Role Call: AIBC Annual Conference Professional Development Committee

The AIBC Annual Conference Professional Development Committee is still seeking new members.

The committee will concern itself with planning, strategizing and coordinating the professional development program for the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference. Tasks include planning professional development streams; identifying and confirming potential session presenters; and providing session information for conference promotional material.

This committee typically meets every first and third Thursday from January to June. Meetings take place from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the AIBC offices.

If you are interested in volunteering on this committee, please contact Professional Services Coordinator Alexandra Kokol by email (akokol@aibc.ca).

 

Role Call: Design Panels

The AIBC invites applications from architects interested in serving on the following design panels:

• Tsawwassen First Nation
• Township of Esquimalt
• City of Parksville

The role of an advisory design panel member is to give impartial, professional advice directly on any proposal or policy affecting the community’s physical environment in the public interest.

To learn more about the procedures for serving on a panel, please refer to the following documents:

• AIBC Bulletin 65: Advisory Design Panels – Standards for Procedures and Conduct
• ADP Frequently Asked Questions

Please fill out an interactive application form and forward your submissions to the attention of Professional Services Coordinator Alexandra Kokol by email (akokol@aibc.ca).

Retired Architects Survey

AIBC architects and retired architects were invited to participate in a survey designed to provide the institute with feedback on the Retired Architect AIBC associate category. The survey ran from November 21 to December 5.

Thank you to those who took the time to complete the short, seven-question survey. More than 18% of architects and an impressive 63% of retired architects participated. A special shout out to Retired Architects AIBC for their contributions.

The winners of the survey random prize ($25 Starbucks card) will be notified shortly.

The survey results will be available for viewing in the new year. A report, including recommended next steps, will also be presented to council in early 2015. We invite all survey participants, and those interested in the topic to continue to follow the development of this council initiative.

Government-Managed Projects Could Save Ontario Money: Auditor-General

By Adrian Morrow
December 9, 2014, The Globe and Mail

Public-private partnerships have cost Ontario taxpayers nearly $8-billion more on infrastructure over the past nine years than if the government had successfully built the projects itself.

The revelation, from Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk, comes as Premier Kathleen Wynne stakes the province’s future on a vast construction program that will see dozens of new schools, bridges and subways built over the next decade. And it suggests Ms. Wynne can build that infrastructure more cheaply as she wrestles down a $12.5-billion deficit.

“If the public sector could manage projects successfully, on time and on budget, there is taxpayer money to be saved,” Ms. Lysyk said Tuesday at Queen’s Park.

Her audit looked at 74 projects – including several hospitals and the Eglinton light rail line – that were built using private partnerships, called Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP), by Crown corporation Infrastructure Ontario since 2005. Read more…

Vancouver’s deputy chief building official resigns $137 K/year job after bylaw breach

Carli Edwards, Vancouver’s deputy chief building official responsible for upholding the city’s building bylaw, resigned after she was caught doing a minor renovation on her home without a building permit. Photograph by: Vancouver Sun

By Jeff Lee,
December 11, 2014, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER – Carli Edwards, whose job was to uphold Vancouver’s building bylaw, has resigned after doing minor renovations on her home without a building permit, City Manager Penny Ballem said Thursday.

Edwards, who had been Vancouver’s deputy chief building official for nearly three years, voluntarily resigned from her $137,676-a-year job and was given six months’ severance after she co-operated with an investigation that started with the complaint of an internal whistleblower.

Ballem said Edwards had done a small renovation to her principal residence, but failed to obtain the proper permits. As the official with statutory power over the bylaw and building inspection department, the transgression was serious even though the value of the work was minor, Ballem said.

“When you are the statutory officer that is responsible for enforcing that bylaw, it is a much, much higher level of scrutiny and significance, obviously,” said Ballem, who received the whistleblower’s complaint Nov. 21.” Read more…

Illuminating Engineering Society, Vancouver Section

Architectural Lighting Tour of the Vancouver Aquarium

Join the team of consultants who designed the recent expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium for an exclusive tour. Understand the concept behind the recent revitalization of the Vancouver Aquarium from an architectural, lighting, and landscape design perspective and learn about the latest technologies used in materials not only for lighting but also for interactive media installations. The tour will be followed by a cocktail reception in the Arctic Gallery.

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015, 5:30-8:00pm.
Location: Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, B.C.
Cost: Member – $50, Non-members – $60. Members of affiliated associations are eligible for membership pricing – please contact registration@iesbc.org for details.
Learning Units (LUs): 1.5 Core
To register: You may register by purchasing tickets on-line.

New Registered Educational Provider: Illuminating Engineering Society, Vancouver Section

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, Vancouver, British Columbia (IESBC) is the British Columbia Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). The IESBC’s vision is to create a premier lighting community that’s dedicated to promoting the art and science of lighting to its members, allied profession organizations and to the public through inspiring events and through informative programs, presentations and networking events. To learn more about all AIBC Registered Educational Providers, please visit the AIBC website.

New Vancouver Building Bylaw will take effect on January 1, 2015

On April 1, 2014, Vancouver City Council adopted the 2012 British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) with additional requirements and revisions specific to Vancouver, which takes effect January 1, 2015.

Developed in consultation with industry professionals, the new 2014 Building Bylaw 10908 includes amendments to the current Building Bylaw 9419 to improve housing for seniors and people with disabilities, while supporting the objectives of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan.

• Read the new Vancouver-specific requirements and revisions
  (View this document in conjunction with the 2012 BCBC.)

The complete 2014 Building Bylaw will soon be available through the Queen’s Printer.

• Visit the Queen’s Printer website

British Columbia Building Code Revisions Coming December 19, 2014

As has been noted previously in E-News, a number of changes to the BC Building Code come into effect December 19, 2014. Highlights include:

• New Part 9 ventilation and energy requirements (9.32 and 9.36) 9.36
• Schedules A and B Letters of Assurance have received minor formatting corrections, their content has not been amended, but architects are advised to use the correct, current editions, available here, as of the implementation date
• Introduction of unique-to-BC provisions for Daycare facilities for children under 30 months in new article 3.3.2.16., complete with appendix notes
• Revised Soil Gas Control provisions in 9.13.4.
• Updated referenced standards, architects may need to update many specification sections.
  Many new, useful appendix notes which do not change the code requirements but assist in clarifying the meaning of various code requirements.

Replacement pages for those using printed versions of the code will be available soon at the British Columbia Codes web page.  In the meantime, the Ministerial Orders detailing the changes can be found at this site.

Online code users will see the changes as of the implementation date.