Urban Design Awards Update

The jury has been announced for the 2007 Edmonton Urban Design awards and the submission form is available for download. The deadline for entries is October 4.

The jury is comprised of:

Vincent Asselin
Landscape Architect: Williams, Asselin, Ackaoui et Associés inc.
Montreal, Quebec

Joe Berridge
Planner: Urban Strategies Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Gary Burns
Writer / Filmmaker: Director of Radiant City, Waydowntown
Calgary, Alberta

Ian McDonald
Architect: Ian MacDonald Architect Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Janet Rosenberg
Landscape Architect: Janet Rosenberg + Associates
Landscape Architects and Urban Designers
Toronto, Ontario

From the submission brochure:

“Designers, developers, sponsors, and owners of projects selected as award winners will receive an Award of Excellence or a certificate of Merit in six categories. Awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held at Edmonton City Hall in November 2007. Awards will be presented to both consultant and owners.The projects receiving an Award will be eligible for the National RAIC Urban Design Awards to be adjudicated in 2008.The awarded projects will be exhibited in Edmonton City Hall and featured on the City of Edmonton and RAIC Web sites.”

The Award Ceremony will take place at the Edmonton City Hall in November 2007. For more information and additional downloadable materials visit www.edmonton.ca/urban2007.

LID Conference

The RAIC Alberta Chapter is pleased to help spread the word about the upcoming Edmonton Low Impact Development (LID) Conference. The event, running from November 27-29 is examining development issues facing northern Alberta with a focus on Low Impact Development:

“The conference will feature topics such as storm water management, wetland and riparian area protection, land use bylaws, LID practices in urban drainages, construction and demolition waste management, Landscaping for Better Water Management and Alberta-based examples of the challenges associated with rapid development. The conference will also feature a pre-conference workshop.”

For more details and registration information please see the website www.alidp.org

Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum of Understanding between the RAIC Alberta Chapter and the Alberta Association of Architects is currently being finalized. The goal of this initative is to advance the mutually beneficial, cooperative working relationship that exists between the two organizations.

Specifically The MOU seeks to:

i. Effectively advance the profile of the architectural profession in the province to accurately reflect the contribution of the profession to society;
ii. Advocate and promote excellence in the practice of Architecture in the province of Alberta in a more coordinated and effective manner;
iii. Clarify roles and responsibilities of AAA and RAIC-AB to members of both organizations and the general public.

Architecture Alberta 1st Meeting

The inaugural meeting of the RAIC Alberta Chapter’s Advocacy Steering Group, Architecture Alberta, took place on the 31st of July 2007 at Duggan House in Edmonton. The meeting which was well attended by members of the group, discussed numerous advocacy frameworks for the advancement of Architecture in Alberta. For more information, refer to the minutes of the meeting which are available for download (pdf link).