Alison Brooks Architects (ABA), led by Canadian ex-pat Alison Brooks, has delivered the first dedicated social learning space to Oxford University to be integrated within a new collegiate building.

Cohen Quad, the new ‘campus in a building’ for Exeter College, was awarded to ABA through a competition for the project and is Oxford’s first academic and residential quadrangle to be designed by a female architect.

ABA’s design kept the historic Grade II Listed 1913 Ruskin College facade while also plugging the contemporary expansion into it, as Exeter College’s “second” campus located in the city.

Cohen Quad aims to transform the traditional typology of a four-sided quadrangle into two quads enclosed within an S-shaped building. These two courtyards are located at the north and south ends of the narrow site, with adjacent cloisters that open into Oxford University’s first social learning space, the Learning Commons.

The Cohen Quad project reimagines Oxford College as a modern home for students and teachers. The building’s light-filled spaces aim to create visual connections and facilitate the exchange of ideas both within the spaces as well as with the city.

“Windows and views in every corner and at every turning make one feel like a secret spectator of the beauty of the surrounding city”, said Dame Frances Cairncross, former Rector of Exeter College.

The £29.5 million project was fully funded through Exeter College’s fundraising program, and was successfully completed in 2020.

The building contains a mix of spaces, such as a double-height café-restaurant, seminar rooms, offices and  facilities like laundry, IT, housekeeping, and prep kitchens. Fitzhugh Auditorium, a 110-seat multi-purpose event space is located at the north-west corner of the building. Cohen Quad also contains the College’s Special Collections Archive which was designed to the British Standard for the storage and exhibition of archival documents.

The top four floors are dedicated to bed-and-study rooms for a capacity of 90 students while the upper floors are topped with a curved roof covered in anodised stainless steel Rimex shingles.

A material palette of exposed low-cement/high GGBS concrete, limestone, cherry wood, and glulam timber was chosen for the project. Cohen Quad’s first two storeys are clad in Bath and Clipsham Ashlar limestone on the exterior while the interior finishes are exposed concrete, Jura beige limestone, cherry wood, Jatoba flooring and brass ironmongery. The Cloisters and Auditorium are spruce glulam.

The building was designed for high standards of sustainability with the use of renewable energy and a building management system that monitors automated ventilation and energy consumption. Cohen Quad uses thermal mass, solar thermal panels and air-source heat pumps, and has achieved a 20 per cent improvement on Building Regulations standard for energy consumption and a 40 per cent improvement in thermal performance. The building has achieved a B rating for the UK’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Technical Sheet:

Address: Exeter College, Walton St, Oxford OX1 2HG

Completion: 2020

Building Area: 5,500 m2

Architect: Alison Brooks Architects

Client: Exeter College, Oxford

Contractor: Mace

Structural Consultant: Civic

M&E Engineers: Max Fordham

Conservation Architect: Richard Griffiths Architects

Heritage Consultant: Asset Heritage Consultant

Landscape Architects: Dan Pearson Studio

Quantity Surveyor: Capita

Planning Adviser: Turnberry

Lighting Design: Arup Lighting/Alison Brooks Architects

Audio Visual Consultant: Snelling

Fire Engineering Consultant: Buro Happold

Wayfinding: Felix de Pass & Michael Montgomery

Arboriculturist: Sylvia Consultancy

Furniture Supplier: Twentytwentyone

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A new architecture internship model for experiential learning called DRIP (Design Research Internship Project), created for UofT’s Daniels Faculty’s Architectural Studies Program, is expanding with the help of a LEAF impact grant.

The model, created by Pina Petricone, associate professor of architecture at the Daniels Faculty and principal of Giannone Petricone Architects in Toronto, is on its third cycle with almost 20 Toronto architecture firms participating.

Established in 2022, DRIP aims to explore models of design research in both academic and professional practice.

DRIP is a unique curricular initiative in the Daniels Faculty’s Architectural Studies program, and was designed to provide high-impact teaching for senior undergraduate students.

It differs from other internships by bridging academic knowledge with professional practice. In this initiative, professor Petricone collaborates with local design practitioners to define design research projects for interns during a six-week summer term.

Participating firms in DRIP 2023 include BORTOLOTTO, Denegri Bessai, ERA, Farrow Partners, gh3*, Hariri Pontarini, KPMB, LGA Architectural Partners, Moriyama Teshima Architects, Office Ou, Public Work, Saucier+Perrotte Architectes, Superkül, SvN, Teeple Architects, Williamson Williamson, WZMH and ZAS Architects + Interiors.

DRIP provides students with an educational experience outside the classroom and exposes them to architectural design as scholarly research.

Petricone received a LEAF Impact Grant of more than $160,000 to research and develop DRIP as a model for architectural education.

The LEAF Impact Grant supports the development and advancement of DRIP as a sustainable, innovative curricular initiative. Additionally, the grant aims to make this learning opportunity available to a larger component of the Architectural Studies program.

“I believe it is in this liberal arts milieu where we find opportunity to not only bridge academic research with professional practice, but also to define for students models of design research that advance lessons from design studios and coursework into multivalent—and sometimes interdisciplinary—design research problems,” said Petricone.

“I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from my colleagues in the profession. The calibre of work they produce with their DRIP interns is testament to the potential for this new experiential learning model to have unique impact on professional architecture, landscape architecture, and design projects.”

The initiative stands as a model for design internships and leverages the wealth of design practitioners in Toronto—and potentially other parts of the world as well.

Pina Petricone is an associate professor of architecture at the Daniels Faculty and principal of Giannone Petricone Architects in Toronto.

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Architect John “Hugh” Westren passed away on January 18, 2024.

Westren was born in Toronto in 1933 and attended UTS and North Toronto C.I. Following four years of working in the construction trades and starting a family, he enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto. He graduated in 1962 and accepted a contract administration position with Adamson Associates. In 1971, he joined Neish Owen Roland Roy (NORR).

At NORR, Westren ran the site office for Terminal 2 Stage 2, Stage 3 conversion at Toronto Airport prior to moving for three years to manage the new Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Upon his return to NORR, Toronto as an Associate and Director of Contract Administration, he participated in more than 18 hospital projects in Ontario. One of Westren’s favourite projects was Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. Throughout these years, he also taught Project Management Practice at Ryerson Polytechnical University (Toronto Metropolitan University).

In 1973 he won the RAIC competition to be the editor of the first Canadian Handbook of Practice for Architecture, consisting of four volumes: Business, Design, Contract Documents and Construction.

Westren retired from NORR in 1998 to become a practicing artist in California.

A memorial for Hugh will be held at a time and place yet to be determined. In his wishes, he said, in lieu of flowers or donations, “take a loved one out for lunch.”

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TELUS Health recently released its  TELUS Mental Health Index, which revealed that workers who experience conflict at work lose an average of 55 work days per year.

The index found that among Canadian workers, 26 per cent said that better support for their wellbeing is more important than an increase in salary.

“The negative impacts of stress, whether stemming from external factors or internal dynamics within the workplace, have a ripple effect throughout an organization, impacting every level,” said Juggy Sihota, chief growth officer, TELUS Health.

“The wellbeing of workers and the success of the business are inherently connected. By prioritizing investments in tools, processes and comprehensive benefits plans that foster a psychologically safe and supportive work environment, employers can cultivate a highly engaged and productive workforce that drives business outcomes.”

The index noted that mental health and work-related stressors are also linked to productivity loss at work.

According to the index, a total of 28 per cent of Canadian workers have a mental health score of 50 or lower. The productivity loss of this group is at least double the number of days in comparison to the 13 per cent of workers with a mental health score of 90 or higher.

There is also a loss of 55 and 53 working days per year in productivity, respectively, among workers reporting diagnosed depression and anxiety.

The index noted that a majority of workers in Canada prioritize dental benefits (51 per cent), followed by prescription medication (47 per cent), and vision care (32 per cent) when asked about their most valued elements of health benefits.

According to the index, workers under 40 are more than twice as likely as workers over 50 to value psychological services the most.

The highest mental health score was 70.4 and was among the 39 per cent of workers who find fulfillment in a balanced personal and work life. The score of this group is almost seven points higher than the national average.

“As mental health scores continue to be at a sub-optimal level, workers are increasingly aware that financial and mental wellbeing are deeply interconnected, and that overall wellbeing involves far more than just a salary,” said Paula Allen, global leader, research & client insights, TELUS Health.

“In today’s uncertain economic environment, it is very telling that workers are placing equal, if not greater, importance on wellbeing support compared to their salary. This highlights a significant opportunity for employers to meet employees’ needs by providing resources and real-time support that go beyond financial considerations in order to maintain morale and ultimately retain top talent.”

The index noted that the mental health score of workers in Canada decreased three months in a row, with the October 2023 score standing at 63.7, in comparison to the September score of 64.4.

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The Field Collective, a group of independently operating small architecture practices, will be hosting a market-style event later this month.

The event, called the Small Practice Marketplace, will have a market hall-style and aims to bring together architects, designers and members of the public to meet the people behind B.C.’s small architecture practices.

The Field Collective seeks to empower its members to support more affordable, high-quality housing options, create more inclusive and climate-resilient cities, and cultivate a more forward-thinking culture of design.

The Small Practice Marketplace will take place at 529 Carrall Street in Vancouver on November 22, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. Founding members will share a few short words around 6:00 p.m. about their goals as a collective.

The Field Collective, which was launched in October of this year, was born from several leading small firms in Vancouver, including Motiv, MIZA, Haeccity Studio and TOAD.

The collective’s official launch event, Reverse Crit, that took place last month, saw roles reversed as local practices presented in-progress work to a student jury at the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

The collective is currently extending a call to welcome practices of under 10 employees in the province as new members.

Tickets for the upcoming marketplace event are not required. For more information, click here.

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A memorial is being held this week in honour of landscape architect Claude Cormier, who passed away on September 15.

It will be held at 4 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, near The Ring. All are invited to pay their final respects on Friday, October 20, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, October 21, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cormier was the creative force behind of some of Canada’s most beloved public spaces including The Ring in Montreal and Love Park in Toronto. He passed away at his Montreal, Quebec, home at the age of 63 due to complications from Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that predisposes carriers to multiple cancers.

Cormier leaves behind a wide circle of colleagues and friends, some of whom offer the following homages in his honour ahead of the memorial.

Marc Hallé

My adventure with Claude Cormier started as an intern in 2003, in his small Plateau Montreal office that doubled as his house. In those days, he slept on a cot in a small laundry room behind the kitchen, leaving the rest of the house as a laboratory for landscape architecture. He had painted the ceiling sky blue, creating a workspace that was almost as pleasant as being outside on a sunny day. This ceiling is a metaphor for Claude, the ‘high pressure system’. Yes, the work environment was at times intense, Claude never stopped until things were perfect. But for those who knew him, he radiated light with a positivity and a proactive outlook that kept clouds far at bay. He took every measure to be sure it never rained on our picnic. Although his sunshine came with its fair share of heat, it also motivated people to be their best. Faces would light up when he entered a room. People would want to sit next to him at meetings, knowing how good he would make them feel with his wit and laughter. It is the same spirit he brought to his work in the public realm with places of universal appeal that also speak to the wishes of the heart. Claude possessed a clear leadership style that always pointed to where you were going. He gave equal focus and attention to issues both big and small, never prone to a dismissive “good enough” or a cynical “why bother?”. He was tirelessly optimistic with a pragmatism that was also firmly planted in terra firma.

Impatient, scrappy, decisive, visionary, courageous – Claude knew how to transform fear of new ideas into excitement for what was possible. Love it or hate it, he evaluated success on a project’s ability to stir emotion. When the Journal de Montreal published Lipstick Forest on its cover under the headline ‘C’est Horrible!’, Claude considered it one of his best reviews. A couple years later, the same project was chosen as the cover for the Ulysse travel guide to Montreal, as a symbol of the city’s spirit. This is one of many examples where a project, dismissed at the beginning as a laugh, became something quite profound at the end. From Pink Balls to Berczy Park’s fountain of dogs, Claude had a talent for surprising people with an experience of their own humanity, to be moved by beauty, and connected with their inner well of joy.

Bruce Kuwabara

Charismatic and flamboyant, Claude Cormier has often introduced himself by saying that if Frederick Law Olmsted and Martha Schwartz, two totally different but famous American landscape architects, had ever had a child, it would be him. Laughter aside, Claude gave Toronto new public landscapes that work ecologically, sustainably, delightfully, and iconographically, from Sugar Beach to Berzcy Park to Love Park. Working with Claude was a constant process to express a really big idea that is bold and clear, bringing amenity and delight to everyone. He loved life, family, and friends, and was consistently able to create experiences and places of serious fun, places that make people smile, places that engender conviviality and a vibrant contemporary urbanity. Claude had a big heart too, having created the Claude Cormier Award to provide financial support for promising and creative landscape architecture students at the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

Ken Greenberg

Every once in a while a unique talent appears on the scene in the world of design. Claude Cormier is one. His work combines brilliant intuition and artistry making every place he touches truly special. To his careful attention to detail, making things well, creature comfort and sensitivity to the environment, he has brought a singular gift for tapping into emotions through surprise, humour and grace notes that have been described as “serious fun.” Through his many beautiful gifts to our city he has pursued a special love affair with Toronto including – Sugar Beach with its iconic pink umbrellas, Berczy Park with its irresistible Dog Fountain and the newest, Love Park with its overt invitation to love and care for each other. His work invites us to smile, to be sociable in each others’ company and to be our best selves. Claude, we will miss you.

Phyllis Lambert

Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those of pearls that were his eye;
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea change into something rich and strange.
-The Tempest, William Shakespeare

Claude Cormier is unique in Quebec and possibly in Canada as an intellectual designer of landscape. Well versed in agronomy and horticultural science, his public work veered towards conceptual art rather thanscientific fields. This direction grew out of a Faustian bargain Cormier struck with me: If the CCA would support his graduate study at Harvard for a year, he would consult on the health and maintenance of the CCA gardens over time. I must add that at that time, the early 1980s, modernist practice was not apparent in Montreal. Thirty years later, the publication Serious Fun: The Landscapes of Claude Cormier tells of an extensive practice. Cormier’s work that I know personally covers most of the public and private typologies found in the book: unusual species and unusual form that partake of the “traditional” garden that forecourts a house; large stout tree-referring pink forms humanize a municipal convention hall; extensive riverside lawns that make you think of pools of water; small areas of grass and path collages that are entrances and connectors—ideas that compose plazas, public gardens, monuments, squares, esplanades, all these in the heart of the city. Cormier’s high level of innovation changes the beat of the city.

Michael Van Valkenberg

To everyone who loved Claude, I want to talk about Claude the landscape architect, Claude the plantsman, and Claude the man.

First, Claude the landscape architect: In an earlier life, Claude Cormier must have been a tree. It would explain why his projects go so far in connecting us to the soul of each landscape he touches. But Claude also lives very much in our world, so his work feels exceptionally alive and present. He creates places that feel as good to come back to as they do on the first visit, probably because his own joy is palpable in everything he does. He carried that playful spirit from his upbringing on a farm to his first installations at dance clubs in Montreal to the wide-ranging career that followed. Sometimes the effects are momentarily alarming too, shaking us out of our complacency and challenging us to look at the world a little differently. Others do this sort of thing with judgment; Claude does it with generosity. The pink umbrellas, the dogs, a pond shaped like a heart: Claude’s irreverence is also a form of love, helping us find beauty in unexpected places.

Then there is Claude the plantsman. Some might be surprised that I call him that at all, since he is more well known for elevating manufactured materials to a level of sensuousness normally reserved for living things (his Blue Stick Garden immediately comes to mind). But I have seen him settle into a kind of rapture when talk of plants comes up, and I recognize in his landscapes the unmistakable marks of a fellow plant-lover. If he wasn’t a tree himself, Claude must have had a distant relative who was, so primal is his love and curiosity about plants. His work seems to draw from a deeper source; Claude’s plants always offer a little bit extra, a welcome surprise, as he constantly teases out the ways they trigger emotions the rest of us didn’t realize they could reach. His designs remind me of the inherent optimism of our field, which goes hand in hand with Claude’s attitude about life. While some insist that the members of a landscape architect’s ensemble stay in their assigned roles, Claude celebrates the anomalous and the episodic: a painted stick standing in for a blue poppy, or an exuberant 50-foot catalpa suddenly endowed with equal parts whimsy and gravitas as it is captured in a perfect, circular, tree-sized island. Claude empowers plants (and people) to do their own thing—the way that he has always done his.

Finally, there is Claude the person. After my firm won the Port Lands project in Toronto, Chris Glaisek, the client’s Chief Planning and Design Officer, told me a hurdle to get over was that Claude had already developed a design for part of the site. I didn’t know Claude personally then—this was close to 20 years ago—and when I saw his project, I was concerned. It was so good. It was mostly a landscape of paths and plants, and while it had a conventional central clearing, the masses of planted forms caressed its edges. The way they unfolded resembled the way you might pull a wool blanket around you on a cold night. When I finally presented our design to Waterfront Toronto’s Review Board, Claude was on the panel. Panel members were expected to give feedback in the order they were seated around the table, but Claude jumped in the moment I finished presenting. He was wildly enthusiastic in his praise, and from then on, we were fast friends.

This past May, after the dedication of his Love Park in Toronto, he found the time to write and tell me about visiting some of my firm’s recent Toronto projects, how they have helped bring new life to the city that he knows and cares for so deeply. It is never about Claude when you speak to him, and not about you either, but about the work and the joy it brings to others. I am not sure I know a landscape architect who loves what we do more than Claude. And I love that he always seems to operate at the edge of the circle that describes our profession, but that in doing so consistently enriches and enlarges what is at its core. Is Claude a rascal? Probably. A genius, absolutely. I am going to miss him, and our field will, too. Sending Claude my love.

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A new exhibition on Canadian architectural firm Omar Gandhi Architects is opening at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Established in 2010, Gandhi’s firm, with studios in Halifax and Toronto, is known for combining contemporary architectural style with rural influences, as well as being sensitive to the natural landscapes of Canada’s Atlantic coast.

Omar Gandhi Architects has received the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture as well as a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture.

The exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery will run from October 14, 2023, until January 10, 2024. It will highlight the roots of the studio and delve into how it became one of the most influential young practices in the world.

Completed projects in the Canadian landscape will be featured through sketches, construction photos, drawings and physical models.

The exhibition is being curated by John Leroux and organized by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

“We are deeply honored to present the inaugural exhibition of our studio’s work, thoughtfully curated by the discerning eye of John Leroux. In our view, architecture is a dynamic conversation among various elements in constant flux. This exhibition is our endeavor to distill and capture a moment in our studio’s evolution,” reads a post on Omar Gandhi’s Facebook page.

“Amidst a myriad of ongoing projects and a multitude of ideas, we have chosen to pause and encapsulate our explorations up to this point. Our aim is to provide a visual and conceptual snapshot of our journey, an intimate introspection open for all to witness and draw their own conclusions.”

According to the Gandhi, the exhibition aims to transport the audience into the world of architecture and offer a perspective that resonates with them.

“As architects, we believe that our creations are not merely structures to be built and photographed; rather, they are homes for people and spaces for them to assert their presence in the world. Space, in our view, is not solely functional but also emotional, an experience in itself. With this exhibition, we hope to bring this experience a step closer to the public’s understanding and appreciation,” concluded the post.

An opening reception for the exhibition will take place on October 28, 2023.

For more information, click here.

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Hundreds of built-environment decarbonization leaders recently gathered in Vancouver, BC, to recognize and celebrate their collective work advancing zero-carbon buildings.

The occasion marked the fifth anniversary of the Zero Emissions Building Exchange (ZEBx), a program of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) and one of a network of seven regional centers that work to support climate action across Canada.

A crowd of over 200 guests gathered in downtown Vancouver on the evening of September 14, 2023. Attendees included homebuilders and developers, construction and HVAC contractors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, building owners and managers, architects and engineers as well as representatives of financial institutions, utilities, and universities and training institutions.

The festivities were kicked off by Dr. Peter Robinson, ZEIC chair, alongside ZEBx Director Roberto Pecora and ZEIC Executive Director Melina Scholefield. City of Vancouver Councillor Adriane Carr and Sean Pander, the City’s green and resilient buildings manager, also shared some remarks.

“Celebrating ZEBx’s 5th anniversary with such an illustrious group of people from the building industry and governments was a privilege. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come in five short years, as well the increasing impact and momentum we have as BC’s building decarbonization hub,” said Roberto Pecora, Director, ZEBx, a program area of ZEIC.

“Advancing climate and energy performance requirements for buildings is critical if we are going to successfully respond to the climate emergency,” said Sean Pander, green and resilient buildings manager, City of Vancouver.

“Adopting new policies depends on industry’s confidence that they can meet these new expectations; this confidence is not earned by academic papers and government studies but through the exchange of ideas with peers that have already succeeded in changing their standard way of doing things.  ZEBx has been very effective at bridging the aspirations of public policy makers and industry norms by showcasing the successful innovation of industry leaders and fostering this exchange.”

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The winning installation of Benchmark 2023, called “Four Nesting Loops” by Thom Fougere of Montreal, Quebec, was recently unveiled in Victoria Beach, Manitoba.

The installation contains four aluminum seating loops in multiple sizes which are placed adjacent to a secluded Victoria Beach forest trail. This bench creates a serene space and invites visitors to connect with nature. The aluminum surface, which is subdued and sand-blasted, aims to capture the light through the surrounding forest canopy and connects the installation and its natural surroundings.

In his early career, Fougere drove the design of an international furniture manufacturer and established his own label. In 2010, he was appointed creative director of Canadian design house EQ3. Fougere crafted various product collections for the company and led the brand through a transformative global re-positioning which included designing EQ3’s New York flagship building.

This project was chosen as part of Benchmark, the international design competition organized by Storefront Manitoba and the Winnipeg Trails Association.

Victoria Beach was the chosen as the site for the 2023 edition to pay a tribute to the late David Penner, the founder and former Executive Director of Storefront Manitoba, who spent various summers there at the cottage with family and friends.

“It is an honour to be selected to design this installation. I’m deeply interested in our connection to nature and how to elevate life’s subtleties, which nature grants us but often goes unnoticed. The design of this installation aims to do just that, offering visitors the opportunity to connect with their surroundings and unplug in a secluded natural environment while using materials efficiently. A rather pragmatic, Prairie-minded approach, one I’m sure was shared by the late David Penner, for whom this bench will serve as a memorial,” said Thom Fougere.

A celebration took place on September 9, 2023, for the installation of the design. The project is located along the 8th to McCawley Trail, on the north edge of the Victoria Beach Golf Course.

The 1.3 km long trail is located on Treaty 1 land and is part of the Victoria Beach Trans Canada Trail and the Borders to Beaches Trail.

“This project is evocative and transcendent, like the forest itself. Its formal and spatial disposition and material simplicity, initially perceived as foreign objects in nature, are in fact universally familiar and engaging and invite ‘reflection and contemplation’ as its author suggests. The judicious placement of the 4 seating rings adjacent to the path and into the forest provides a sense of order and place,” said Eduard Epp, Benchmark jury member.

“The concentrically disposed rings signal growth and symbolically reference the passage of time echoed concretely by shadows cast from a tree within one or more of the rings. Similarly, David’s home and cottage incorporate wooden pathways that encircle trees along their path. The honed steel seating surfaces gather and reflect light and shade or leaves and snow as the seasons pass, making evident the natural cycles of growth, decay and renewal.”

“Four Nesting Loops” is the eighth installation completed as part of the Benchmark project with the support of several organizations which include Trails Manitoba and the Trans Canada Trail.

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Edmonton Design Week, founded to celebrate design in the City of Edmonton, will be making a comeback next week.

Hosted by Media Architecture Design Edmonton (MADE), the event has become a showcase for all things pertaining to design in Edmonton. The event is run by volunteers and invites visitors to explore the city’s diverse design world through interactive exhibitions and talks led by industry leaders.

“Our goal is to allow you to become part of the design process and shape your own future with design through ideation and creation,” reads Edmonton Design Week’s website.

The theme for Edmonton Design Week 2023 is “Meld,” which aims to bring together all creative disciplines in Edmonton.

A kick-off party will take place on October 10 and various events and exhibitions will follow throughout the week. These include a tour of John and Patricia Patkau’s Galleria housing project, a tour of the Rossdale Power plant with architects Marc Boutin and Richard Cotter, a tour and documentary film screening on Arthur Erickson’s Dyde House, a cross-generational discussion between Alberta architects, and an online conversation with this year’s Urban Design Awards jurors.

Edmonton Design Week will run until October 15, 2023.

Tickets for the event are on sale now. For more information, click here.

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Canada Council for the Arts is currently accepting exhibition proposals for Canada’s official representation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venizia.

The event, which is set to take place from May to November 2025 in Venice, Italy, attracts 300,000 visitors and engages conversations about contemporary architecture.

Canada Council for the Arts is seeking proposals with unique concepts that challenge and address current realities through the lens of contemporary Canadian architecture.

The chosen team will be responsible for the complete execution of the exhibition in the Canada Pavilion, from design to production. The Canada Council, as Commissioner, will oversee Canada’s official participation, advise the selected team and contribute $500,000 towards the exhibition production.

The selection committee will consist of Aziza Chaouni, an architect and Principal at Aziza Chaouni Projects with affiliations in both Toronto and Morocco; David Garneau, a painter, curator, and critical art writer of Métis heritage; Daniel Pearl, an architect and Principal at L’OEUF Architectes located in Montreal; Siamak Hariri, an architect and Founding Partner at Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto; and Sepake Angiama, a Curator and Educator, and Artistic Director at the Institute for International Visual Art in London, UK.

The deadline to submit an expression of interest is November 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)

For more information about eligibility, criteria, exhibition requirements and the application process, click here.

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The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) are currently accepting entries for the 2024 National Urban Design Awards.

The National Urban Design Awards program encourages the submission of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary projects involving planners, landscape architects, architects and/or other disciplines. The program recognizes the importance and impact of teams in creating places that enhance the quality of life in Canadian communities.

Projects, plans, and studies completed or installed within Canadian urban municipalities up to five (5) years prior to the entry deadline are eligible. In accordance with Statistics Canada, urban areas are defined as those that have a population of at least 1,000 and a density of 400 or more people per square kilometer

Starting this year, up to 12 winners will be selected from any of six categories: Urban Architecture, Urban Design Plans, Civic Design Projects, Urban Fragments, Community Initiatives, and Student Projects. There is no fee for submissions to Community Initiatives and Student Projects.

The deadline for submitting a project is January 11, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. ET.

For more information, visit the RAIC’s information page, and to submit a project, click here.

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Architect Taymoore Raouf Balbaa has passed away on September 29, 2023, at the age of 46.

Balbaa, who was born in Burlington, Ont., co-founded AXIA Design Associates in 2010, where his portfolio included cultural centers, educational facilities, places of worship, infill housing, and social housing projects.

He also led the design of The Diwan, a jewel-like pavilion that completed the world’s northernmost Islamic-inspired garden, just outside of Edmonton, Alberta.

Balbaa completed his Master of Architecture degree at the University of Waterloo, and earned the 2004 RAIC Medal for his graduate thesis. He was the recipient of the the Canada Council for the Arts’ Prix de Rome for Emerging Practitioners and the RAIC’s Young Architect Award.

Before founding AXIA Design Associates, Balbaa gained experience at architectural firms including Menis Arquitectos in Tenerife, Spain, KPMB Architects in Toronto, Ont., Massimiliano Fuksas in Rome, Italy, and HLW International in New York, NY. He contributed to the Parthenon Restoration Project in Athens, Greece, in 1998.

He also shared his knowledge as an educator, teaching at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science.

A celebration of his life was held on October 1, 2023.

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Amidst controversy surrounding the mega private spa set to occupy provincially owned land, Toronto’s mayor, Olivia Chow, has put forth an alternative proposal.

According to a CBC News article, Chow suggests that Therme Canada’s spa and indoor water park, originally slated for a portion of Ontario Place, could instead find its home at the Better Living Centre within Exhibition Place.

Mayor Chow’s suggestion comes in response to inquiries from the media on September 29, regarding whether Premier Ford’s recent change of plans regarding Greenbelt development might signal a possible reconsideration of the contentious 95-year lease granted to Therme. The Better Living Centre is situated on land owned by the city, and has a similar footprint to the proposed Therme facility.

The Ford government’s controversial decision to grant provincial land for the construction of a private spa has sparked ongoing tension, and  encountered significant public opposition. Currently, city staff are in the process of reviewing the resubmitted plans for the spa and water park.

Regarding the discussions leading up to her alternative proposal, the Mayor did not provide any details on September 29 and did not respond to requests made. According to CBC News, as of Wednesday afternoon, the city’s planning division had not received any direction from the city council or a council committee to explore alternative locations for the proposed Therme facility.

Mayor Chow did not specify whether her proposal would involve granting the land, offering a lease arrangement, or pursuing a sale.

Mayor Chow pointed out that the Better Living Centre is presently not fully utilized. Don Boyle, the CEO of Exhibition Place, corroborated this statement, adding that he envisions Exhibition Place becoming a destination where people can enjoy a full day or even a weekend visit throughout the year.

Advocacy group Ontario Place for All is optimistic that both Therme and the province will be more receptive to considering alternative locations.

The post Mayor Olivia Chow Suggests City-Owned Site as Alternate Location for Therme Spa Instead of Ontario Place appeared first on Canadian Architect.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts are inviting architects to submit projects for the 2024 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture. The key metrics of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) are mandatory starting with the 2024 submission cycle, and submission fees are now tiered according to construction cost.

The objective of the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture is to recognize and celebrate outstanding design in recently completed built projects of any size, type and geographical location by Canadian architects. The competition continues a tradition initiated by the Massey Medals in 1950, providing an important source of understanding of the nature of Canadian architecture and the regional, cultural, and historic forces expressed in the built environment. Outstanding design considers exemplary approaches to sustainability, and the support and advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Eligible projects can be built anywhere in the world, and must be completed within the past seven (7) years from the deadline for submission. The project’s lead design architect or team of architects must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and licensed/registered with a Canadian Provincial or Territorial Jurisdiction.

The competition will result in the awarding of up to 12 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.

The 2024 edition of this program has been revamped this season to align with the core values of both organizations. Changes include an update to the selection criteria. According to the terms of reference, medals are awarded for excellence in architecture, and all of the following criteria will be used in the assessment by the jury:

For additional details about the Terms of Reference, updated eligibility criteria, submission requirements, and a list of previous awardees, please visit the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture page on the RAIC website.

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Oxford Properties Group (Oxford) and James K.M. Cheng Architects have officially opened The Stack at 1133 Melville Street.

The Stack is the first office tower to obtain certification under the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building – Design standard, and is also the first high-rise commercial tower in North America constructed to meet zero carbon standards. Ownership of The Stack is shared by Oxford and CPP Investments.

This 37-story, AAA-class office tower spans 550,000 square feet and boasts a premium location in downtown Vancouver. Its distinctive twisted, stacked box design by architect James K.M. Cheng adds to the city’s skyline.

The achievement of zero carbon status by The Stack also plays a crucial role in advancing the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia toward their shared goal of achieving zero carbon by 2030. The Stack’s attainment of this status is made possible through the incorporation of innovative features designed to reduce both carbon emissions and energy consumption. These features include low carbon building systems and a high-performance triple-pane glazing system.

The Stack also leverages smart building technology to offer insights into energy management, optimize building performance, and enable proactive maintenance. On-site renewable energy is generated through a rooftop photovoltaic solar panel array, producing an annual output of 26,000 kilowatt-hours.

“The Stack is leading the real estate industry to new levels of sustainability and reflects Oxford’s commitment to integrating ESG best practices throughout our assets,” commented Andrew O’Neil, Vice President of Development, Oxford Properties. “We’re incredibly proud to deliver a building that creates economic and social value for the city of Vancouver, and actively contributes to our partners and customers’ ESG goals. By being the first to achieve a Zero Carbon high rise office building, we can use the insights and learnings from this project across our portfolio and share best practices with the wider industry as we collectively tackle decarbonization as one of the most pressing issues of our times.”

The design of The Stack incorporates architectural features that prioritize employee comfort and health, such as operable windows that allow for natural ventilation, outdoor terraces and a landscaped pocket park, which includes a public art installation by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun.

To encourage active transportation and overall wellness, The Stack provides a 5,000-square-foot fitness center and accommodates 250 bike parking spaces. A 6,000-square-foot rooftop terrace is accessible to all tenants, providing unobstructed panoramic views from a height of 530 feet.

“With its architectural prominence, unrivalled suite of amenities and breathtaking views, The Stack redefines the workplace experience in Canada,” commented Ted Mildon, Vice President, Office Leasing and Operations at Oxford Properties. “We have long foreseen the evolution of the office from simply being the ‘production floor’ where employees congregated to complete tasks into a destination that creates employee engagement, and drives collaboration, learning and mentorship for high performing teams. We’re seeing in cities across the globe that providing employees with a high-quality workplace experience has been an integral part in successful ‘Return to Office’ programs for firms looking to unlock the benefits of in-person collaboration.”

“We have enjoyed enormous recent leasing success with The Stack, with the majority of the building’s leasing being secured over the past 12 months. This is further evidence of our ongoing conviction that high quality, highly sustainable office buildings in the best locations that are focused on the employee experience and wellness will continue to outperform.”

“In addition to the building’s achievements in sustainability and the workplace experience, we have also received a lot of compliments from our neighbours as to how well this project is fitting into the community, and how much they appreciate the Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun sculpture and the pocket park connecting to the existing network of mid-block passages and plazas,” said James K.M. Cheng, Principal, James K.M. Cheng Architects.

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