2023
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
reimagine.ca
Joyful Journeys
Community
Solstice Party
+27
countries across the globe represented by our team
Regenerative Architecture
Toward
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
WHO WE ARE
Bucharest
Edmonton Vancouver
Calgary
Reimagine’s story began over thirty years ago, when Vivian Manasc and Richard Isaac started designing in the far north. Working with Indigenous communities engrained many values in the two young architects: how to use the power of the sun, how to bring people together and ask the best questions, and how to design with beauty, a sense of place and with respect for local culture. They learned to design buildings that improve our environment. Vivian and Richard brought these lessons together to form Manasc Isaac in 1997, quickly earning a reputation as a collective of sustainable design mavericks, launching the first Sustainable Building Symposium and championing the burgeoning third-party-certification system, LEED®. The firm rebranded as Reimagine in 2021. Its vision for a sustainable future is built on regenerative architecture, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Edmonton
4
Bucharest
studios Calgary
Vancouver
Edmonton Design Week
Solstice Party
4%
First Nations and Métis team members
Edmonton Design Week
3/9
principals are women
62% full-time staff are women
57% design professionals are women
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
WHAT WE DO 65
projects working with First Nations, Inuit and
$33M
funding secured for our clients (2020-2023)
$120,000
pro-bono work contributed through our Blue Sky and Salmon Award
Métis communities
At Reimagine: We are committed to aligning our vision with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) as a global framework. Sustainability is at the core of our practice, integrated into all our projects to create healthy, sustainable, energyefficient, and inclusive spaces. We strive to contribute to regenerative architecture through the work we do on a daily basis within our communities and on the land where we work. Staff Retreat | UNSDGs Workshop
During our annual staff retreat, we facilitated a workshop that provided a crucial platform for team members to align our projects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reinforce our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Through interactive discussions, we focused on connecting specific projects with their corresponding SDGs, enabling us to identify, measure, and progress towards our targeted goals. Our objective was to establish a reference that highlights the alignment of our project goals with the SDGs, and deepens our understanding of their significance. This reference will be regularly updated to ensure ongoing progress. We focus on five SDGs: Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). These goals guide our efforts and enable us to make meaningful contributions toward sustainable development. Through our team’s involvement in the sustainability conversation, and at events across the globe, we gain invaluable insights and make meaningful contributions to the ongoing discussions on pressing sustainability issues. By staying informed and engaged, we ensure that our knowledge and practices are aligned with the most current and impactful sustainability initiatives. Staff Retreat | UNSDGs Workshop
Reimagine is a Member of The United Nations Global Compact Canada (UNGCC) “We are proud to join the United Nations Global Compact as part of our commitment to being a responsible company. This commitment is to operate responsibly, in alignment with universal sustainability principles, take actions to support society, and report to the UN Global Compact annually on our ongoing efforts.”
In our recent projects, we actively engage our stakeholders, clients, and the community, involving them in the alignment process. Through this inclusive approach, we raise awareness of our global contribution and the importance of each individual’s role in advancing the 2030 agenda and achieving the SDGs. We recognize that addressing the SDGs requires a holistic perspective, considering the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and governance factors. By integrating ESG practices and promoting alignment with the SDGs, we are committed to creating a positive impact on a global scale.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
We are committed to 100% of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Reimagine’s 7 Big Ideas Sustainable Development Goals Framework Buildings provide shelter, the most basic of human needs - but they also extend into the aspirational realm. Architecture is a practicethat impacts, even transforms the world. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] form an elegant framework that Reimagine applies to our process: a blueprint to build equity and
prosperity, for people and the planet. There are 7 Big Ideas that Reimagine holds close to our heart: ideas that ground our practice in our values. Across the following pages, we will map our Big Ideas to the United Nations SDGs.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
REIMAGINE FOCUSED SDGs & PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL
REIMAGINE BIG IDEAS
1.
2.
VALUE ALIGNMENT
3.
AUTHENTIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
4.
REIMAGINE JOURNEY
Driftpile Community School
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (First LEED® Certified Building
in Alberta)
Greenstone Government of Canada Building (First LEED® Gold Building in the Arctic)
1996
2005 2003
Yukon Visitor’s Reception Centre (Governor General’s Award in Architecture)
City of Calgary Water Centre (LEED® Gold)
Banff Town Hall (First C-2000 Green Building in Alberta)
2005
St. John Ambulance (First LEED® Silver in Alberta)
PCL Nor Head (LEE
2011 2008
Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation (LEED® Gold)
20 Athabasca University ARC (LEED® Gold)
T
C
L COMPACT CANADA
5.
EMPOWERED
COMMUNITIES
rth American dquarters ED® Gold)
014
MacEwan University
Allard Hall
2015
Escuela Mill Creek School Replacement (LEED® Gold)
2019 2018
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce (First Net-Zero Commercial and LEED® Platinum
Commercial Building in Alberta)
6.
CARBON &
ENERGY
Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence UIA/UN-HABITAT (Shortlisted Project)
7.
LIVABLE CITIES
Kehewin Cultural Education Centre
2020
REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE
Kashgêk’ Building
2022
2023
EIA Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Centre
Kihcihkaw askî Sacred Earth Ceremonial Site (First Urban Indigenous Ceremonial Site in Canada)
2021 Métis Crossing Cultural Gathering Centre (Prairie Wood Design Award)
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
WHERE WE WORK 1. 2. 3.
VALUE ALIGNMENT
AUTHENTIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
4.
COMMUNITIES
5.
ENERGY
6.
LIVABLE CITIES
7.
EMPOWERED
CARBON &
REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE
Reimagine works in many market sectors, including: First Nation & Métis, Provincial and Federal, K-12 education, post-secondary institutions, NGOs and non-profits, health and healing, community and cultural development, residential, municipal, science and technology, as well as corporate.
Our work across Canada encompasses a broad spectrum of market sectors, embracing various communities and stakeholders. The regions highlighted on the map signify the locations where our initiatives are actively contributing to positive change. By focusing on the five SDGs and their alignment with our initiatives, we strive to make a substantial and lasting impact on pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. The map serves as a powerful visualization of our efforts, illustrating the geographic distribution and magnitude of our work. Through our collaborative and inclusive approach, we aim to catalyze positive change, foster innovation, and build a better future for all.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
1
Value Alignment Creating ripple effects to improve the health of people, and the planet
Key SDGs:
Architecture is a holistic practice. Our work, designing buildings and spaces, directly aligns with the UNSDGs. Some SDGs, which aren’t directly met through our work, are indirectly supported through the partnerships we forge with our clients and communities. Relationships are at the heart of our work. Our partnerships with our clients, the communities to which our projects belong, contractors and trades, and the relationships our team builds internally are critical to the success of our vision. Partnership isn’t an object, or a tool in our belt. It’s a verb. It’s a “do” word. By aligning with clients whose ambitions serve to make the world a better place, we extend our impact well beyond the act of designing a building.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
We’ve held
55+
Design Charettes with communities designing new projects over the past two years!
Sustainable Architecture At Reimagine, our team possesses a diverse range of skills essential for practicing sustainable architecture, engineering, and design. Our ESGaccredited professionals prioritize sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring that our projects align with environmental, social, and governance principles. With our WELL APs, we focus on promoting health and wellbeing in the built environment, while our LEED accredited professionals excel in implementing green building strategies and environmentally friendly design. We also have Certified Passive House professionals dedicated to energy-efficient and passive building design. To create safe environments, we have crime prevention (CPTED) professionals, and our Rick Hansen professionals advocate for accessible and inclusive design, ensuring that our spaces are welcoming to all individuals. Each of these standards is adopted by our project teams and implemented based on project goals, location, client needs, and community requirements. Every team member plays a crucial role in advancing our sustainable practice and creating a positive impact on the world.
Energy Workshop with team members
Reimagine LEEDs the way:
3
Certified
8
Silver
Systems Coordination: The following Youth Transision Home illustrates the la Through effective collaboration we des
1
Platinum
22 10 Gold
LEED Projects
Civil
Architectural
Envelope
The Reimagine team’s skills and specialties:
Integrated Design Integrated Design is at the core of our commitment to delivering sustainable and holistic solutions. Reimagine celebrates Integrated Design as the foundation of our sustainable project approach. We emphasize collaboration and seamless coordination from start to finish. During the design development phase, we bring together all stakeholders, including the client and contractor, to promote effective communication and establish a shared vision. Through regular workshops, we involve consultants from various disciplines to coordinate all systems, such as structure, mechanical, and electrical. This collaborative process helps us identify challenges, conflicts, and innovative opportunities.
3D model of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Fitrst Nation (ANSN) ayers of coordination required integrated sustainable design. sign buildings that are regenerative and affordable.
Structural
Mechanical
Electrical
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Reimagine launched the Blue Sky Award in 2011 to provide pro-bono services to Albertan organizations that contribute toward fulfilling SDGs. We understand that our work may only directly support some SDGs - but by choosing partners who target other goals, we can expand our reach. Blue Sky award winners include the Skills Society for who we designed the Social Innovation Action Lab, FAVA, for whom we created space in the Orange Hub, and CASA, for whom we envisioned a new facility. By continually circling back to our values, from which we draw our 7 Big Ideas, Reimagine ensures that the tasks we undertake bring us closer to repairing the world through our work.
Our Response to Truth and Reconciliation: As a design practice, we are dedicated to aligning our work with the principles outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. We commit to integrating these principles, and standards into our policies and core operational activities.
TRC call to action 92: Business and Reconciliation Our commitment includes meaningful consultation, respectful relationships, and obtaining consent before undertaking economic development projects. We prioritize equitable access to employment, training, and education for Aboriginal peoples, ensuring long-term sustainable benefits for communities. Additionally, we provide education and skills training to our staff on the history of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, residential schools, Treaties, Indigenous law, and intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. Through these efforts, we contribute to reconciliation and support Indigenous rights.
Nazko First Nation receives the 2022 Salmon Award
SKILLS Society, a Blue Sky Award Winner, used their award to map out the SKILLS Society Action Lab. This space can be booked by community organizations, and is used as a problem-busting laboratory, offering various tools that facilitate smoother problem solving and discourse.
Skill Society Action Lab
SALMON AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE
Ar tis t: @
ca r riely nn
_victo
r
Upon opening a Vancouver studio in 2021, Reimagine created the Salmon Award to get to know the Indigenous communities of British Columbia and the Yukon better. Riffing on the popularity of the Blue Sky Award, our Salmon Award for Architecture offers a BC/Yukon Indigenous community or organization $20,000 worth of design services, to help bring their project to life! The winner of the inaugural 2022 Salmon Award was Nazko First Nation, with whom Reimagine is currently working.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Architecture Co ns tr u ct
Envisi on
er
Reimagining old buildings, and repurposing and upcycling materials from buildings that are torn down, are crucial components of our vision.
te Fabrica
of building generates a huge amount of waste. Spent materials, and embodied energy from buildings that we tear down and replace, are particularly wasteful. Reimagine supports a circular economy for the design and construction world: one in which waste fuels our future!
n io
Us
The circular economy The process
De
sign
g clin y c Re
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce in Edmonton, Alberta, is a “net-zero energy” commercial building designed to showcase the feasibility of low-energy-use structures in cold climates. The project has achieved LEED Platinum certification. To meet its sustainability goals, the design team opted for sustainably harvested wood products, which not only store carbon but also require less energy-intensive manufacturing compared to non-renewable materials. This choice of wood aligns with the building’s net-zero-energy aspirations and offers significant environmental advantages over its lifetime. Moreover, the project demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and resource conservation by repurposing nearly all wood scraps from the construction process into functional elements like benches, desks, washroom vanities, partitions, planters, and interior art. This practice fosters a circular economy and further contributes to the building’s overall sustainability efforts.
Recycled Wood Stairs at The Mosaic Centre
The Tree Table at the heart of our Edmonton studio
From Tree to Table. A micro example of this philosophy is located in our Edmonton studio. When a 65-year-old ash tree needed to be cut down to make space for one of our buildings, we decided to save it from becoming mulch. Working with a local carpenter, we transformed the tree into a beautiful table, large enough to seat our studio for staff meetings and events. Our values are engraved into the centre of the table, inspiring us to continually envision new life for old things!
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
2
Authentic Learning Environments Supporting inclusive, equitable and accessible lifelong learning
Key SDGs:
Escuela Mill Creek School Replacement
Reimagine is committed to revolutionizing learning spaces, embracing the evolving educational landscape. We understand the crucial role these environments play in shaping the minds of future thinkers and visionaries. Our designs transcend mere functionality, seeking to create spaces that delight, inspire, and accommodate all learners, teachers, and the broader community. By recognizing the unique needs of each student, we craft inclusive spaces that empower and support their educational journey. Together, let us reimagine education by meeting students where they are, unlocking their boundless potential, and forging a path towards a brighter future of limitless possibilities. In our process, we embark on a journey of reimagining education, where we meet students where they are, unlocking their boundless potential, and paving the way towards a brighter future filled with limitless possibilities. Through our transformative designs, we envision a world where learning becomes an inspiring and empowering experience for all.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Frog Lake First Nations Junior/Senior High School
Recent designs for First Nations on-reserve community schools showcase the blend of spaces for intimate in-person learning and diverse virtual environments. The Kehewin Cultural Education Centre creates opportunities for local craftspeople to participate in the design and construction while creating long-term learning environments that reflect the community’s unique language and culture. For the new Saddle Lake school, we are thinking beyond the building, by developing a curriculum that educates teachers on how to use the new types of learning environments that were custom created for the community.
Kehewin Cultural Education Centre
TRC Calls to Action 62-65: Education for Reconciliation As a team, Reimagine actively collaborates with governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families. We advocate for equitable funding in education to ensure quality learning experiences for First Nations children, both on and off reserves. Our efforts aim to create inclusive educational opportunities, empowering Aboriginal communities and shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
The new Escuela Mill Creek School for instance, articulates how our educational environments feel different from a typical school: it’s full of highly flexible spaces that are designed to meet the needs of students who learn in different ways. By offering varied, beautiful spaces, the school sets all students up for success. Natural light, fresh air, and a connection to the outdoors are cornerstones of our educational environments. Additionally, the school’s role in the community is enhanced in the new building, by celebrating Spanish culture and language, indoors and out.
Escuela Mill Creek School Replacement
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Modern comforts, innovation, and the beauty of the natural environment blend seamlessly in the new Northern Lakes College High Prairie Campus Building. The design acknowledges the college’s deep roots in Alberta history and culture while looking toward the future of sustainable design and innovations in learning. The building provides access to trades and health sciences laboratories for post-secondary students studying at smaller campuses. The facility is designed to be a living learning laboratory and all mechanical, plumbing and electrical design, as well as HVAC systems, are designed as demonstration spaces to help educate students. The campus achieved LEED® Silver Certification in September 2022, and is expected to achieve net-zero energy consumption as soon as the solar panels are installed. Northern Lakes College High Prairie Campus Building
TRC Calls to Action 62-65: Education for Reconciliation
Reimagine responds to the call for reconciliation by incorporating design and community engagement. We collaborate with Aboriginal communities, postsecondary institutions, and educators to create learning spaces that honor Indigenous culture and promote inclusivity. Through our designs, we aim to advance understanding of reconciliation and create environments that support the educational needs of all students, including ending the backlog of First Nations students seeking post-secondary education.
LEED Certified projects achieve
55%
energy cost reduction over the NECB baseline
Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence
Innovative in its aesthetics and in its sustainability initiatives, the Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence provides a warm, comfortable home away from home for the Polytechnic’s student population and their visitors. The residence’s conventional rectangular volume is belied by its creative and unexpected use of interior space; pools of sunlight fill gathering spaces through ceiling-high windows that are located in seemingly spontaneous disarray around the building’s perimeter, offering attractive views to occupants of the polytechnic campus and surrounding marshland. The building has no corridors, a remarkable attribute for a post-secondary residence. Instead, a five-storey atrium connects the floors visually, with diffused sunlight entering from clerestory windows. Open railings along the hallways and interior glazing within common areas encourage overlapping and engagement between different spaces.
MacEwan University Allard Hall offers students from the University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications purpose-built spaces equipped with 21st Century Learning technology and stateof-the-art classroom and performance areas. The Hall’s layered and intersecting elements, from the inviting, sun-lit communal spaces to the criss-crossing, ‘nesting’ staircases, foster spontaneous and creative connection. Bright splashes of colour and a sleek glass envelope invite freshness and vigour into the Hall’s communal areas.
MacEwan University Allard Hall
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
3
Holistic Health& Well-Being Creating buildings that enhance humans experience and behaviour
Key SDGs:
Amii Event and Collaboration Hub
Reimagine’s approach to health and well-being creates a ripple effect that starts from within, extending to our projects, communities, and the planet. We prioritize the health and well-being of our team, fostering a supportive environment. By designing spaces that enhance physical, mental, and emotional health, we improve lives. We embrace our responsibility to the wider community and city, promoting health through sustainable and inclusive design. With a focus on minimizing our ecological footprint, we aim to create a healthier world.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Health begins at home: Our studios are
testbeds for the work we complete for others. Our commitment to holistic well-being is easily spotted in our office. At our Edmonton studio, we provide access to an in-house chef who prepares healthy vegetarian food for the team, and make amenities to bolster health and well-being available to our team. These include a well-equipped bike storage and shower facility, a rooftop garden, a green wall and more!
In-House Chef
Green Transportation
Shower
Fitness Subsidy
A regular day in our Edmonton Studio:
TRC Calls to Action 18-24: Health Our firm is actively responding to the call for healing and recovery within Indigenous communities. We collaborate closely with these communities to design spaces that facilitate healing on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Through our designs for Aboriginal healing centers, we prioritize creating environments that address the harms caused by residential schools. Our goal is to create spaces that foster healing, well-being, and resilience, supporting individuals throughout their journey towards healing and recovery.
In-House Coaching
At our studios, we believe in creating a joyful journey for all our employees. We prioritize their health and well-being, and it’s an integral part of our culture. We start by offering coaching and mentoring programs that make our employees feel welcomed, connected, and supported. We provide them with the tools they need to grow and succeed, fostering a sense of bonding and belonging in an environment that allows each person to thrive.
Design Workshop - Staff Meeting
And guess what? We even have an in-house band and music instruments, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to our in-house events.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
At Reimagine, embracing a shift in health mindset is essential for sustainable and regenerative practice, especially when tackling projects from diverse market sectors. Recognizing that each sector demands unique considerations for the well-being of occupants empowers us to design spaces that promote health and wellness. This approach enhance the quality of our work and ensures we create environments that positively impact people’s lives.
Health and Well-being pillars in design: Considering physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health aspects during the design process is paramount. A holistic approach ensures that our projects promote well-being, comfort, and harmony for occupants. Integrating these considerations fosters spaces that supports physical well-being but also foster emotional balance, spiritual nourishment, and mental clarity.
Universal design is an important consideration when we design our buildings as it reflects our commitment to inclusivity and equality to create environment that is accessible and beneficial for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. It integrates inclusive elements that promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It also foster functionality, comfort, and adaptability. universal design ensures that spaces harmonize with individuals’ diverse needs, empowering them to thrive and enjoy optimal health and wellness within their surroundings.
Recycled Wood Stairs at The Mosaic Centre
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Design for healthy occupants, community and planet by adopting Concepts and features of WELL Standards: Our projects are designed to support the health of their occupants, and we map this across several fields:
90%
of our building have operable windows, for natural ventilation
AIR Feeling too hot or too cold can limit an occupant’s enjoyment of space, and it can also reduce their productivity. Our buildings strive toward occupant comfort, considering aspects such as passive thermal control, individual thermostats, operable windows, and climateappropriate building envelopes.
THERMAL COMFO Athabasca University Academic Research Centre
We’ve always known that fresh air makes people feel better, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taught us how critical air quality is to maintaining health. Our buildings offer clean air and feature leadingedge air filtration systems (HEPA) and operable windows.
St. Albert Public Library Jensen Lakes Library
LIGHT We design with the understanding that light can impact the visual, circadian and mental health of humans. Our buildings integrate natural and electric light in strategies that offer the right amount of light for the space; for example, hospital operations require different light levels than an office. By optimizing light levels, we help to improve the mood and health of our projects’ end-users.
ORT
Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence
MOVEMENT
MacEwan University Allard Hall
Activity is healthy, and we encourage occupants to move through the space where possible by including feature stairs that invite and lay out our buildings in a way that inspires exploration.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Our approach to space design goes beyond aesthetics. We strive to create environments that actively engage the mind, heightening human senses and enriching overall experiences. One of our essential strategies is nature-based design, which incorporates biophilic design principles to promote human health and well-being. In our designs, we carefully select textures, patterns, and colors that resonate with cultural and occupant-specific values and needs. This deliberate choice aims to create spaces where individuals feel a sense of belonging, fostering a strong connection with their surroundings.
MIND
MATERIALS We choose materials that are healthy for people and the planet. This means opting for low-VOC products and nontoxic materials and prioritizing using natural materials. Wood is an exceptionally powerful element, and its use has been proven to boost perceptions of comfort and improve health and productivity.
Amii Event and Collaboration Hub
Amii Event and Collaboration Hub
COMMUNITY
Unwanted sounds can significantly impact concentration and focus and can create anxiety. Our team maps out the requirements for each space to ensure that sound levels are managed to protect the health of our building occupants, whether they are children in school or employees in an office.
SOUND
Historic McKay Avenue School Playground
Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence
Buildings have the power to bolster social diversity and inclusion. Our integrative process invites a broad range of stakeholders to the table to help ensure our projects help the people they are designed for. Postoccupancy evaluations are undertaken to measure how well we met the brief and to collect lessons learned. Refer to POE of Frog Lake by scanning the QR Code. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
4
Empowered Communities Facilitating a sustainable future for communities
Key SDGs:
Kehewin Cultural Education Centre
Our work serves our individual clients, and the larger community to which they belong. Reimagine’s holistic process pivots on community integration and buy-in, and we deeply value the relationships that develop along the timeline of our projects. We empower the communities we work in, through our process, too. Working with Indigenous communities, we build capacity, through partnerships with local artists, designers, engineers, trades, contractors, labourers, and suppliers. These partnerships are key to our most successful projects. They serve as a tangible articulation of the value that a community should be accorded in the design and construction of a facility. They also build a sense of pride into the process, ensuring that the community values the building which they co-created, and that it is cherished for its long life.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Community engagem as it ensures that dive fosters meaningful co and creates designs t aspirations of the com committed to facilitat exemplified in our rol Centre at Edmonton the process, we active keepers from Indigen from its inception to c feedback and input, o and individual consult behind the design of guided our choices in incorporation, color s integrating their voice an authentic and inclu story, diversity and ric Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Center (IIRC) at Edmonton International Airport (EIA) - Grand Opening Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Centre (IIRC) at Edmonton International Airport (EIA) - Grand Opening
Another significant community-focused cultural facility is Kehewin Cultural Education Center. It stands as a remarkable cultural facility where community members played a pivotal role in its construction. Their involvement in creating the cladding adds a distinct and special element to the centre. This unique experience fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the community, making the facility a true reflection of their cultural heritage and values.
Elders and Knowledge Keepers of Kehewin First Nation were invited to provide their insight and wisdom on Cree-language wayfinding throughout the school. This enriches the students experience by strengthening the connection between students and their community language, history, and culture.
Kehewin Cultural Education Centre
40
• REIMAGINE ARCHITECTS LTD. | CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ment is essential in our process erse perspectives are heard, ollaborations, promotes inclusivity, that truly reflect the needs and mmunity we serve.Our firm is deeply ting community engagement, as le in the Indigenous Interpretive n International Airport. Throughout ely involved elders and knowledge nous communities across Canada, completion. Their invaluable obtained through group workshops tations, became the driving force the space.Their wisdom and insights n design components, language schemes, textures, and patterns. By es and cultural heritage, we created usive space that truly celebrates the chness of Indigenous cultures.
Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Centre (IIRC) at Edmonton International Airport (EIA) - Grand Opening
TRC Call to Actions 57: Professional Development and Training for Public Servants Our firm delivers comprehensive training programs to our team members, educating them on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including residential schools, Indigenous rights, Treaties, and the relationship between Aboriginal communities and the government, fostering understanding and promoting effective engagement.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
5
Energy & Carbon Innovating for sustainable consumption & production patterns
Key SDGs:
The Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence is a gem in the crown of sustainable architecture in Canada; a 153-kW photovoltaic array is integrated into the exterior facade, covering the east, west, and south faces of the building. The building uses all LED lighting and boasts a high-performance, Passive Housecertified fibreglass curtain wall that exceeds National Energy Code requirements.
Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence
According to the United Nations Environment Program, buildings and their construction contribute to 36% of global energy consumption each year. As architects, we bear a responsibility to drive innovation in design, construction, and operations to address this significant energy use. At Reimagine, we recognize the crucial role our projects play in directly supporting multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By prioritizing energy-efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in our designs, we actively contribute to the global efforts towards sustainability and a greener future. Through our commitment to sustainable practices, we strive to make a positive impact on the built environment and foster a more environmentally conscious industry.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Northern Lakes College High Prairie Campus Building Through our process, we:
innovate envelopes
Increasing the performance of existing buildings, via reimagined building envelopes
clad with photovoltaic
Integrating PV cladding into two public buildings to encourage alternative energy generation
chase net-zero
Integrating net-zero ready design into a new post-secondary building
The incorporation of geothermal energy and solar panels in Kwanlin Dün Education Hub project will have a significant impact on its sustainability. By utilizing geothermal energy for heating and cooling, we have significantly reduced our reliance on traditional energy sources and effectively decreased greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of a high-performance envelope, designed to optimize insulation and minimize heat transfer, further enhances the building’s energy efficiency. This leads to reduced energy consumption, lower operating costs, and improved occupant comfort within the indoor environment. Solar panels on the roof enhances the project’s sustainability by generating clean and renewable electricity. By capturing the power of the sun, we further decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.
Operational Carbon Half of the equation has to do with reducing how much energy our buildings consume. Simple design strategies, such as passive heating and cooling, are able to cut down the amount of energy required to achieve thermal comfort. Because most of our buildings are situated in cold climates, we pay special consideration to envelope assemblies: the material that wraps around our buildings to keep heat inside during winter, and out during summer. The better a building’s envelope, the less energy will need to be spent keeping it comfortable. The other half of the equation focuses on clean energy production. At Reimagine, we are dedicated to incorporating evolving energy technologies into our buildings. Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy has emerged as a distinctive element in numerous projects, becoming a signature feature. Additionally, achieving Net Zero energy is a targeted goal for select projects, such as the Northern Lakes College High Prairie Campus Building. We collaborate closely with our clients and consultants to design mechanical systems, such as heat pumps, that primarily rely on electricity and eliminate the need for traditional energy sources.
Kwanlin Dün Education Hub CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
University of Alberta Botanic Garden Main Entry Pavilion
75%
of our buildings have heavy timber structures
Embodied Carbon The construction industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, we recognize the urgent need to reduce our environmental impact. From the outset, we prioritize sustainable material choices and construction methods that minimize embodied carbon. By selecting low-carbon materials and promoting circular economy principles, we strive to reduce the carbon footprint associated with our projects. Additionally, we collaborate continuously with our project teams, including architects, engineers, and contractors, to explore innovative strategies for reducing embodied carbon. This involves integrating sustainable design practices, optimizing material use, and implementing efficient construction techniques. Carbon consideration is critical for new construction projects, where structural material choices are essential. such as the University of Alberta Botanic Garden Main Entry Pavilion, where a glulam structure was selected as a low-carbon material. Retrofitting existing buildings is another key component of reducing carbon impact, and Reimagine specializes in sustainable renovations, like the Amii Event and Collaboration Hub.
Reimagine carefully evaluates the life cycle impacts of materials, considering their extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life disposal.
40%
of our projects are renovated and reimagined existing buildings
Amii Event and Collaboration Hub
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
6
Livable Cities Nourishing the sustainability and resiliency of the urban environment, for all
Key SDGs:
Our studios are situated in urban centres. Cities are our home. We are committed to making these concrete jungles more beautiful and livable, one project at a time. Historic McKay Avenue School Playground
Edmonton, Reimagine’s original point of origin, is a city that flourished in the 1970s. Concrete towers popped up throughout the core, and many of these are at a critical moment where a decision must be made: to either retrofit them, or build new. The greenest building is the one that is already built. Consequently Reimagine advocates saving them, Historic McKay Avenue School Playground where possible. This helps not only to preserve community history, but to help address the climate crisis as well. Given the vast amounts of embodied energy in existing buildings, it makes sense to extend their lives, when we can.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
kihcihka
The Roundhouse - MacEwan Innovation Hub is an instrumental contributor to creating a vibrant and livable city, while fostering the long-term viability of students’ entrepreneurial projects and ideas. Situated at the heart of the city within MacEwan University Allard Hall, this dynamic space serves as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and growth. The Roundhouse is more than just a physical location; it is a vibrant community where ideas, people, and resources converge. Here, students are empowered to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, accessing the support, mentorship, and resources necessary for success. The Roundhouse serves as a hub of creativity and collaboration, providing a platform for students to network, share ideas, and engage with a diverse range of partners from academia, industry, and the community.
In 2015, the Edmonton Indigenous Cultural Resource Centre proposed to the City of Edmonton a concept for creating a permanent urban site for cultural ceremonies, events and knowledge sharing for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The City collaborated to secure a site on the former Fox Farms land, and thus the kihcihkaw askî project emerged. kihcihkaw askî, meaning “Sacred Earth,” provides a beautiful, land-based context for the inter-generational learning, community engagement, and collaboration that are so essential to Indigenous culture. The site facilitates important events, such as sweat lodges and ceremonial feasts, while also supporting the exchange of traditional knowledge, such as the growing of medicinal herbs and other land-based learning opportunities. kihcihkaw askî will be operated by the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre, IKWC, in agreement with the City of Edmonton.
aw askî Sacred Earth Ceremonial Site
Roundhouse - MacEwan Innovation Hub | MacEwan University CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
City of Calgary Water Centre
Principal Architect, Vivian Manasc, discovered a vacant mechanical room atop a converted office building. Transforming an unused space into the New Cambridge Lofts Penthouse, this space is a showcase of the opportunities hidden in plain sight.
This dazzling penthouse, located smack-dab in the centre of the city, enjoys abundant natural light and, most remarkably, no air conditioning or heating! With winter temperatures sometimes dropping to -40, the space is kept warm by piping in waste heat from the elevator mechanical room and a triplepaned glass and a composite curtain wall framing. The 12-foot tall windows that span the suite’s circumference are brightly coloured and boast an array of solar panels. New Cambridge Lofts Penthouse
The first LEED®-Gold certified building in Alberta and, at the time of it’s opening, the largest LEED®rated office building in Alberta, the City of Calgary Water Centre stands as an emblem of Calgary’s commitment to sustainable architecture and construction. Inspired by the City’s green building challenge, our team collaborated with Sturgess Architecture to go above and beyond. The Water Centre embodies the movement and beauty of water in its systems and aesthetics, resulting in a building that is both functionally efficient and visually-striking.
The Historic McKay Avenue School Playground was recognized with a 2019 Edmonton Urban Design Award. Respecting the context of the historic school building adjacent to the greenspace, this playground provides a vibrant community space for Edmonton’s young families in the densely populated core. Designing child-friendly cities is important to our vision of vibrant and livable cities.
Historic McKay Avenue School Playground CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Reimagine Studio | Edmonton
10225 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0A1 53.5563020901007, -113.50107934839599
During times of challenge, cities and their resiliency are put to the test. A conversation swept the city of Edmonton in 2020, as more people learned of Frank Oliver’s racist legacy. The building where our studio is located was formerly named “The Oliver Building,” as it sits on his former homestead, and it became a priority for us to come up with a creative way to dename the building. An intersectional panel was assembled to review and choose an approach, and we now have a series of educational plaques that accurately illuminate the history of the site. By covering the letters, but revealing the mid-century typeface below, we were able to “dename” the building but retain a design element from the building’s original construction. On ground level, we installed four pedestal signs that also used the circular perforated forms, with plaques raised an inch above the face of the perforated circle. These plaques include text illuminating the history through four stories: - Frank Oliver, whose house was on this site prior to the current building - 10225 100 Avenue, the site on which our building rests, which has had several inhabitants over the years - Papaschase Cree, who had a reserve from the south side of the river nearby and who had been coerced out of their land by Frank Oliver - Elizabeth Brass Donald, a member of the Papaschase Cree who was photographed standing defiantly in front of Frank Oliver’s house We developed these plaques in consultation with Dwayne Donald, a descendant of Elizabeth Brass Donald, and we sourced photographs from Dwayne Donald as well as the City of Edmonton Archives and Library & Archives Canada. Now, when passersby walk along the sidewalk along 103 Street, they can learn more about the legacy of our site and our building, 10225 100 Avenue.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
7
Regenerative Architecture Supporting a healthy planet by living in harmony with our ecosystems
University of Alberta Botanic Garden Main Entry Pavilion
Key SDGs:
At the heart of our practice lies a reimagined relationship between nature, the community, and the built environment. We often hear that great design can only be achieved at the cost of what is healthy and sustainable. We advocate for a practice of architecture and design that renews, harmonizes, and gives back to our world. Our work seeks to reimagine the world: buildings, designs, relationships, collaborations, and the future. We are grateful to our Indigenous communities who taught us early in our firm’s history that for every action we take, we must consider its impact on the following seven generations.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Community engagement workshop, Lub
We are constantly learning and growing, exploring solutions and pathways to innovation in unexpected places. This philosophy is nurtured through a series of immersive workshops held at each phase of a project, fostering a shared understanding and dedication to sustainability. However, our aspirations extend far beyond merely reducing harm to the environment. We endeavor to make a net positive impact through regenerative architecture to make the world a better place.
Toward Regenerative Architecture: Our firm is driven by a commitment to creating joyful journeys toward regenerative architecture. Rooted in a holistic approach that begins within our organization, our team members harness their collective expertise to design healthy, inclusive, and accessible spaces. Co-creation is the catalyst for innovation and nothing sustainable can be achieved in isolation. Our work is collaborative and interdisciplinary, integrating multiple perspectives and ways of knowing to create spaces and places that are truly exceptional in their creativity and beauty.
bicon
Post Occupancy 21st century Learning Workshop, Kehewin
Internal Peer Review
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023
Edmonton 10225 100 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0A1 Canada +1 780.429.3977
Content Development: Vivian Manasc
Founding Principal, Architect, AAA AIBC, LLD (Hon) AOE, MBA, FRAIC, LEED AP BD+C, GCB.D
Mike Turner
Principal Engineer P.Eng., LEED®AP BD+C
Marwa Alshara
Project Architect, AAA MRAIC, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP & Advisor, Local Pathway Fellow
Safira Lakhani
Intern Architect, AAA M. Arch (Water), B.AS (Hon), MRAIC
Karamjit Grewal
Specification Writer BEDS, BA (Hons.), CSP, WELL AP
Brendan Webb
Intern Architect, AAA
Kenton McKay
Communications Director
Yuan Xu (Ava)
Graphic Designer
Calgary Suite 700 110 9th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 0S9 +1 403.460.4177
Bucharest Bulevardul Hristo Botev, 1st Floor, Unit 1 Bucuresti 3rd District, Romania 030237 +40 722.394.316
Vancouver #300 - 1090 Homer St. Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6B 2W9 +1 604.404.7899
At Reimagine, we embrace continuous learning and growth, we passionately explore innovative solutions in unexpected realms. Our vision is to reimagine the world, including our buildings, designs, relationships, collaborations, and the future. Embodying a regenerative mindset, we are determined to forge a positive and enduring legacy for generations to come.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT (CSR) | 2023