Reimagine - AWARD Magazine Feature, June 2022

JUNE 2022 ARCHITEC TURE | DESIGN | CONS TRUC TION PM #40065475

REIMAGINE Respect &Integrate

IN THIS ISSUE: ❱ PRECAST CONCRETE ❱ ROOFING/ CLADDING MATERIALS ❱ LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS ❱ SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES ❱ WATERPROOFING ❱ ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS ❱ DOORS & HARDWARE ❱ MECHANICAL & HVAC SYSTEMS

Integrating Wisdom

University of Alberta Botanic Garden Main Entry Pavilion.

For more than 30 years, Reimagine has been creating joyful journeys toward regenerative architecture

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by NATALIE BRUCKNER | photography courtesy REIMAGINE

eimagine’s journey began more than 30 years ago when two young architects, Vivian Manasc and Richard Isaac, took the bold leap outside the boundaries of traditional architecture, and began working with Indigenous communities in Northern Alberta to design buildings that would not only respect their sense of place and improve the environment, but also align with the traditional values of their clients.

Those early experiences, working in a realm that very few dared venture into, set them on a path that would not only shape the rest of their careers, but also the future of the company.

“From the very beginning, Vivian and Richard have always been able to find healthy and sustainable architecture solutions to underserved clients and markets.

With these clients they were shown remarkable ideas, strategies, and philosophies that became central to our company,” explains Garth Crump, principal.

There were many lessons learned early on. Among them, Manasc and Isaac discovered that rather than being a linear process, community building is more inclusive and collaborative. They also learned to envision with courage, design with wisdom, celebrate with humility, and evaluate with honesty.

“Those early lessons cemented the importance of the power of collaboration – and how we can work together to co-create buildings and communities that are meaningful and reflective of the values and vision of the community,” explains Manasc.

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“We were also early adopters of the ecological green building approach when it was just a twinkle in a few peoples’ eyes,” adds Isaac. “Early on we grasped the idea of reimagining existing buildings to save the embodied energy they contained, whilst others continued to demolish those old structures.”

Their work was making waves in the architectural community and beyond, and as the reputation of the company grew, so too did the company – both strategically and organically. “At each stage during our growth we have asked ourselves: ‘What are the needs out there for architectural design and community development?’ From there we created an idea of where to go next,” says Manasc. “We start based on our values of living lightly on the earth, and look to find opportunities that enable those values to be realized through buildings. We also build longterm relationships with clients whose values align, and grow with them.”

They have many examples of this, including their work with Saddle Lake First Nation. “That relationship began back in 1992 when we collaborated on their school.

Since then we have completed a Healing Centre and other community facilities, and we are currently building an elementary school at Saddle Lake,” says Manasc.

Similarly, the team has been working working at Métis Crossing for more than two decades, and have recently completed the new Boutique Lodge there. “These longterm relationships invite us to keep growing and developing capacity,” adds Manasc.

And much like their vision and experience, their scope of work is broad, crossing a multitude of sectors from post secondary, First Nation and Metis, and NGO to municipal, health care, and residential.

Reimagine

INTO DESIGN City of Calgary Water Centre.

Driftpile School.

Métis Crossing Gathering Centre.

Boreal Centre for Birds Conservation.

While all the projects they have worked on are exemplary in their own way – and as Steve Vallerand, principal, says “all have their unique stories” – among those that showcase the diversity of their talents are: Driftpile School, which is located on Driftpile First Nation land and whose design is shaped in an eagle’s feather; the Yukon Visitor Centre that garnered a Governor General’s Medal for Excellence in Architecture; and the Calgary Emergency Operations Centre that has been designed to protect Calgarians in the event of a major emergency or disaster.

Then there’s the Boreal Centre for Birds Conservation and the University of Alberta Botanic Garden Main Entry Pavilion whose building mimics a leaf or flower petal in both its aesthetics and anatomy, and visually and functionally merges the building with its extraordinary natural surroundings.

“There are so many projects that make us proud,” says Manasc. “A few of my personal favourites include the Water Centre in Calgary, the Athabasca University Academic Research Centre, Métis Crossing Gathering Centre, and the Red Deer Polytechnic Student Residence. All of these are great examples of a truly integrative design process where innovative sustainable strategies are embedded in the heart of the building.”

Over the past three decades, the company has, much like nature itself, naturally evolved, and as part of that evolution, recently underwent a major rebrand, changing its name to Reimagine. The reason for this is best described by Isaac: “The vision for the rebranding came from a desire we had to simply reimagine ourselves – 30 years tends to bring with it bits and pieces of things, a bit like dust balls in Reimagine

an older house. We didn’t want to completely change everything, just clean out the dust, repoint the bricks, and give the paintwork the once over,” he explains.

The name change is also poignant at a time where the challenges of climate change have become increasingly more urgent and demonstrates their commitment to reducing the climate impact from the built environment, while doubling down on its focus on diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

In their recently released 28-page Corporate Sustainability Report, Reimagine dives deep into the seven big ideas that the company holds close to their heart and that will help build equity and prosperity for people and the planet. The goals are in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and cover: value alignment; quality learning environment; holistic well-being; empowered communities; energy and materials; livable cities; and light footprint architecture.

“I am excited that we are now going to have to look at how we battle against the impacts of climate change, which unfortunately is very much upon us,” says Isaac.

The team at Reimagine – which is now 60-plus strong and includes architects, engineers, technologists, graphic designers, and writers – undoubtedly has the skills to make the journey joyful for its own people and clients. “We really are a cross-pollination of individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives, working collaboratively on joint goals,” says Vedran Skopac, principal … and that, right there, is what makes it highly plausible that Reimagine will help get us there, together. A J U N E 202 2

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