Award

8 | AUGUST 2018 Kirsten Reite Architecture the U.S Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [USGBC-LEED] for Healthcare rating system," says Reite. "This stands out to me because everybody put the project first – the client was open-minded and wanted something different, and everyone worked together to create something unique. We refined the design to weed out the institutional appearance and ensured every little detail would enhance the human experience. It was about refining, refining, and refining again." The result is a unique modern design that maximizes the well-being and work- flow in Lethbridge's Chinook Regional Hospital. The design not only responds to the vernacular and scale of the site, but complements the existing building. The addition has been designed to allow natural light into the majority of occupied spaces through light scoops along the central spine, clerestory windows, glass floors and glazing into the various departments. "I think the best compliment I have ever received was on this project. I was on site when someone turned to me and said, 'this doesn't look like a hospital at all,'" says Reite. While 75 percent of KRA's projects are focussed on health care, which are indeed the company's "bread and butter," the remaining 25 percent are what Reite describes as "passion projects." A great example is Pajo's Fish and Chips at Rocky Point Park, which involved a redesign of the Port Moody location and features a new covered eating area that uses durable and industrious materials to ensure the building lasts in the elements. It is also a nod to Port Moody's past on the Burrard Inlet. KRA is also working on a commercial development in Railtown and one in the community of Grandview Woodlands, and as a result of the success of Pajo's, the team is now working on an eco-cabin development with a commercial core on Saltspring Island. "The common thread in all of our projects is the client," says Reite. "It doesn't matter what project it is, the commonality is that we can connect with the client, can work together and have fun." Fun is indeed at the core of everything KRA does and that comes across when you chat to Reite and the team. Walk into their office in Gastown and, depending on the day, you will either be hit with a wall of calm or a wall of creative chaos. "I like to think we exude an atmosphere of professionalism mixed with innovation. Walk in one day and you will find everyone with their heads down, but come back during one of our design sessions on a Thursday and the noise can be deafening," says Reite. For Reite, ultimately, the success of KRA is a result of its people. Its leadership team, which consists of three associates, James Madley, Julie Verville, and Sylvie Gagnon, (who Reite describes as "the most well-rounded architects I have ever worked with") as well as the other 17 staff members, all share a few characteris- tics in common: a passion for design and a willingness to pitch in. "Our team consists of people mostly between the ages of 25 and 35 who are highly sociable people, and that has been on purpose. When we hire someone, I may glance at their resume, but it's really about the fit. It is essential that we maintain a spirit of co-operation. We firmly believe in leaving the ego at the door as it can be so destructive in an office. Our success has been built around finding people with a similar mindset. You have to be OK with being the boss on one job, and then helping someone else out the next. There is no black and white pecking order," says Reite. With a now thriving business, what does the future hold for KRA? Reite's response may be a little unconventional, but it is one that seems to work in a sector that is constantly evolving. "I think about the future a lot, but I came from firms that were always projecting five to 10 years out, and I found that really restrictive. It's great as a guide to structure your path, but it can also be debilitat- ing. For me it's really about what is coming up in the next six months, and are we still having fun and if not, what are the course corrections we need to make? The key is to focus on doing interesting projects and feeling fulfilled. If it's 90 percent great, then you are doing well." Whether or not KRA will continue to grow is a question that only time will answer, and will be dictated by the opportunities that arise, but KRA remains committed to retaining that boutique feel and a tight-knit community. "Is it pos- sible to grow without losing some of the things that have propelled our growth, such as our office culture? That's the real question. We all want to continue to touch design, afterall, that's why we got into the profession in the first place and I want to continue to encourage that. As for me, I love what I do and I am sure I will be doing it still well into my 70s." A ANDREW LATREILLE ANDREW LATREILLE KIRSTEN REITE ARCHITECTURE ANDREW LATREILLE Carlile Youth Concurrent Disorders Centre, North Vancouver, B.C. REACH Community Health Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Pajo's Fish and Chips, Port Moody, B.C. Chinook Regional Hospital, Lethbridge, AB.

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