by the AIBC and the American Institute of Architecture – Northwest & Pacific Region. It calls attention to the dynamic, critical times in which we live. Forces of change, both natural and man-made, are shaking the foundations of our communities and stirring questions about our shared future.

Be sure to register before sessions are filled. For detailed information and to register, please visit the conference website here. Already registered for Sea Change? Join the Sea Change event on Facebook to get insider exclusives on special events, session presenters and so much more. Also a tweeter? Follow us on Twitter and hashtag #seachange2013 for the most up to date conference announcements & exclusives.