Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1274063
NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre. The YYC Airside Connections Corridor. Calgary LRT refurbishment. J U LY 2 0 2 0 | 7 GEC Architecture A DA M M Ø R K W I K TO R S KU P I N S K I W I K TO R S KU P I N S K I Today, GEC Architecture consists of nine partners (David Edmunds, Ken Cartier, Andrew Tankard, Gary Mundy, Rob Wenarchuk, Queenie Lung, Tyson Bolduc, Jason Pare and Osborne), and around 60 staff. You could be forgiven for thinking that the staff all work from one central hub due to the firm's deep col- laboration that blurs the line between its Calgary and Edmonton office, however by using the most up-to-date smart technology and conferencing systems GEC can ensure both offices work as closely together as they would if located in the same room. "We do a lot of work sharing between the two studios, and we really don't see ourselves as two offices, but instead one integrated design studio. There is no magic line in Red Deer where one office works on one area and the other on another, we just match the best people for the project," explains Osborne. When it comes to projects, it can be tough to pick a few that clearly demon- strate the diversity of the firm and the capabilities of the team. It's no wonder then that the projects themselves have received so many accolades. One project that gained mass publicity and was also the recipient of the Ella Anderson Accessible Transportation Award is the previously mentioned Y YC LINK at the Calgary International Airport. The Airside Connections Corridor and the Y YC LINK mark a significant change in how people move through the Y YC Calgary International Airport. With the opening of the new terminal building in 2016, the Airside Connections Corridor ensures people get to their connecting flights quickly and safely. With two moving walkways and an internal transit system, the corridor is a first-of-its-kind in Canada, and, as an added bonus you get a fantastic view of Calgary along the way. Another GEC project that demonstrates the firm's community-focus is Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge – a regional hub of physical activity and a multi- purpose gathering space for the community. The idea for the YMCA was to create a low, horizontal building form that would be stitched into the landscape, expressing and complementing the natu- ral contours of the site. The program elements of the building are all set beneath a curved, undulating laminated timber roof structure that links the spaces together and responds to their individual height requirements. The ribbon- like form of the facade creates large curving expanses of glulam-supported, high-performance glazing, accommodating key views from within the facility, while selectively revealing the activity within to passersby. The glulam glazing supports provide warmth to the interior material palette, while the depth and placement reduces glare from low evening sun. And then there's the 190,000-square-foot NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre in Edmonton, which was completed from project award to construction completion in a compressed timeline of 22 months … quite a significant under- taking. The LEED building recognizes sustainability in design and construction through the use of solar panels installed above the glass canopy in the main foyer, which generates 58 kilowatts of electricity per hour and is used in distrib- uted energy research. Each and every GEC project in some way demonstrates that the team are problem solvers and focused on designing great places for people to live, learn, play, innovate, gather, and connect. No wonder the firm's portfolio features a seemingly endless list of iconic projects that have shaped our communities; everything from recreation centres, post-secondary institutions, LRT corridors and extensions, to innovative mixed-use/residential developments. The passion that GEC has to make a difference in the world is infectious, but it's the importance they place on the people that really stands out. "The archi- tecture world has been heavily focussed on reducing carbon of late, but for us it's also about putting people first. We focus on occupant comfort and what is it like to be in our buildings on a day to day basis, and what that means for peoples' quality of life," says Osborne. Well, he should know … the team in Edmonton recently moved into 300 West Block, a three-storey mass timber, mixed-use building that is part of a large GEC designed transit-oriented development for InHouse. "This is the first time in GEC's history that we've been able to do that!" Osborne says. For Osborne and the team, the present and the future of architecture and the firm looks extremely bright. Being located in Alberta of course brings with it some challenges what with the province's economy having been stuck in low gear for a while, and yet Osborne says there is increasing optimism lately in both cities and the firm is working on projects that are significant in the way the cities and Alberta in general will grow over the next few years. He is also enthusiastic about the collaborative delivery model that seems to be becoming the norm and which allows expertise to be shared on every part of the project's journey to ensure the best possible outcome. But perhaps most exciting for GEC is the announcement of a new office in Toronto, which is expected to be open in the very near future, allowing GEC to have its boots on the ground in the east and bring its expertise to new areas of our beautiful land. A