Apr. 28, 2008

Telus House by Busby Perkins+Will and lead architect Peter Busby took home the 2008 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award for Excellence in Architecture medal award.

Architects Institute of British Columbia recognizes exceptional projects

BRADLEY FEHR

editor

Eight of the best designed projects in the province were recognized at the recent Architects Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) Awards Gala.

“It was a record year for submissions. We had 51 in total with some in multiple categories,” said Dave Wiebe, director of communications for the AIBC.

“There is a very high quality of work.”

The awards were handed out during the 2008 AIBC annual conference in Vancouver and were the culmination of three days of learning, sharing and networking. About 400 people attended the event.

Wiebe noted that there was a wide variety of projects submitted this year, including multi-million dollar highrises and single-family residential units.

The judging was done by a panel of seven industry professionals.

The 2008 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award for Excellence in Architecture medal winner was Telus House designed by Busby Perkins+Will Architects. The lead architect was Peter Busby.

The project is a culmination of a two-phase project carried out over the last seven years.

The first phase involved an extensive renovation of existing office space and the second phase called for seismic upgrading in the form of a feature atrium. The project included a number of sustainable building practices.

“The use of the existing building and its innovation is unique,” said one juror.

“Its architecture lies outside our conventional ideas.”

Five other projects were given the 2008 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award for Excellence in Architecture merit award.

These included the Fred Kaiser Engineering Building at the University of British Columbia by Omicron Architecture Engineering Construction and architectsAlliance.

The lead design architects were Michael McColl, Peter Clewes and Adrian DiCastri.

Built to LEED Gold standards, the Fred Kaiser building is part of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UBC.

Another merit award was given to Bevanda Architecture’s Black Hills Estate Winery project in Oliver, B.C. The lead design architect was Nick Bevanda.

“This (high) quality of work is being done outside the Lower Mainland,” Wiebe said.

Obakki, a small store in Gastown, by mcfarlane I green I biggar Architecture + Design took home some hardware, too. The lead design architect was Michael Green and the designer was Michelle Biggar.

Gulf Island House, a two-bedroom oceanfront home designed by Measured Architecture, was another winner. The lead design architect was Matthew Woodruff.

The last Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award for Excellence in Architecture merit winner was Metchosin House, by Marko Simcic Architect. The lead design architect of this private residential project was Marko Simcic.

The 2008 AIBC Innovation Award was given to Urban Arts Architecture for the Expanded Demand for Canadian Wood Products initiative. The lead design architect was Shelley Craig.

The award category recognizes achievements that are not strictly architectural, but have a direct bearing on the future of architecture. Urban Arts Architecture firm teamed with the Canadian Wood Council and BC Wood WORKS! to market wood products as a preferable, sustainable building choice, in order to expand market demand for Canadian wood products, particularly in the mid-rise sector of five to eight-story buildings.

The next steps include the creation of a mid-rise prototype and ultimately changes to the National Building Code.

A juror commented that it fell outside of the traditional definition of architecture and another commented that they liked the use of design research for marketing.

The AIBC also handed out two Special Jury Awards.

“They felt strongly enough they (both) should be recognized,” Wiebe said.

The Chinese Freemasons Building earned Joe Wai Architect, and lead design architect Joe E. Wai, a Special Jury Award.

One award went to the Chinese Freemasons Building in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Originally built in 1907, the building was a restoration project for Joe Wai Architect. The lead design architect was Joe E. Wai.

The other Special Jury Award went to King David High School, a block-long private school in Vancouver’s Oakridge community. Acton Ostry Architects designed the project and the lead design architects were Mark Ostry and Russell Acton.

The school is described as a ‘model of functioning space.’

“It’s a clever use of simple gestures. This is a refined building,” said one juror.

The awards gala was held at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre on April 26.

Wiebe said the AIBC is considering adding a single-family residential category to next year’s awards gala, but that decision has not yet been confirmed.

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