Award

Boundary Bay Fire Hall, Delta, B.C. Abdul Ladha Science Student Centre, Vancouver, B.C. 6 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Johnston Davidson Architecture P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N D R E W L AT R EI L L E Johnston Davidson Architecture continues to score big with remarkable projects and teamwork by ROBIN BRUNET | photography courtesy JOHNSTON DAVIDSON ARCHITECTURE C onsidering she was on the University of British Columbia's Varsity Basketball Team and a BC Summer Games' swim champion, Kimberly Johnston, who is the principal of Vancouver-based Johnston Davidson Architecture (JDa), views project development through a sporting lens. Recalling her earlier years, she says, "It was a thrill to score, but what I really loved was the teamwork that led to getting the shot. I loved the sensation of passing the ball in an open space, knowing a colleague would catch it." This innate appreciation for teamwork informs JDa as Johnston and senior associates John Botelho and Edward Craig guide a company that was founded in 1976 by Johnston's father, Douglas Johnston, alongside Ian Davidson. It also explains why they are so passionate about working in the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) realm – to the point where it has become JDa's specialty. The friendly and engaging Johnston says, "One of the many things dad taught me was to always work with others to find different solutions – and that's the essence of IPD." Some of JDa's more notable successes include West Kelowna City Hall and Library; Squamish Fire Hall No. 2; and the recently completed Pitt Meadows Fire Hall, a 26,000-square-foot, mass timber building that contains a dedicated emergency operations centre. JDa's focus on protective services is noteworthy, especially at a time when many architects feel compelled to diversify to ensure a steady stream of work. "We've designed over 75 firehalls in B.C., Alberta, and even Prince Edward Island," Johnston says. "My dad and Mr. Davidson first ventured into this niche with Vancouver Fire Hall No. 12, and the specialty work snowballed from there." Craig, who was initially sceptical about the IPD process ("It seemed too Kumbaya to me"), adds, "We're perpetually busy. The need for protective ser- vices is growing as populations increase, existing neighbourhoods expand, and new ones are being built." Doug Johnston and Ian Davidson built JDa from the ground up, initially as a two-man team, with the goal of capturing the essence of life in the built form. Also, while they weren't interested in the "starchitect" mentality, they believed in the value that architects brought to the table and always fought to be heard. It's A Slam Dunk

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