Every Building Has An Architect!

During 2007 and beyond, the RAIC Alberta Chapter will be spearheading a campaign to encourage credit given to Architects for published articles, photographs, media clips, etc. on buildings in Alberta.

The RAIC Alberta Chapter will be urging and encouraging Architects in Alberta to take ownership when a building is highlighted in a publication and contact editors to point out an important angle was missed in not speaking with the Architect and highlighting the vision for the structure. This will be one of the cores of our grassroots campaign in 2007 until recognition for Architects becomes the norm:

By Vivian Manasc, FRAIC
President
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Every building has an Architect! – Remember you read it here first! It is a statement we at the RAIC hope will be heard throughout the land in 2007. As we mark our 100th Anniversary the RAIC will be highlighting this simple fact with the goal of raising the visibility of our profession – one building at a time.

It is time that as a profession we take credit and ask for credit. Just think of the millions of examples – photographs, articles, quotations, radio spots and television segments. Each building highlighted and duly credited to a photographer or videographer is missing a key piece of information. As a profession we will begin to push the point - just like photographers and other artists – credits should include the Architect. It is part of the copyright law in some countries. The RAIC plans to wage a campaign that the least we can do in Canada is request photo credits include another key fact – the Architect.

Continue reading Every Building Has An Architect!…

Jube Tour a Success

The Alberta Chapter of the RAIC was pleased to host the first of many tours of significant Alberta architecture at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on November 30th. The three tour leaders, architect Fred Valentine of Stantec, owner representative Jon Newman of Alberta Infrastructure & Transportation, and facilities manager Katherine Huising of Alberta Community Development, provided a well rounded perspective on the planning which led to the rejuvenation of the hall and the subsequent feedback from patrons and performers. The group was treated to an engaging dialogue which involved the participants and enabled them to understand the underlying acoustic and performance related criteria regardless of background. Participants were drawn from a wide group including experienced architects, architectural technology students, and interested members of the public – thanks to everyone for making the inaugural event a success. The reception afterward provided a great opportunity to meet the tour leaders and to hear even more interesting anecdotes relating to the six year process. Thanks again to Stantec Architecture and Bird Construction for sponsoring the reception.

Look for more information in the new year regarding the next architectural tour, highlighting the recently completed Engineering Buildings at the University of Alberta. To submit projects for inclusion in the architectural tours or to volunteer for the Architectural Tours Committee, please contact Laura Plosz of the RAIC Alberta Chapter Executive at the chapter’s email address, office@raicalberta.org.

RAIC Syllabus Program Renewed

For those of you wondering about the future of the RAIC’s Syllabus Program as a path to architectural registration, this news release from Athabasca University should help clear things up.

Athabasca University is to become the RAIC’s ‘Education Provider’ for the Syllabus, such that

The planned distance program will give students who are unable to attend a campus-based school of architecture access to architectural education. Graduates will earn an RAIC professional diploma in architecture.

For further background refer to archived coverage (.PDF link) in the Edmonton Journal.

RAIC accepts 2030 Challenge

The RAIC Board has agreed to be part of a movement which began at the RAIC Festival in Edmonton in 2005 with a speech from Ed Mazria FAIA, the founder of Architecture 2030. Many other groups, notably the AIA, the USGBC, the US Conference of Mayors, and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), have become involved and are supporting the idea of a phased approach towards a carbon neutral built-environment by 2030.

For more information:

• 2005 Ed Mazria’s presentation
• 2030 Challenge Resolution (PDF)
• AIA background (PDF)

Act to Save CBIP

An email was sent out to all Alberta/NWT RAIC members by Len Rodrigues urging your action in regard to CBIP (Commercial Building Incentive Program) for sustainable buildings:

In light of the anticipated termination of the CBIP program by the 31st of March 2007, The RAIC Alberta chapter requests all members to foward the attached letter to their respective MP’s and cc the Minister of the Environment Natural Resources. This is part of RAIC Alberta Chapter Advocacy strategy aimed at supporting design teams and owners in their quest to reduce GHG emmissions.

Note the correction. The original email stated the Environment Minister, where Vivian Manasc, RAIC President has subsequently stated that it should be cc’d to the Minister of Natural Resources.

The text of the letter follows:

Continue reading Act to Save CBIP…