Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/218643
Urban Precision W BBB Architects has mastered the art of building long-lasting relationships by Adam Currie While some architectural firms tend to focus their attention on one particular corner of the market, there are others that strive for variety. Built on the principles of its founding partners, BBB Architects is a firm focused on diversity, practicality and relationship building. Brian Brisbin, the company's founding partner, began the business in 1984 before teaming up with two prolific industry figures, Murray Beynon and the late Phillip Brook. Together the trio formed what is now known as the globallyrecognized brand of Brisbin Brook Beynon (BBB) Architects. "The original three partners were nicknamed the 'killer bees' as a result of their uncanny ability to build up successful and long-lasting relationships with developers," explains Craig Bissell, BBB's director of business development. "They forged their success on being able to fully comprehend the mindset of developers – something that is still evident in the business today." Over time, the firm's partner structure has expanded, with Greg Alexander and Chris O'Reilly now making up one of the most effective quartets in the business. Today BBB Architects is a full-service architectural firm specializing in master planning, architectural design, interior design and project management. The company has recorded a dramatic transformation from its humble beginnings in a small downtown office in Toronto to its current status as one of North America's premier architectural firms. In a testament to his success over the years, Brisbin remains the company's lead designer and planner for major developments. His global knowledge, coupled with local sensibilities, have been applied to a wide variety of projects and he boasts an impressive master-planning history including Toronto's unrealized Summer Olympic Games bid, the Port of Montenegro and the resort Pasabahce on the Bosphorus Strait. At the helm of this established practice are four partners that have built a vibrant and progressive workplace, where creativity and innovative thinking are not only embraced but celebrated. With over 60 team members in offices in Toronto and New York, the company has made its mark on the international architectural scene with designs that delight and inspire. Brisbin explains that BBB Architects is unique in that it is not departmentalized. "We have a lot of individuals that are fantastic in their specific disciplines, however, we also realize that we are part of a larger team and overall design process, and as a result chemistry among team members is crucial. This is a fun and creative place to work." Over the years, the firm's partners have left their mark on a multitude of projects and their ability and professionalism have not gone unnoticed. The company has received more than 30 design awards since its inception, including two Massey Medals for Architecture. Its most recent accolades came off the back of work undertaken on the Ryerson University Mattamy Athletic Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This project won the 2013 Toronto Urban Design Award's (TUDA) Award of Merit, Public Building in Context, City of Toronto, as well as the 2013 Award of Excellence by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (Ontario). When asked what sets BBB Architects apart from its peers, Bissell responds: "With a diverse portfolio that includes commercial offices, hospitality and resorts, retail and entertainment, sports, institutional and interior designs, this company is focused on collaborative designs that successfully define its clients' needs and aspirations. Our collaborative approach results in a strong, cohesive team committed to excellence in every aspect of a project." and monuments of execution. "They encompass refurbishment of existing structures and the revitalization of often underutilized urban landscapes. They are the manifestation of urban place-making." When it comes to the firm's standout projects, Brisbin points to Graywood Development's The Mercer, a scheme that is currently underway in Toronto and set for completion in 2014. The project is centred on the creation and construction of a 38-storey tower designed to emphasize its slender vertical character, reduce the impression of mass and cast a narrow shadow. The masonry material of the podium and a portion of the tower, and the nine-storey height of the west wing are designed to compliment the adjacent Hotel Le Germain and maintain a consistent street wall on Mercer Street. Only one block long, Mercer Street has been around, more or less, since the inception of the city and still possesses many of its beautiful 19th century brick warehouse buildings. Recognized the world over, BBB Architects is known for its prominent and iconic structures which include the world's first retractable roof stadium (Rogers Centre in Vancouver), the renovation of hockey's most historic sports venue (Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto) and the $900-million transformation of the world's most famous arena (Madison Square Garden in New York). Other notable projects include the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and the former Metro Hall office complex. Brisbin says these projects represent landmarks The Mercer, with its layered expression of brick, stone and glass, creates a vertical image that captures the unique character of Mercer Street. Referencing the past while simultaneously rooted in the present, The Mercer is what Greg Alexander, one of Brisbin's partners, calls an exercise in the "Romantic Modern." Brisbin adds, "Quite simply, this building tells a story, the story of Mercer Street. It is a contemporary design but it describes the character and life of this unique street, both in its use of materials, like stone and brick, and in a series of design moves both at grade and on the skyline." Previous page photos, clockwise, from top left: Mall of Russia, Moscow, photo: Brian Brisbin; Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto; The Mercer, Toronto, photo: Goran Petkovski; Pasabahce, Istanbul, Turkey. Above: Miami Shores, Miami, Florida. Cover Story – BBB Architects p08-13BBBcover_Ads.indd 9 december 2013 /9 13-11-15 3:37 PM