Palladio: The Architect Who Inspired Our Love of Columns

By Paul Kerley
BBC News Magazine, Sep 10, 2015

Andrea Palladio – an Italian who lived 500 years ago – is the only architect whose style is recognised with a suffix in English. As a new exhibition opens in London, we explore the enduring popularity of “Palladianism”.

A world without Andrea Palladio’s legacy would be a “very depressing one”, says Charles Hind, chief curator of collections at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Read more…

(Image: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London 1896. Courtesy of BBC News, Riba)

The World’s Most Amazing Future Condo Developments

By Daniel Tencer
The Huffington Post Canada, Aug 31, 2015

If you’ve been to one of Canada’s larger cities in recent years, particularly Toronto or Vancouver, you may have noticed something of a condo craze.

According to the 2011 national household survey, 53.5 per cent of the residents of Canada’s three largest cities — Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver — live in condos, and that doesn’t even take into account the last four years of furious construction.

So how is Canada’s condo landscape holding up compared to the rest of the world? Well, we certainly aren’t building any of the world’s craziest or loudest condo projects, but we are building some good enough to make the short list of a global architecture competition.

Two Vancouver buildings currently in development — the Nelson on the Park and Vancouver House — have been nominated for best future residential project at the 2015 World Architecture Festival. Read more…

(Image: Bjarkel Ingels’ Vancouver House, courtesy Westbank)

2015 AIBC Annual Conference: Featured Workshop – Practice Builder Bootcamp

The 2015 AIBC Annual Conference will feature the specialized workshop, Practice Builder Bootcamp.

This workshop is ideal for individuals thinking about starting their own practice or buying into an existing one. In this full day seminar style session, seasoned practitioners share their knowledge and experience to help inspire and guide participants who are considering ownership.

Discuss the stumbling blocks and opportunities to successful ownership; whether establishing a new practice or leveraging your accomplishments to buy into an existing firm.

Understand how to strategically position your new firm for success and growth. Gain an appreciation for the capital required to maintain a small firm through the emergent years to prepare for a thriving, sustainable practice.

Meet some of our featured Practice Builder Bootcamp speakers below!

Bing Thom CM, Architect AIBC, FRAIC, AIA

Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp (6 core LUs)
Bing is one of Canada’s most admired and accomplished architects. He worked in the offices of Fumihiko Maki and Arthur Erickson before starting his own firm, Bing Thom Architects (BTA), in 1982. With a portfolio of cultural, arts and institutional projects around the world, Bing Thom’s commitment to using architecture to improve the urban context and social condition has been recognized by a range of honours including the Order of Canada, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding contributions to architecture and community, and the RAIC Gold Medal.
Join Bing at Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp.

 

James Cheng B.ARCH M.ARCH, Architect AIBC, FRAIC, C.M.
Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp (6 core LUs)
James is a Canadian architect recognized for his pioneering contributions to west coast architecture and city building. He established James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc. in 1978. Since its inception, the firm has been presciently focused on designing high-density urban environments around nuanced open spaces that foster social interchange. James plays a leading role in the widely studied and emulated form of urban development known as Vancouverism. James has received over fifty design awards, including the Order of Canada & Canada’s Governor General’s Medal in Architecture.
Join James at Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp.
 
Michelle Fenton Architect AIBC, MRAIC
Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp (6 core LUs)
Michelle is one of three principals of studio B Architects. Her firm focuses on commercial, commercial interiors, post-secondary and institutional, custom single family residential, and master planning and mixed use projects. Prior to starting studio B architects, Michelle co-founded Groundswell Architects, a small design firm focused on doing work for not for profit organizations, institutional projects, places of worship and urban design research projects. Michelle’s particular interests lie in creating well-articulated public space through careful studies, stakeholder consultation and intuitive design.
Join Michelle at Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp.

 
Stefan Aepli Architect AIBC, MRAIC, SIA, LEED AP
Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp (6 core LUs)
Stefan is Principal & Partner at Francl Architecture. He has been the team leader on many residential, commercial, recreational and institutional projects over the course of his career. He has participated in major urban planning and design projects located in BC, the US and overseas. Stefan is currently looking to push the environmental responsibility in developments beyond LEED standards, exploring the Living Building Challenge, the Swiss Minergie-Eco label standard, the Passive House standard and to be carbon neutral or better in the near future.
Join Stefan at Workshop W2 – Practice Builder Bootcamp.

 

 

Visit the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference website to view all of our amazing speakers.

Register Now!

Early bird rates will be in effect through September 15, 2015. View conference pricing and register.

For detailed information about the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference, please visit the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference website.

2015 AIBC Annual Conference: Fluidity and Architecture

Fluidity and Architecture
October 29, 2015 – 8:30-10 a.m.

As described in a paper by panel moderator Dr. Nana Last, “Architectural fluidity is a social-spatial manifestation that entails the conjoining of forces, social, material, operational.”

Join our panel in a discussion of this thesis as it relates to an evolving 21st century architectural expression that utilizes the image of fluidity in its spatial composition, its relationship to the landscape, its use of new materials, and in formulating the interaction between people and buildings, and with each other.

Register today to attend the Fluidity and Architecture plenary session.

Visit the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference website for full details and to view conference pricing information.

2015 AIBC Annual Conference: Join Us in Celebrating the AIBC Architectural Award Winners

Opening Reception Featuring the Exhibitors’ Networking Session & the 2015 AIBC Architectural Awards Presentation
October 28, 2015 – 5-9 p.m.

In what is sure to be an enjoyable evening and in a departure from past years’ formal ceremonies, join us for cocktails as we celebrate the AIBC community and present the 2015 AIBC Architectural Awards at the opening reception.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Register today to attend the AIBC Architectural Awards reception.

Visit the 2015 AIBC Annual Conference website for full details and to view conference pricing information.

UBC SALA Comprehensive Studio 2015 Exhibition

(Image: Top: AIBC Councilor Gord Richards and Intern Architect Liaison Sara Kasaei in attendance. L to R: Reception guests view UBC SALA student exhibit. All photos by Alyssa Quiring)

Congratulations to the UBC SALA Master of Architecture students who recently exhibited at the AIBC Gallery. On opening night September 8, reception guests, including representatives from UBC and AIBC, celebrated the students’ achievement.

The Comprehensive Studio 2015 was an exhibition of selected student work from the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The Comprehensive Design Studio is a key element of the professional Master of Architecture curriculum at UBC SALA. Working in pairs, students at the end of their second year in the program undertake challenging programs and sites with the intent of consolidating their newly acquired knowledge of building systems, environmental systems and structure.

Projects displayed at the UBC SALA Comprehensive Studio 2015 exhibition included schematics, renderings and models of the new SALA building from the creative minds of the master of architecture students.

New WorkSafeBC Regulations on Building Investigation and Renovation

The AIBC would like to inform members and associates that there has been a change in WorkSafeBC requirements regarding investigation or renovation work in existing buildings. WorkSafeBC had previously required identification of hazardous materials (such as lead or asbestos) in pre-1990 buildings, prior to any requiring cutting or disturbing of materials (such as drywall). With recent revisions to their regulations, they now require this to be done in buildings of any age. They are observing that, as a result of free trade agreements, materials are being installed in new construction, from off-shore sources, that contain hazardous materials above local acceptable levels. Below are links to the regulation and guidelines, updated February 1, 2015.

http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/OHSRegulation/Part20.asp#SectionNumber:20.112

http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/OHSRegulation/GuidelinePart20.asp#SectionNumber:G20.112

What this means for architectural firms (or engineers) doing investigation or renovation work, is that they must obtain, from the owner of the building, a report identifying any hazardous materials before proceeding. This WorkSafeBC change may require professionals to educate their clients, as building owners may not yet be aware of this change in WorkSafeBC regulations.

The AIBC would like to thank the Building Envelope Committee for bringing this issue forward.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Drafting a Conservation Plan
This workshop will discuss and explain the content included in a Conservation Plan – a document that is an overview of all known information about a historic place including its history, a condition assessment, and recommendations for how conservation should be undertaken, and outline the long term maintenance of the building. Led by heritage Architect, Eric Pattison, Architect AIBC.

Date: November 19, 2015, 5:30-9:30pm
Location: BCIT Downtown, 555 Seymour Street (Rm 474)
Learning Units (LUs): 2 Non-Core LUs
Cost: $60 (Plus Taxes)
To register: https://register.beanstream.com/scripts/registration.asp?form=998

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Researching the History of a Building, Vancouver Archives
An introduction by Historian and Author, John Atkin, using a Strathcona heritage home as a case study to illustrate the steps to researching a home to understand it’s past and/or inform restoration and repairs. This is followed by an introduction to the Archives’ actual resources with one of the Archivists, using examples of research materials from attendees’ submitted research addresses.

Date: November 17, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Vancouver Archives, 1150 Chestnut St., Vancouver
Learning Units (LUs): 2 Non-Core LUs
Cost: $20 (LUs taxes)
To register: To register please call Vancouver Heritage Foundation at 604-264-9642

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Neighbourhood Zoning Walk: Mt. Pleasant
Join Civic Historian John Atkin for a walking tour through Mount Pleasant. We’ll explore this predominantly CD-1 zoning district and explain how that zoning affected the neighbourhood’s development and the implications of zoning that are affecting Mt Pleasant today.

Date: November 17, 2015, 2-4pm
Location: Mount Pleasant
Learning Units (LUs): 2 Non-Core LUs
Cost: $30 (Plus Taxes)
To register: https://register.beanstream.com/scripts/registration.asp?form=1494

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Researching the History of a Building, Vancouver Public Library-Special Collections
Learn about the historic maps, images, directories and abundant online reference materials available in Special Collections at the Downtown Branch of the VPL.

Date: November 3, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Vancouver Public Library, Central Library – 350 W Georgia St (7th Floor)
Learning Units (LUs): 2 Non-Core LUs
Cost: Free
To register: https://register.beanstream.com/scripts/registration.asp?form=249

Calling All Architects AIBC: Vancouver & Victoria Exam Invigilators Wanted

The AIBC invites its members to support intern architects on their path towards registration as an architect. The institute is seeking volunteers to act as exam invigilators for the administration of the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) which will be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 2-3, 2015.

The Canadian and experience-based ExAC has been successful in increasing the rate of intern architects becoming registered, especially long-standing intern architects. ExAC is a critical component of the registration process, and supporting it contributes to the health and vitality of the profession.

Those interested in volunteering should be an Architect AIBC. Previous experience invigilating would be an asset but is not a requirement. Invigilators are invited to volunteer for either or both days, and for either or both the morning (7 am – 11 am) or the afternoon session (noon – 4 pm).

The examination in Vancouver will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre – East (under the sails). The examination in Victoria will take place at the British Columbia Construction Association (ground-floor board room) at 655 Tyee Road, Victoria.*

Breakfast and lunch will be provided and any travel and parking expenses will be reimbursed.

If you are interested in the opportunity, please respond by Thursday, October 22, 2015 to AIBC Admissions Coordinator, Belinda Chao at bchao@aibc.ca

*Updated September 23, 2015

Next Round of Oral Reviews and Oral Review Preparation Workshop

Three dates have now been set for the next round of oral reviews: Thursday October 15, Tuesday October 20 and Tuesday November 17. The oral review is an interview-based examination open to Intern Architects who have:

• Completed and logged at least 2800 hours; and
• Completed the required AIBC courses.

Oral reviews are also open to those Alternative Qualifications Candidates who have:

• Successfully completed their Oral Assessment;
• Successfully completed all oral assessment panel recommendations and/or requirements; and
• Completed the six required AIBC courses.

Applications, along with an employer’s letter and fee payment, must be received by Thursday October 1, 2015. Eligibility will be confirmed by the Registration and Licensing Department.

For complete details and to download the application form.

Oral Review Preparation Workshop

A free Oral Review Preparation Workshop will be held on Monday September 28, 2015 at 6 p.m. Please RSVP at falloralreviewworkshop.splashthat.com. Questions about the oral reviews and workshop can be directed to Belinda Chao, Admissions Coordinator, at bchao@aibc.ca or 604-683-8588 ext. 324.