Vancouver Heritage Foundation

The HiVE: 128 W Hastings

An open-plan work space sharing infrastructure such as meeting spaces, business equipment and wi-fi, The HiVE was launched in a rehabilitated space in 128 West Hastings. Founding member and sustainability designer, Eesmyal Santos-Brault, will speak about the concept for and the successful implementation of The HiVE.  This brown bag lunch and learn is taking place at the BCIT Downtown Campus (555 Seymour Street, Room 870), on February 26, 2014, at 12:00pm – 1:30pm. Please click here for more details and registration information.

1.5 Non-Core LUs.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest

Seattle-based Historian and Author, Larry Kreisman, will explore the ideals and practice that inspired the Arts and Crafts movement: the celebration of craftsmanship and materials, and the incorporation of pleasing proportions, simplicity and nature’s beauty in the architecture, interior design, furniture and fine arts here in the Pacific Northwest.  This evening lecture is taking place at the University Women’s Club at Hycroft (1489 McRae Avenue in Shaughnessy), on April 15, 2014, at 7:30pm – 9:00pm. Please click here for more details and registration information.

1.5 Core LUs.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Challenges & Trends: Public Engagement for Community Planning

Dr. Manged Senbel, Assistant Professor, SCARP, will explore the challenges and trends that the City of Vancouver and residents has encountered with the City’s public engagement process in building new community plans for Vancouver neighbourhoods. This evening lecture is taking place at the University Women’s Club at Hycroft (1489 McRae Avenue in Shaughnessy), on March 4, 2014, at 7:30pm – 9:00pm. Please click here for more details and registration information.

1.5 Non-Core LUs.

British Columbia Building Envelope Council

Building Smart with Energy Efficiency – 2014 Half Day Workshop

Presented by the British Columbia Building Envelope Council (BCBEC) and the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), a branch of BC Housing, this half-day workshop will focus on energy efficiency in new and retrofit buildings. Industry leaders will provide insights into key issues, including insulation strategies, high performance walls and  energy-efficiency code requirements. The workshop will also examine some of the challenges and options being explored in multi-unit residential and institutional buildings. Taking place at The Italian Cultural Centre Society (3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver, B.C.) on February 11, 2014, at 8:00am to 1:15pm. Registration and breakfast start at 7:00am. For more information and registration details please click here.

3.5 Core LUs.

Heritage Vancouver Society

Evening at the Marine Building Penthouse

Heritage Vancouver invites you to attend a Special Evening in the ultra-elegant, Jazz Age Penthouse of the Marine Building, “Vancouver’s Finest Heritage Building”. This is a unique opportunity to explore the two floors of the private Penthouse, enjoy the Art Deco atmosphere and the fabulous view, hear about its unique history and share your own personal experiences, stories and photos of the Marine Building. Heritage Vancouver’s Past President Donald Luxton will lead tours of the lobby and mezzanine of the Marine Building and point out many of the building’s spectacular architectural features. Taking place at the Marine Building Penthouse (2000 – 355 Burrard Street, Vancouver), on March 12, 2014, at 5:30pm to 8:00pm. You may register by purchasing tickets on-line or paying by cheque made out to Heritage Vancouver Society which can be mailed to Heritage Vancouver, 1020 Denman St., PO Box 47036 Denman Place, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E1. If you are mailing a cheque please let HV know info@heritagevancouver.org and they will hold a spot for you.

1.5 Non-Core LUs.

AIBC Council Minutes – November 12, 2013

The adopted November 12, 2013 AIBC Council minutes can be found here: November 12, 2013 Council Minutes, Adopted

2013 Lulu Awards Recipients

The Lulu Awards, held every two years since 2008, are open to architects, designers, developers, landscape architects, planners, engineers, owners, contractors and the general public. A variety of project types are eligible, including residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, open spaces, public utilities and recreational projects. Mayor Malcolm Brodie stated that, “The Lulu Awards are dedicated to encouraging and celebrating great urban design here in our city. Each of this year’s winners, along with all the award nominees, distinctly represent the rich urban design we seek and enjoy in Richmond.”

Winning in the Residential (Townhouse) category: Currents at London Landing developed by Oris Consulting Ltd. and designed by Hearth Architectural Inc. and van der Zalm + associates. The higher density building form fits well into an established neighbourhood and streetscape of townhouses and single family homes and includes single level units which increase housing options by providing an alternative to apartment uilding units.

Winning in the Residential and Mixed-Use (High-rise) category: River Green developed by ASPAC Developments Ltd. and designed by James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc. and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg Studio. This stunning development sits on the banks of the Fraser River in the Oval Village. Terraced residential apartment buildings vary in height from 4 to 14-storeys, with carefully-considered architectural and landscape design and a significant public art installation on the sides of a pedestrian bridge between two of the buildings.

Winning in the Public and Institutional Building category: Steveston Fire Hall designed by Hughes Condon Marler Architects and space2place design inc. This landmark building sits at the corner of Steveston Highway and No. 2 Road. The two-storey fire hall project was designed to a LEED gold standard and includes two equipment bays and a training and hose drying tower. The building was designed with an innovative open design approach incorporating visual openness and a high level of integration in the site, building, sustainability features, landscaping and public art.

This year’s judging panel included three independent judges – landscape architect, Mr. Jeff Cutler, BCSLA; urban designer, Ms. Joyce Drohan, Architect AIBC, and architect Mr. Michael Heeney, Architect AIBC, FRAIC, as well as City judges Mr. Joe Erceg, General Manager of Planning and Development; and Mr. Wayne Craig, Director of Development.

Southern Interior Construction Association

2014 Consultants, Contractors, and Owners Workshop

The CCO Workshop is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas between all players in the procurement and construction process. Sessions include: Trans Mountain Pipeline: Construction Benefits for the Interior; a Panel Discussion titled “Design Build: Why/Why Not, How/ How Not”; An Activity update on the BC Construction Association (BCCA) and the Canadian Construction Association; as well as several workshop sessions.

The event takes place Thursday, February 6, 2014 at the Delta Grand Okanagan (1310 Water Street, Kelowna, BC). Event details including the program and registration are available at www.sica.bc.ca.

6.5 Core LUs

VIVA Launches New Design Competition: Robson Redux

VIVA Vancouver is opening its magnificent 800 Robson Street space to designers with Robson Redux, a design-build competition that invites emerging and professional designers to submit their design ideas related to the theme of “connection”. The winner will make their design a reality, building and installing it for the 2014 summer in the 800 block of Robson Street.

VIVA Vancouver’s Robson Redux design-build competition is aimed at temporarily transforming the iconic 800 block of Robson Street into a pedestrian plaza. This block is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Canada. Installation would take place in early summer, with hopes to open it for Canada Day long weekend (June 28-29, 2014) and would remain up until the end of Labour Day long weekend (September 30-31, 2014).

Winners will be selected by a jury made up of Matthew Blackett (Founder and Publisher, Spacing Magazine), Amber Frid-Jimenez (Principal, AFJD and Associate Professor Emily Carr University of Art and Design), Nick Milkovich (Principal, Nick Milkovich Architects), Margot Long (Principal, PWL), and Ken Lyotier (Founder, United We Can). The winning team will be provided a small design honorarium and up to $37,500 to cover costs of materials, fabrication, construction, installation, and de-installation for their projects.

Anyone may enter this competition; however criteria and submission requirements lend themselves to expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, industrial design, and other related fields.

Teams can submit their designs online at www.vivadesigncomp.ca for a small fee. Submission deadline is March 21, 2014.

Past temporary public space designs at 800 Robson Street include

• 2011: PICNURBIA – designed by Loose Affiliates
• 2012: Pop Rocks! – designed by Matthew Soules, Amber Frid-Jimenez and Joe Dahmen
• 2013: Corduroy Road – designed by Hapa Collaborative

VIVA Vancouver is a public space program that specializes in turning road spaces into people places. Working with various community partners, the program is aimed at re-purposing road space to create temporary or semi-permanent public space.

Skills Connect for Immigrants Program

ISSofBC invites newcomers to Canada to know more about the Skills Connect for Immigrant Program.  These sessions will inform individuals on how to connect their skills to the Canadian workplace.  Skills Connect for Immigrants is a dynamic initiative that helps ease the transition of skilled immigrants into the Canadian workforce by connecting them with industry-specific skills training, credential evaluation and job search services.

This program assists individuals who are unemployed or working in a job that doesn’t use their skill set.  Individuals may qualify for this program if they are unemployed or underemployed (working outside of their field or at a lower level); are eager to learn and motivated to build their career in Canada; have clear and reasonable job target; can speak at an intermediate to advanced level of English; and have been in Canada for less than 5 years and are a permanent resident.

Information sessions take place in Vancouver every Wednesday and in Coquitlam twice a month.  Event admission is free by pre-registration only. Click here to view the informative poster or visit the ISSofBC website.

I want to be an architect. What will my salary be?

January 22, 2014
By Brenda Bouw, The Globe and Mail

Job: Architect

Salary: Starts at about $40,000 coming out of school, and can grow to about $90,000 after years of experience. Architects who start their own independent practices can earn more, depending on the success of the business.

Education: A university degree in architecture from an institution accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. Degree programs can last five to seven years, according to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). More…

Reminder: 2014 Annual Fees

The deadline for payment of 2014 annual fee invoices is February 1, 2014. Please note that if you plan on mailing your payment, the cut-off date for postmark is January 30^th.  Cheques received at the AIBC offices postmarked January 31^st or later will be considered late.

If you have not received your invoice or if you have a question regarding your status with the AIBC please contact the Registration & Licensing staff at accounts@aibc.ca.  Fees may be paid online by logging into your account through the AIBC web site.  When logging in to make payment, please keep in mind that individual login identifications are different than your firm login id. Detailed information regarding applicable fees and payment requirements can be found in Bulletin 01 (2014): Fees, Fines and Charges.

Vancouver skyline to gain seven new office towers

January 24, 2014
By Tiffany Crawford, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER — A building boom downtown is creating much-needed office space in Vancouver, city officials say.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson helped break ground Thursday on The Exchange, a $200-million, 31-storey Credit Suisse office tower in the financial district, one of seven buildings now under construction downtown.

Robertson heralded the projects as an end to the city’s business vacancy woes, as Vancouver remains one of North America’s tightest markets for office space.

Vancouver’s vacancy rate for Class A office space sits at 5.3 per cent. That compares with 8.7 per cent in Montreal and 9.7 per cent in Edmonton. But according to Cushman and Wakefield, Vancouver’s vacancy rate is projected to jump to 7.7 per cent this year and to 10.5 per cent in 2015.

“When it comes to the strength of Vancouver’s office market, we’ve come a long way in the last five years.” Robertson said. “A few years ago our economy was being held back by a lack of space, we had a critical shortage and it’s wonderful to see the market respond.” More…

Role Call: Continuing Education System Committee

The Continuing Education System Committee is still seeking new members.

The committee acts to advise, assist, and to support AIBC staff in fulfilling Council policies on the Continuing Education System. Members of the committee will assist the Professional Development department staff to measure the level of content proposed by the Registered Educational Providers and CES participants. Some important roles of this committee will include but not be limited to monitoring and evaluating the institute’s CES self-reporting and audit procedures, new applications for the REP program, and external provider events as to the educational and technical content for LUs. Members will also assist in evaluation of CES participants’ self-reported LUs and resolution of issues arising from considerations of non-compliance.

If you are interested in becoming a member or for more information, please contact Yana Vassilenko, Administrative Assistant at yvassilenko@aibc.ca; 604.683.8588 ext. 314.

AIBC Council Meeting Summary: January 21, 2014

At its meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, AIBC Council addressed the following matters:

• Council President Scott Kemp Architect AIBC FRAIC RIBA LEED AP welcomed new Lieutenant Governor Appointee S. Ross Rettie P. Eng, FEC.
• Council consented to receipt of reports from: the President; various council committees and working groups; the Registration Board; and the Executive Director.
• Council consented to approval respecting the recording of four motions earlier passed electronically (including prior meeting minutes); exam results; register amendments; and a number of terms of reference updates.
• Draft documents submitted by the Operational Constraints Committee regarding the role of the Executive Director and performance evaluation process for the position were considered and accepted.
• Council considered a submission presented by the Bylaw Review Committee regarding electronic voting for council election and bylaw purposes. Council was very supportive and passed related motions. Staff and the Bylaw Review Committee are now to consult with members and government leading (with council’s approval) to a possible bylaw vote by members later this year.
• Council considered material submitted by the Act Review Working Group regarding possible amendments to the Architects Act’s provisions (Sections 36 and 37) to align the Act with Canadian internship and foreign-trained architect registration standards. Council supported the Working Group’s efforts to continue to seek legislative amendments to reflect these registration standards.

The next official meeting of AIBC Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at the AIBC offices (#100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver). Members, associates and the public are welcome to attend; please confirm your attendance in advance by contacting Executive Coordinator Tracy Tough by e-mail (ttough@aibc.ca) or phone (604-683-8588, #335).