HPO Building Smart Seminars

The Homeowner Protection Office invites you to attend Building Smart #18: Framing a House – From Basics to Best Practices. This seminar will look at the evolution, details and standards for the use of wood in the framing of homes. Basic and complex framing details will be explored, along with the use of structural composite lumber, laminated veneer lumber and wooden I-joists. Presentations will be offered at 21 locations across the province from September to mid-November. The cost for this three-hour seminar is $80. Click here to register online. For more information, click here to see the brochure.

RAIC Metro Vancouver Advocacy Awards

The Metro Vancouver Chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada has announced the recipients of its 2013 Advocacy in Architecture Awards:

• Michael Apostolides, Vancouver League for Architecture and the Environment;
• Stanley Kwok, Retired Architect, urban planner and city builder;
• Gregor Robertson, Mayor – City of Vancouver;
• Leslie Van Duzer, Director – University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture; and
• Bob Williams, Vancity Board of Directors,  former provincial cabinet minister and former chair of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

These annual awards celebrate outstanding citizens who, through their vision and extraordinary efforts in the built environment, have made a significant contribution to society. This year’s recipients will be honoured at a special evening event on November 7, 2013.

British Columbia Building Envelope Council

2013 BCBEC Conference & AGM: Lessons From The Past – Roadmap For The Future

As part of its 25^th anniversary celebrations, BCBEC invites industry experts, partners and members to participate in this one-day symposium. Speakers from premier organizations and practitioners will deliver insightful perspectives on the future of building envelope design. The thought-provoking agenda will chart a roadmap for industry challenges and opportunities ahead. The symposium will also look at the evolution of building envelope technologies and advanced practices, building science fundamentals, sustainability, and processes for optimizing building performance. Be part of this groundbreaking forum sharing emerging trends and new technologies. It happens Wednesday, September 25 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver. The final deadline for registration is Tuesday, September 25. For further information and to register, click here.

6 Core LUs

Vancouver Island Construction Association

VICA Member Meeting: Developing Trends In Contract Security (Victoria)

Architects, engineers, owners, general contractors, trade contractors, construction and project managers are invited to learn about how emerging trends like subguard compare to other options in contract security. Do the differences between the options negatively impact stakeholders or perhaps benefit them?  A wide range of industry perspectives will be presented and discussed. Featured panelists include:

• Owner:  Rick Gudz, CFB Esquimalt Site Manager – Defence Construction Canada;
• Insurer: representative from Zurich Insurance;
• Surety: Dave Bentley and Randy Singh, Construction Services Account Executives – HUB International;
• General Contractor:  Anibal Valente, VP – PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.; and
• Trade Contractor: Russ Hepworth, President – Tech Mechanical.

It takes place Wednesday, September 18, 7:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the Laurel Point Inn, 680 Montreal Street. For further information and registration, click here.

3 Core LUs

Rising Seas

By Tim Folger, National Geographic
September 2013

By the time Hurricane Sandy veered toward the Northeast coast of the United States last October 29, it had mauled several countries in the Caribbean and left dozens dead. Faced with the largest storm ever spawned over the Atlantic, New York and other cities ordered mandatory evacuations of low-lying areas. Not everyone complied. Those who chose to ride out Sandy got a preview of the future, in which a warmer world will lead to inexorably rising seas. More …

Tallest Sustainable Office Tower to be Built in Vancouver

CBC News
August 13, 2013

The architect behind Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing and the renovation of the Tate Modern Gallery in London is designing a new sustainable office tower in Vancouver. The city issued a development permit to real estate investment company Credit Suisse yesterday for what’s being billed as the tallest sustainable office tower, to be designed by renowned architect Harry Gugger. The $200-million project will sit at the corner of Howe and Pender streets in downtown Vancouver. More …