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PerSPeCTIVe december 2013 / Volume 27 / Number 6 publisher editor art director contributing writers contributing photographers production/studio manager assistant studio manager production coordinator advertising production electronic production senior imaging technician electronic imaging account manager advertising coordinator Dan Chapman Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli Laurel MacLean Angela Altass Bill Armstrong Robin Brunet Godfrey Budd Peter Caulfield Adam Currie Stefan Dubowski Lawrence Herzog Laurie Jones Yvan Marston Stacey McLachlan Dan O'Reilly Tiffany Sloan Zuzanna Wodzynska Guy Wilson-Roberts Blue Fish Studio Derek Lepper Lumic Photo Kristina Borys Mandy Lau Julie Reynolds Allison Griffioen, Chris Sherwood Ina Bowerbank Debbie Lynn Craig Mandy Lau, Laura Michaels Alexander Sugden Allie Davison award magazine – head office Phone 604.299.7311 Fax 604.299.9188 chairman, ceo president senior vice president/ editorial & custom publishing vice president/finance vice president/sales vice president/marketing vice president/editorial vice president/specialty sales vice president executive creative director director of circulation director of information technology director of production director of digital media managing director, custom publishing digital media marketing technical support analyst application support analyst accounting circulation manager circulation executive assistants reception Peter Legge, obc, lld. (hon) Gary Davies Kathleen Freimond (on leave) Farnaz Riahi, ca Karen Hounjet Holly Pateman Tom Gierasimczuk Rebecca Legge (on leave) Samantha Legge, mba Rick Thibert Scott Wheatley Mike Packer Kim McLane Raymond Yip Mike Roberts Piushi Ariyawansa, Kristen Hilderman, Debbie Jiang, Elaine Linsao, James Marshall, Michael Small, Candice Ui Mark Bakker, Casey Crawford, Joanne Da Silva, Natasha Gowda, Chelsea Hartmann Brian Fakhraie Eileen Gajowski Rita French, Eileen Gajowski, Joy Ginete-Cockle, Terri Mason, Sonia Roxburgh, Jocelyn Snelling Tracy McRitchie Ashley Cleggett, Millie Coskun, Kelly Kalirai, Ruth Pisko, Isabelle Ringham Jackie Lee, Heather Vince Ellenor McClelland Award magazine is published six times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited. Head office: 4th Floor - 4180 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6A7. Phone 604.299.7311, Fax 604.299.9188. Send covers of undeliverable copies to address above. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065475. © 2012. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Award is distributed to architects, interior designers, landscape architects, consulting engineers, specification writers, development companies and major construction companies throughout Western Canada and Ontario. For subscription information call 604.299.1023 or email: awardsubscriptions@ canadawide.com National Library No. ISSN 1202-5925. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental LGM Graphics. Award magazine welcomes your letters, corporate announcements or company information. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors and publication shall not be deemed to mean that they are necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Canada Wide Media Limited. The acceptance and publication of advertisement of products and services does not indicate endorsement of such products or services. The publishers cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. by Pierre E. Gallant, FRAIC RAIC Regional Director for British Columbia / Yukon Architecture matters – on many levels A s a young architect, a mere 30 plus years ago, I was involved in a school design. After the school's completion, the school board superintendent (as they were called at that time) shared with the consulting team that the students at the new school went from the highest rate of vandalism in the school board to the lowest. Both the superintendent and the school principal attributed the change in attitude to the pride that the students now felt in their new school. Of course the open, inviting and naturally-lit design was also mentioned. To this day, I feel considerable pride in having participated in something that mattered to the end-users. This is only one example of anecdotal evidence that delights all participants in the building design and construction industry. Architecture matters to young students. While attending the official opening of another project that I had the privilege of being involved with, I noticed that the "master painter" (the term is used deliberately) was present. I told him that I appreciated his workmanship for the graphics/mural meshing with the exposed mechanical ductwork. The "master painter" modestly replied: ''Thank you and I hope you don't mind, I signed the mural above the right duct where nobody could see it." I turned to the general contractor and asked if he could arrange access to the high clerestory-sloped mural for the painter to re-sign at the bottom right corner where the signature could be visible. The contractor obliged without hesitation. Architecture matters to builders. A few years ago, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) conducted a study on how much time we spend indoors. It found that 92 per cent of our time is either spent in our home, at work, participating in indoor sports, attending a concert or shopping. Also, we cannot forget other urban environments where we spend our time such as outdoor public places. The outdoor space fashioned by "humans" is of course as essential to society as buildings are to occupants. So perhaps, in reality, we spend well over 95 per cent of our time in or around buildings. Given that simplistic data, we need to provide responsible, helpful and delightful buildings. Architecture matters to all of us. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, has enhanced the city making it an even greater tourist destination. In addition to social and practical attributes, it appears that architecture is also an economic stimulus! Paris, the City of Lights, has a history of creating architectural landmarks. An obvious example is La Grande Arche de la Défense (known as La Défense), designed by Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, which can be seen from numerous vantage points in the city. Paris and France showed courage in having a design competition and carrying the project through to the construction process. Others more competent than this writer can comment on the design merit of La Défense, but let's be reminded that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. Architecture matters to Bilbao and Paris. Closer to home, Étienne Gaboury's Provencher Bridge across the Red River in Winnipeg was criticized for being too costly and extravagant, even before it was built. Today, it is recognized as an iconic realization for the City of Winnipeg, and one that has improved the link between the St. Boniface community and the downtown district. The former naysayers now recognize the bridge's importance, most likely because of its outstanding design. These ramblings are meant to convey that, yes, architecture does matter, and it matters to everyone. ■ WiN! a new iphone 5s! Download Award magazine for free on your iPad and enter to win now! With enhanced features including additional photography, information on key trends and tours of the latest projects across Canada, the Award magazine iPad edition is a multi-media must-read for the design and construction industry. HOW TO ENTER: Simply download the free Award magazine iPad app through the iTunes store and enter the contest via the app's library in Apple Newsstand. Entries are open until December 31, 2013. DECEMBER 2013 /7 Visit htt magazi p06-07RAIC.indd 7 13-11-15 3:56 PM