Award

Norma Rose Point K–8 School, Vancouver, B.C. Mercedes-Benz of Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C. Robert G Kuhn Building, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. Seven Sisters Health Facility, Terrace, B.C. Multi-generational Activity Centre & Nexus Upgrades, Lake Country, B.C. Alpha Secondary School Seismic Upgrade and Addition, Burnaby, B.C. AUGUST 2019 | 7 PHOTOGRAPHY [CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT] BRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY; JOSHUA DOOL ; EMA PETER; BRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY; COLIN JEWALL PHOTO STUDIOS INC.; RENDERINGS COURTESY THINKSPACE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING INTERIOR DESIGN Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design seen other changes, too. In 1996 it changed its name from G.R. Graham Architect to Graham/Mathiasen Architects when Mark Mathiasen became a partner. Four years later Ron Hoffart joined, the office was relocated to Surrey, and the name was changed to Graham Hoffart Mathiasen Architects (GHMA). After the merger with Renaissance Architecture Planning in Kelowna in 2010 (which specialized in the health-care sector), the team recognized it had entered the next stage of its evolution and needed a new name – one that would truly represent this peo- ple-focussed and collaborative firm, and would allow them to grow together. "A firm can often become big- ger than the people, and so we came up with a name together that would demonstrate our interest in peo- ple, the people we work with, the clients we serve, and the communities we help shape," explains Dust. This idea of shaping communities is in fact very apt. Just look at the portfolio of Thinkspace projects in B.C., Alberta, and now California and you see the impact this firm and its clients have on all generations. A prime example of this is Norma Rose Point School in Vancouver. Opened in 2014, the school has wel- comed more than 4,000 visitors who have taken a tour to experience its leading-edge design. "Norma Rose was a proud moment for the firm," explains Blanchard. "We started getting into 21st Century Learning design and began designing creative and flexible spaces that would empower a school culture to evolve and trans- form supportive teaching and learning." Thinkspace was tasked with designing a school that would lead the way with 21st Century Learning principles. To achieve this, the partners say a high level of collaboration with numerous stakeholders was essential in defining, developing, and employing the principles outlined in the educational prospec- tus. Together, the team created diverse and flexible spaces that would encourage collaborative teaching and individualized project-based and experiential learning. "The way we treat project spaces in our schools is that we look to outward spaces and con- nect to nature and daylight. It has got to be a special place and we tell clients that. That's where we get excited," says Wolfe. Another great example of the diversity of Thinkspace's portfolio is the $450-million Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace for which Thinkspace is the lead compliant architect. Scheduled for com- pletion in 2024, the new hospital will serve as the Northwest region's level-three trauma and inpatient surgery centre, providing immediate assessment, resuscitation, surgery, and intensive care for patients. Then there's the Robert G Kuhn Building (School of Business and Global) in Langley. The project – which began in February 2019 and is expected to be com- pleted by July 2021 – will be a landmark building for the University. "This will be a four-storey mass tim- ber building that features a large four-storey atrium that will connect all the business students, bringing the community together," explains Wolfe. While the firm has undoubtedly some exciting projects ahead of them, they leave a trail of impres- sive buildings behind them including the Mar Jok Elementary School in West Kelowna, Belmont Secondary on Vancouver Island, Maple Ridge Fire Hall No. 1, the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Lake Country, Mercedes-Benz of Vancouver, and numerous other school projects. And they have no qualms in teaming up with partners and sharing information to ensure they bring the best expertise to the table. Thinkspace's goal is to produce buildings of simple elegance and appropriate materials; buildings that exploit design opportunities as they present them- selves; and buildings that facilitate the aspirations of those who use them. While sustainability and technology are impor- tant to Thinkspace, they also value traditional thinking, and if that means grabbing a pencil and working on designs together in order to inject a higher level of creativity, then that's exactly what they will do. In fact their walls are plastered with sketches and ideas. This team has big dreams and achieves great things. "We start every project reaching for the sky and then value engineer it down, while still maintain- ing the vision of the design. It makes you extremely creative," explains Blanchard. So how exactly does Thinkspace retain this relaxed approach, and yet achieve so much? "As a company we are not reactive. We focus on our short- and long-term goals, stick to that, and act on it. We are an architectural firm with a business framework and system that allows us to be focussed on where we want to go. It takes the guesswork out of how we make decisions. This means we can put fires out before they even ignite and we know where we are going, so we can easily shift and steer in a different direction," says Kampman. Author Frank Chimero was once quoted as say- ing, "people ignore design that ignores people," and after visiting their office in Surrey it's obvious that Thinkspace will not be ignored because the team truly do put people first. A Centennial Secondary School, Coquitlam, B.C. Waste Water Treatment Plant, Lake Country, B.C.

• Cover