Showcasing BC & Alberta’s architects and interior designers
SUMMER 2019 Vol. 20 No.1
PM 40063056
d e s i g n q ua rt e r ly
Willingdon Linear Park Green Design | Trends
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in this issue
06 Features 06 PROJECT Profile
The Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby is a unique project that weaves together 13 city blocks of park and trail.
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10 Trends
▶ A Look at 2019 Tile Trends ▶ Law Firm Design
16 IESBC 2019 Vision Awards
18 GREEN DESIGN ▶ Why it’s Still Important to Certify
Departments 04 From the Editor ON THE COVER: The Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby.
20 AI BC
▶ Sweeping Changes in Regulation
22 DESIGN HEADLINES Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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from the editor
Sense of Community
summer 2019 Vol. 20 No.1
www.designquarterly.ca PUBLISHER Dan Gnocato dang@mediaedge.ca Managing Editor Cheryl Mah Graphic Design Tang Creative Inc.
One of our favourite summer family activities is to go biking. We bike around our neighbourhood. We bike on trails and seaside routes. We bike to parks and school. There is an extensive network of bike lanes and paths to explore in Metro Vancouver so the options are endless. When we went to Calgary this August, we biked around downtown and along the Bow River. It was a great way to see the city and all the new buildings and infrastructure like the Peace Bridge. Building infrastructure for safer cycling is a great way to promote physical activity and a sense of community. The Willingdon Linear Park, on our cover, features a meandering paved trail for shared walking and biking uses, stretching 13-blocks in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood of North Burnaby. Opened in July 2018, the new park includes public art, street furniture, and pocket parks to connect neighbourhoods. Inside this issue, we take a look at some tile trends and law firm design. We also highlight the IESBC 2019 Vision Awards recipients. For many associations, they are watching closely the outcome of professional reliance reform in B.C. The AIBC Council president shares insights to the changes to the regulatory landscape and how they might affect the profession of architecture.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Suzanne Campbell Lorie Grant Matthew LoPresto Ian R. McDonald Melanie Ross B.C./ALBERTA SALES Dan Gnocato 604.549.4521 ext. 223
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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Summer 2019
®
TOUR DU MONDE
DEDON COLLECTION AIIR Design by GamFratesi www.dedon.us
Project Profile
Connecting Neighbourhoods
L
Located in Burnaby, B.C.
the Willingdon Linear Park is a successful example of how greenspace and public art can beautify a place while also bringing neighbhourhoods together. The unique park weaves together landscape and art, form and function, nature and the city. The 1.17-km park opened in July 2018, and consists of 13 city blocks of park and trail development, creating a significant urban forest legacy for The Heights and Brentwood neighbourhoods. Before development and construction of this project between Brentwood Park and Hastings Street, pedestrian access was poor and the
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area east of Willingdon Avenue was overgrown with vegetation and rarely used. Today, the park provides residents with a safe, accessible pathway with a direct connection between Brentwood Town Centre and Hasting Street; greenspace; and traffic calming of a busy arterial roadway. “With the ongoing growth in residential communities around Brentwood Town Centre, traffic volumes will continue to increase over the coming years. The Willingdon Linear Park provides pedestrian, cyclist and public transit user facilities and achieves the city’s desire to foster
alternative neighbourhood transportation options,” said Philippe Talbot, project manager at Eurovia British Columbia Inc. The road rehabilitation and construction of the park included milling of existing asphalt, asphalt replacement, construction of a new multi-use pathway, extensive landscaping, retaining walls, and other features. The Linear Park totals 1,390 steps end to end (2,780 for a round trip), and presents creative art installations along the way. With the theme of “Rite of Passage,” artists Jennifer Marman, Daniel Borins and James
Project Profile
The project received an Envision Silver Award for sustainable infrastructure...
Khamsi have woven their works through the length of this park. Rite of Passage includes six wayfinding “beacons,” 11 privacy “art screens” adjacent to homes, and public space activation in the form of integrated sculptures in two pocket parks. Along with art work throughout, this park also features a 1.2-kilometre trail of grass, sculptures, a water fountain and pocket parks — as well as resting spots and a community hammock. Almost 200 largely native, semi-mature trees were installed along the greenway; they are complimented by locally sourced boulders and stone paving, wood at benches and platforms, and a continuous lawn carpet. The Willingdon Linear Park accomplishes several goals and meets the needs of the community by incorporating multi-use pathways; offering safe pedestrian and cyclist road and laneway crossings; integrating rest areas and pocket parks; enhancing user comfort through park furnishings, lighting, trees, and other features; and establishing character and distinction to the area. The project received an Envision Silver Award for sustainable
infrastructure from the Washington, DC-based Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). To earn Envision Silver, a project must demonstrate that it delivers a range of environmental, social, and economic benefits to the host and affected communities. “Converting unusable space to areas that offer recreational opportunities and a sense of place is a smart move by the City of Burnaby,” said Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s managing
director. “It is forward-thinking on the part of the city to incorporate well-designed, safe, and accessible passageways for pedestrians and cyclists that are clearly needed alongside busy traffic corridors.” The City of Burnaby worked closely with Eurovia British Columbia and ISL Engineering to deliver the project. “It is great that city staff have been recognized for their work in trying to make Burnaby a more connected Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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Project Profile
The project is based on the guiding principles of public realm and social expression.
community,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “We have started the work of providing more access to safe ways to walk, run, cycle and roll.” The Envision sustainable infrastructure framework assesses project sustainability across five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Resilience. These key areas contribute to positive social, economic, and environmental impacts on a community during the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. Key factors contributing to the Willingdon Linear Park project earning an Envision Silver award include: Enhancing Public Space The project is based on the guiding principles of public realm and social expression. New pedestrian signals make the park accessible from both
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sides of the busy street corridor and improve access to public bus stops. Enhanced bike and walking pathways provide new connections for commuters and recreational users. Pocket parks offer space for organized gatherings, chance encounters, and quiet solitude. Reduction of Air Pollutants The project retained 31 existing trees along the avenue and added 211 trees. This addition to the urban forest will help maintain and improve air quality, especially along a busy street corridor. The project team compared the site’s pre-construction and post-construction conditions and found there would be the potential for a 500 per cent improvement in air quality based on the increased number of trees planted. Also, during construction, the contractor enforced an anti-idling policy that reduced air pollutants from equipment.
Invasive Species Control and Removal Management of the park is guided by an Integrated Pest Management approach in accordance with the Canadian Landscape Standard. Before construction, there was extensive Japanese Knotweed. Perennial weeds and invasive plants were identified and mapped by a qualified environmental professional for removal and disposal. Invasive species will continue to be monitored monthly to ensure the control of these species within the park. The project was approved in 2016 and phased over three years, with design components and initial utility construction in 2016. The major components of road, trail, and intersection upgrades took place in 2017, and completion of landscaping and public art installation in 2018. DQ
TRENDS
A look at 2019 Tile Trends
Versatile and durable, residential tiles make a statement By Lorie Grant
2019 is proving to be an exciting year of emerging lifestyle ideas. Mindfulness of place seems to be a leading thought that creates new and exciting environments. The focus of attention to detail on smaller projects like powder rooms, laundry rooms and kitchen backsplashes are a way to really make a statement in a home. Having a welcoming environment is a big desire — mixed patterns and textures you can feel and see visually have been popular to achieve this. 3D effects for tile and combining a matte finish with a polished, shiny finish also are on the rise. We continue to see layering of different patterns that include many Art Deco influences. Florals, botanicals and all things green seem to be having their moment. Curves and organic movement are back. A mix of warm metals with hints of black is on the rise as well as any material with a handmade feel. Large format tiles are not going anywhere, the bigger the better. Our company is carrying porcelain slabs five foot by ten foot. 10
DESIGN QUARTERLY | Summer 2019
TRENDS
Consumers want to be environmentally responsible and tile is a perfect choice.
The trend towards edited and organized spaces is at an all-time high, all tied into wellness and how to have an impact on a person’s long-term happiness. The goal is to create a calming and inspiring atmosphere with a hint of whimsy. White and grey looks continue to be strong. Marble looks with mixed patterns and muddy new pink and taupe undertones are at the height of fashion. A cloudy or muted look with movement is also emerging. OUTDOOR SPACE Interiors, melding with outdoor space to create an extended space and lifestyle environment, continue to be a leading
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focus on new home plans as well as renovations. With the increased offering of 2 cm thick porcelain tile pavers, you can use the same series or tile flowing indoors to out. The 2 cm thick pavers can be placed on pedestals, which allow for lighting, wiring and gas lines to run seamlessly underneath and are easy to access. Consumers want to be environmentally responsible and tile is a perfect choice. Porcelain tile does not retain any antigens, allergens or dust. The fact that porcelain does not host mold or mildew is a big factor in outdoor patio use. Decreasing waste and using products that have longevity make sense. Material that optimizes air quality is a high priority. Tile has no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can be harmful to animals and humans over a long time of exposure. Over the next decade there will likely be more changes in the housing industry than ever before to regulate issues like VOCs. Also, by the year 2030 one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65 — designers and home builders are going to have to rise to the challenge of accommodating this aging population. ACCESSIBILITY We are seeing an increase in barrier free showers and bathrooms. Tile
TRENDS
can run the entire bathroom with no barriers and using a linear drain, water can be sloped to this long drain. Wheelchairs or other aided equipment can move back and forth easily. Tiling entire walls in bathrooms and kitchens is a trend for practicality as well as a way for kitchen designs to have less cabinetry on upper walls and can really personalize a space and be easy to clean. Porcelain tile is nonporous and water resistant, therefore it does not require sealing (note that the grout still requires sealant). With its durability and ease of cleaning maintenance (simple vacuum, broom and water), porcelain is a responsible choice.
HEATED FLOORS Heated floors are another wonderful luxury that can be added to the tile experience. Cables running under the tile to create warmth can’t be beat. Wi-Fi enabled thermostats are even available to remotely control floor heating through smartphones from anywhere. DQ Lorie Grant is director of A&D at Ames Tile & Stone. She has been in the design industry for more than 20 years. Ames is an exclusive dealer of the Diesel Living branded tile from Iris Ceramica with four exclusive lines that offer the trend forward metals and industrial textures that are on trend alert. Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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trends
Law firm design Universal-size offices puts Canada ahead of the US By Suzanne Campbell and Matthew LoPresto
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and leaner operating overheads already enjoyed by Canadian law firms, the landscape of US law offices is changing. Thoughtful Office Space Reduction: New Conveniences and Economy The universal-size office for partners and associates is an intelligent tradeoff. Canada’s adoption of that model drives a more centralized approach to administrative groups, new work styles, amenities, and opportunities for decompression typical of workspaces outside the legal realm. A reduction in square footage is also a possible source of cost-savings that can be applied to other areas of the practice or folded into profits. Transitioning to the single-size model, more the norm in Canada, is proceeding at a slow but steady pace in the US; in recent years all law firms that IA has refreshed or relocated have adopted a more universal-office size plan with increased collaboration and amenity spaces.
Work from Anywhere and Increased Mobility More and more Canadian law firms are relying on flex offices to accommodate partners who work from multiple offices, and with the advantage of enhanced digital resources, support staff and operations staff have more opportunities to work remotely. The ability to work anywhere is important. Security and confidentiality issues are addressed through strict adherence to digital and physical security protocols and behavioural policies. When confidentiality is critical and even internal consumption is sensitive, then physical as well as digital security is necessary through the use of dedicated war/case rooms.
photo: Eric Laignel
When we recently compared law firm design in Canada and the US, the differences were surprising considering the distance between IA’s New York, Chicago, and Toronto offices is less than 500 miles. Furthermore, across the United States, spanning a wide range of regional differences stretched over 3,000 miles, the differences were minimal. Why the marked disparity between Canada and the US? With historical ties to Britain, Canada was more likely to take its cue for law office design from Europe, where the universal-size office and office sharing is well established. In adopting that model, Canadians are significantly ahead of the US, which is tied to a 100-year-old tradition of personal offices for lawyers that increase in size with seniority. The private office in the US, as it has been in Canada, is an anticipated amenity that seems to come with passing the bar. Iinfluenced by the promise and possibilities of new ways of working
Free of multiple-size offices, Canadian law firms have a more flexible floorplan (an advantage for future-proofing). Single-size standard offices (usually 10’ x 15’ or 12’ x 15’), are smaller compared to the traditional law office model and do not accommodate groups of lawyers and support staff for collaboration. The smaller offices, used for heads-down work and privacy, force lawyers into shared areas for teaming and collaboration. With this change comes the need for more and better multi-functional huddle rooms and collaboration areas with access to enhanced tools, for instance, whiteboards and AV displays. The emphasis on large displays for video conferencing with remote employees and clients has increased the importance of the AV infrastructure. Canadian law firms have made that infrastructure investment; US law firms are generally working with older AV technology.
trends
photos: top Eric Laignel; Bottom Tom Arban
Dismantling the formal law library is a common practice for Canadian firms.
With a mobility-forward approach and the need to attract and retain operations staff top performers, the concept of centrally collocating HR, Real Estate/Facilities, Office Services, Finance, and IT functions is gaining traction in Canada. Incorporating new flexible and space efficient standards that are centralized on a floor/partial floor supports greater mobility, firm-wide accessibility of services, space savings and a better place to work for the operations groups. Raised floor systems enable deployment of flexible, easily reconfigured workstations and any future need to re-size support spaces. US law firms are just beginning to adopt the raised floor as they remodel or relocate. Aligning a firm’s goals with sustainable, energy efficient building stock with raised floor systems, Wellness amenities, and other enhanced services has growing appeal in the Canadian market. The Disappearance of the Reference Library Dismantling the formal law library is a common practice for Canadian firms. Law library collections are now dispersed among practice areas such as litigation and tax. The tradition of
a dedicated library that might occupy as much as half floor is gone. Although legal research is almost 100 per cent digitized, librarians and research assistants are still required and are accommodated in smaller dedicated library spaces that also serve as a lounge, collaboration hub or alternate work area. Investment in Health, Wellness, and Recreation To support health and wellness programs, Canadian law firms work closely with HR departments and offer stress reduction spaces such as quiet rooms, mother’s rooms, etc. The availability of universal health care in Canada is probably a factor that contributes to this emphasis, which is evident, but not yet as great in the US. Amenities for social connection within a single-size plan can include gaming for comradery and relaxation and inviting break, lounge, and work café areas. Large flexible spaces used for lunchrooms or seminars can also serve as areas to entertain clients, which is more prevalent today than it was in the past for law firms. In Canada, these feature amenities are shared spaces for lawyers and general staff with fewer “attorneys only” space allocations.
Final Thoughts In Canada, with the move to universal-size offices for law firms and multiple choices for teaming, collaborating, working, and amenities, the barriers between attorneys and support staff are diminishing, creating an attractive environment to recruit and retain the best talent overall for the practice. The US is slowly making progress towards the universal-size plan, despite the challenge of tradition and expectations. Interestingly, while both nations seem in sync when it comes to general
workplace trends, law firm design is the exception. DQ Suzanne Campbell, ARIDO, IDC, LEED AP, is project director in IA’s Toronto office. Matthew LoPresto, AIA, NCARB, RID, is design director in IA’s Philadelphia office. IA Interior Architects is the first global architecture firm focused exclusively on interiors. This article is reprinted from IA’s blog. https://www.interiorarchitects. com/what-were-saying/ Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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iesbc
IESBC 2019 Vision Awards
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk SQUARE PAVILION
Eos Light Media Outdoor Lighting Design Vision Award and Award of Merit
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The Illuminating Engineering Society of British Columbia’s (IESBC) 2019 Vision Awards honour outstanding B.C. lighting designers for their work. Submissions for the IES Vision Awards open yearly in January and projects are judged based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria. “The lighting projects received this year showcased a variety of organizations utilizing new lighting technology to create new spaces and upgrade existing ones,” says Marty Geusebroek, IESBC’s chair member and account manager at CDM2. “From universities to public outdoor areas, it’s remarkable to see how subtle lighting additions can enhance texture, emphasize colour, and support the structure of the built environment.” This year’s IESBC’s Vision Award and Award of Merit recipient for outdoor lighting design is the šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square Pavilion in Vancouver by EOS Lightmedia. Formerly The Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza, the šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square is a prominent civic space in downtown Vancouver. The name used by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh peoples and the Squamish Nation refers to a place where cultural gatherings are held. The city wanted to renew this space to be Vancouver’s most compelling public square where overlapping activities and ceremonial events could take place. The šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square Pavilion lighting concept was to integrate soft illumination on the plaza to invite gathering while providing dramatic illumination to the form and decorative fins on the roof. The 46,000 square foot project was completed in 2017. Awards of Merit were also given to six other projects and one project received an honourable mention. DQ
iesbc
Richmond Olympic Oval event hall lighting upgrade Prism Engineering Limited Energy and Environmental Design, Award of Merit
Whistler Gateway Loop AES Engineering Outdoor Lighting Design, Award of Merit
St. Michaels University School Sun Centre Dining Hall and Student Commons AES Engineering Interior Lighting Design, Award of Merit
The Vancouver Convention Centre exhibition areas lighting upgrade Prism Engineering BC Hydro Power Smart Lighting Redesign Award
Robson Court Renovation 840 Howe Street AES Engineering Interior Lighting Design, Award of Merit
UBC Aquatic Centre AES Engineering Interior Lighting Design, Award of Merit
The Origo Club, Richmond Joy Chao & Michelle Tse Interior Lighting Design, honourable mention Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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GREEN
Why it’s Still Important to Certify Driving the Green Building Market Forward By Melanie Ross
The green building market The UN’s 2013 global assessment on climate change reported that commercial and residential buildings represented 32 per cent of the total global energy use and 19 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2010. Buildings also represent 40 per cent of all construction waste, strain our water resources, and contribute to occupant illnesses like sick building syndrome. In order to address these environmental issues, the green building market has seen a flood of certification and rating systems for everything from buildings to parking garages, waste diversion to managing water resources, and products and services — there seems to be a system for every building type and budget. We have also seen significant changes to building codes with the addition of energy performance and GHG emissions criteria and other sustainable measures to address health, safety and the general welfare of building occupants and communities. 18
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GREEN
BREEAM became the first green building rating system in the world with its launch in 1990. Today, there are 52 certification programs through World Green Building Council affiliates alone and it is estimated that there are nearly 600 green product certifications in the world. With so many options and platforms to achievement — why bother? Why not just borrow the best ideas, buy the best products and design sustainably? We know that a building does not have to be certified to be sustainable and well-built. Why pursue green building certification? The reasons for pursuing a green building certification vary and are driven by budgets, incentives, demonstration of leadership, as a marketing tool, and a multitude of environmental benefits. Certification through any rating system provides verification and validation of the ‘green-ness’ of a building and serves as an educational and promotional tool on the benefits of highly sustainable construction practices. The guidelines within rating systems also help to clarify a market filled with an abundance of ‘green’ options. Rating systems outline which green standards are relevant, their environmental impacts, and what types of green products should be included in construction. Building certification standards have also been incorporated into national and local building codes, most often in whole-energy performance requirements, and used in policies to further their adoption in new construction, and eventually existing retrofits. We’re not there yet While there are many arguments that we are already designing better buildings with better tools and criteria, we are not there yet. Only about one third of new buildings incorporate green strategies and even less of our existing buildings are green.
There are less major cities who have adopted some form of green standard than those who have not and construction trades are even further behind. Rating systems were developed in response to a need to move the green building market forward. By creating certification programs and getting building owners on board, they drive the construction industry to raise the bar on sustainable performance. A decline in rating system uptake will impact the progress the industry has made to date. The World Green Buildings 2018 SmartMarket Report found that of those building green, nearly 70 per cent reported that rating systems allowed them to build more sustainable buildings, with many citing that standards have become a requirement to do business and third-party verification is still needed to differentiate high performance buildings. Many rating systems now collect and share aggregate data to help building owners, managers, and occupants make informed decisions, improve building performance, and track performance against targets. The report also found that there are still significant barriers to transitioning the market to green, citing perceived higher first costs, lack of political support and incentives, lack of public awareness, and lack of education and training as some of the key barriers. Rating systems, and more importantly, the organizations that develop them, can address many of these issues. Largely non-profit, these organizations are positioned to access political decision-makers, provide education, and engage the public. They also collaborate with industry, engaging experts and competitors in a neutral, focused effort to drive green technology, processes and performance forward. We do, however, need to be diligent. Green building certification programs are not all equal or fit all types of projects. There are buildings being certified that fall short on performance or target
While there are many arguments that we are already designing better buildings with better tools and criteria, we are not there yet.
the least-impact strategies which results in minimal sustainable gains. We need to move towards more mandatory codes and sustainability measures, but also ensure they are verified and monitored past occupancy to continue to inform progress and transform industry. It is also important that building rating and certification systems continue to be refined to reflect new standards and goals for achieving ever higher levels of sustainability until building better becomes the norm.
Ultimately, pursuing certification of some kind demonstrates a collective commitment to addressing environmental issues and continues to be an effective and necessary mechanism to push industry and support achievement of our environmental goals. DQ Melanie Ross, BArch.Sc., LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is part of the management team for sustainable building at Integral Group. She is currently the chair of the CaGBC Alberta Chapter leadership board. Summer 2019 | DESIGN QUARTERLY
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AIBC
Sweeping Changes in Regulation By Ian R. McDonald Self-regulatory
profes-
sional bodies in the province and across the country are under increasing political, public and media scrutiny. Attention has manifested in the form of reviews, audits and new legislation. Within this context, it is clear that changes to the regulatory landscape and how it will affect the profession of architecture in B.C. will be an area of focus during my term as president and for this year’s council. The catalyst in B.C. was the Professional Reliance Review. Spearheaded by the provincial government, the Review was tasked with making recommendations that would “ensure that the highest professional, technical and ethical standards are being applied to resource development in British Columbia”. The ensuing report ushered in the introduction of the Professional Governance Act which received royal assent in November 2018. The new legislation repealed and replaced the statutory law of five natural resource regulators: • Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of B.C. (Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act); •A ssociation of B.C. Forest Professionals (Foresters Act); •B .C. Institute of Agrologists (Agrologists Act); •C ollege of Applied Biology (College of Applied Biology Act); and •E ngineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (Engineers and Geoscientists Act). Supplementary regulation, unique to each of the five sectors, is in the process of being introduced, and a superintendent to oversee the five professions was recently hired. Several months ago, the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. addressed a 20
DESIGN QUARTERLY | Summer 2019
comprehensive audit of their governance and regulatory performance with an 81-page Action Plan addressing concerns. Meanwhile, the B.C. Health Professions Act, which in 1996 united a number of health regulators under one Act including the aforementioned College, is currently poised for review. Outside of B.C., l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, the self-regulatory body for engineers, was placed under the trusteeship of the provincial government for two years until it could demonstrate — which it did — its ability to regulate in the public interest. Last month, Quebec’s Minister of Justice introduced a lengthy bill to further modernize professional regulation, including redefining the practice of the profession of architecture and the profession’s “reserved activities”. In Ontario, a number of changes to the Regulated Health Professions Act came into effect as part of the implementation of the Protecting Patients Act. The intense spotlight on regulated professions mixed with political might has translated into sweeping changes. The following recurring themes are emerging: • Additional government oversight in the form of meta-regulators with an overseeing superintendent; • Greater public representation on smaller boards with competencybased nomination processes; • Bylaws approved by boards and not registrants; • Use of the term “registrant” in lieu of “member”; • Mandatory professional development with non-compliance handled as an administrative matter; and • Clearly articulated “duties and responsibilities” sections which identify advocacy as outside of a regulator’s
scope, and the explicit mandate of regulating in the public interest. Also, of note is the speed at which change is happening. Government is moving quickly. The Professional Governance Act, which is close to 100 pages of new legislation, moved through the legislature in four weeks. How does the highest enactment of the profession of architecture— the Architects Act — hold up? Last fundamentally changed in the 1950s, the Act does not take into account modern governance and practice principles and is due for an upgrade. For many years, the AIBC has sought legislative change in the public interest, and continues to engage with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, as they review their legislative priorities and requests for legislation. Given the considerable movement in self-regulation, we remain hopeful that the Architects Act will see its way to modernization. Now more than ever self-regulatory bodies are under the microscope and have an opportunity to speak to their public-protection mandates. Unlike provincial legislation which is amended, repealed or replaced at the sole discretion of government, the AIBC has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership through attention to the regulatory authority under its purview: documents such as Bylaws, Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and Bulletins. Bedrock principles of regulation are found here and it is the Institute’s responsibility to ensure this material adheres to present-day standards. Ultimately, the public is at the core of self-regulation. The AIBC focuses its fiduciary duty to the public on effective governance and day-to-day operations. To this
end, it sets, maintains and enforces entry, ethics and practice standards and keeps pace with modern governance principles. But what about AIBC registrants? How do you deliver on the publicinterest mandate? As registrants, you meet high competency standards through rigorous education, examination and expertise. As volunteers who sit on Institute committees, you put the public’s interest first when discussing agenda items. As practitioners, you comply with the Architects Act and other public-protection enactments such as the B.C. Building Code, in addition to related AIBC regulation. Self-regulatory public bodies are incorporated under provincial legislation and serve in the public interest. It bears repeating that the Architects Act is not owned by the Institute, but rather by the public through the legislature. Through statutory power, the AIBC is mandated to enforce the Architects Act and conduct its affairs accordingly. With all this in mind, it is worth recalling the architect’s declaration: “I promise now that my professional conduct as it concerns the community, my work, and my fellow architects will be governed by the ethics and the tradition of this honourable and learned profession, in the public interest.” Indeed, it is heartening to see in the present moment a concerned interest on the part of many of the value of professionals and our role in working for the public good. DQ Ian R. McDonald is president of the AIBC council and a partner at Carscadden Stokes McDonald. The president’s message is reprinted with permission. Original post can be found at aibc.ca.
DESIGN HEADLINES
Cor Van Raay YMCA opens The Cor Van Raay YMCA has opened at ATB Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. The $110 million project is Phase 2 of the ATB Centre and connects with Phase 1 which has two NHL-sized ice surfaces and a 10-sheet curling facility. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the Cor Van Raay YMCA is the third largest in North America and provides the community with a comprehensive range of services and amenities, including some that were previously unavailable in the region.
An architecture of integration allows for connection and transparency throughout the 240,000sq-ft YMCA. An expansive central lobby unites different activity areas including a six-gym field house, children’s program areas, and the aquatics facility. Construction of Phase 2 began in May 2016. Stuart Olson was general contractor. Public consultation informed the choice of features which include the aquatics centre with two waterslides, a surf simulator, climbing wall, lane pool, lazy river, tots spray area,
whirlpool and zero depth entry gentle wave pool. The fitness area overlooks the aquatics centre in the two-storey structure. There is a multi-sport field house, gymnasiums, an indoor track, multi-purpose rooms and physiotherapy and restaurant space. Children’s amenities include a licensed daycare, child minding, youth room and indoor playground. Program areas provide views of the prairies and peaks of the Rocky Mountains on the horizon.
Architects named to Order of Canada Architectural practitioners in Toronto and Vancouver have been named to the Order of Canada. Donald Schmitt, principal with Diamond Schmitt Architects, and Raymond Cole, Professor Emeritus and former director of University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture were among the 83 appointments. The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication and service to the community and the nation, and is awarded to recipients who exemplify its motto, Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam — translating to: They desire a better country. Accompanying citations for the new appointees commend Schmitt “for his rehabilitation of iconic heritage buildings and for his sustainable architectural designs” and Cole “for his skilful pairing of architecture and environmental sustainability, and for his leadership in the field”. 22
DESIGN QUARTERLY | Summer 2019
Tom Arban Photography
RAIC releases new fee guide The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has released the latest edition of A Guide to Determining Appropriate Fees for the Services of an Architect. The 2019 fee guide explores the scope of both basic and additional architectural services, the value of architectural services, different approaches to determining a fee structure, and how architectural services fees can be calculated. Developed for clients, architects, engineers, educators, and interns, the 58-page document offers a wealth of information on fee adjustment factors, comparisons of project delivery types, including risk analysis, and explains the value of architectural services. Historically, fees for architectural services have been widely based on a percentage of the construction cost. However, changes in the design and construction industry make it “impossible to assume that the same professional fee will be appropriate for all projects even if the projects are of the same size and building type,” the guide notes. These changes include different forms of project delivery, new design and documentation processes, increasingly complex building systems, greater overhead costs because of extensive Requests for Proposals, new demands for compressed schedules, and more. The 2019 edition updates and simplifies the percentage fee tables to align with the Canadian Construction Documents Committee’s (CCDC) new definition of construction cost. It adds fee adjustment factors to address new project delivery models and technologies.
Olympia, Grey-GOld
SAMAD — THE WORLD’S FINEST DECORATIVE RUGS Exclusive to Colin Campbell in Canada, old and new find perfect harmony in our elegant Ancient Wool and Silk Collection. Expertly blending traditional Persian motifs with contemporary color shades, these transitional rugs are sandblasted to produce a multi-tonal antique finish. Transitional. Hand-knotted in India. Standard sizes: 8’ X 10’, 9’ X 12’, 10’ X 14’. Custom sizes made to order. Visit our showroom at Fraser & Kent, or contact your Design Representative to learn more about this new rug collection. VANCOUVER 55 — 8385 FRASER ST. 604.734.2758
CALGARy 5832 BURBANK ROAD SE 403.245.9222
www.colin-campbell.ca | riverdesignquarter.com | #riverdesignquarter
Louis is a new pattern designed by Lanark, done in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. Initially inspired by the tactility of Braille letterforms, Louis features 30 embossed words within the wallcovering that represent the qualities of the human spirit we all possess and strive to implement in our lives. We hope this new design brings awareness to the history of Braille, the beautiful simplicity of the code itself and how it can open up worlds for the blind and people with low vision.
Odyssey Wallcoverings will donate a percentage of each purchase to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) foundation
odysseywallcoverings.com