FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2008 on 7:09 pm | In general

First provincial chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada looks back then sets sights on future

Red Deer, Alberta, July 19, 2008 — Today architects from across Alberta came together to mark the premier changing of the guard of the first-ever provincial chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). New executive joined the pioneering members of the inaugural committee to reflect on past successes and to look forward to future possibilities.

Two years ago the formation of the Alberta Chapter achieved an historic first for the nation-wide and century-old organization. Representing more than 3,500 Architects, the RAIC provides the national framework for the development and recognition of Architectural excellence. Developing provincial or local chapters will energize the organization’s grassroots. And while advocacy on behalf of architecture and its practice will continue to be a main focus of the Alberta Chapter, to be heard beyond its membership the new executive understands that it will need to do more than just preach to the choir.

“In fact”, says incoming Chapter president, Robert Stirling, MRAIC, “we’re not going to ‘preach’ to anyone. Our goal is to build a local constituency outside of Architecture that believes, as we do, that design matters in Alberta and that the design of the built environment in particular matters more now than perhaps at any time in our province’s history.”

The RAIC believes that architecture’s place in this larger but local context has economic, cultural and environmental dimensions that are of significant benefit to all Albertans. The Alberta Chapter, by framing, highlighting and affirming these dimensions for the widest possible audience, hopes to build relationships and form alliances with like-minded citizens, associations and institutions from across the province.

Established in 1907, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is a voluntary national association and is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada. Alberta is currently home to over 400 RAIC members giving the provincial chapter the ability to effectively represent the national body locally while providing a strong voice for local initiatives at a national level.

For more information:

Robert Stirling
Architect, AAA, MRAIC
RAIC Alberta Chapter
403-283-7796
http://www.raicalberta.org

About the 2008 Executive Committee:

Robert Stirling (President) is an architect currently with the firm of GEC Architecture in Calgary. With 15 years of experience, he has led or been part of many multi-disciplinary teams and served clients from every sector through a broad range of building types. Robert believes that the impacts of architecture and the built environment cut across scales, across economic sectors, and across cultures. He further believes that nowhere could these impacts be more important, or as timely, yet more misunderstood or simply unrecognized than right now and right in our own back yard. He therefore looks forward to working with the incoming RAIC Alberta Chapter executive as they continue to provide strong, grassroots advocacy for architecture throughout the province.

Loraine Fowlow is Interim Dean and Associate Professor of Architecture in the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary, where she has been on faculty since 1995. With degrees in both civil engineering and architecture, her area of teaching is structures for architects, with an emphasis on the integration between structural and architectural design. Her primary research area is the (in)authentic environment, a subject upon which she has published numerous papers, as well as presented her work internationally. Publications include international academic journals, conference proceedings, Canadian Architect magazine, the Canadian Encyclopedia, and most recently, a book on contemporary winery design for John Wiley & Sons, London (Wine By Design, 2005). Loraine is also a Member of the Board of Governors of the Steel Structures Education Foundation, the educational arm of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, and runs their architecture program, including the national Architecture Student Design Competition.

Basel Abdulaal, born in Damascus, is an Intern Architect with Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd and has over 15 years of successful experience in architectural design, interior design and construction. Basel has participated and won awards in international architectural competitions. He is pursuing his Masters of Science in construction and management at the University of Alberta. Recently a research paper on Simulation of Modular Building Construction (co-author), has been accepted providing him with an opportunity to be a Presenter at the 2008 International Winter Simulation Conference and publication of the paper in the Proceedings. As a member with RAIC Alberta Chapter executive committee, Basel is committed to preserve and develop an architecture that is aesthetic, functional, and sustainable.

Peter Osborne is an Architect practicing in Edmonton with Stantec Architecture Ltd. He is a native of Alberta who is glad to be working and contributing to architecture in his home province. He has worked on projects around Alberta including, The Elephant Crossing at the Calgary Zoo, Enterprise Square and the Southgate Transit Centre. Peter is also a regular contributor to OnSite Review Magazine.

Erin Hafichuk is an intern architect with GEC Architecture. Prior to joining GEC in 2006, Erin worked with Group 2 Architecture Engineering Ltd. from 2000. She brings an extensive amount of planning and design experience in educational design, master planning, and sustainable design. Erin is currently involved in the design of the new Clinical Skills Building for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, an innovative new facility seeking LEED Platinum certification. Erin has proven herself an accomplished designer, planner, and facilitator.

Ben Gardner is an Intern Architect with Brinsmead Ziola Kennedy Architecture in Edmonton, Alberta.  Mr. Gardner received his Architectural degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and has ten years of practical experience in Western Canada.  He has a passion for the built environment and enjoys participating in all aspects of the development process.  Mr. Gardner sees the role of the Architect gaining increasing importance in global and domestic economies as population demographics change from rural to urban models, and towards more sustainable forms.

Rounding out the new Executive Committee are Kevin Mullin, Sam Oboh (Past President) and Chad Oberg (Communications).

In the Photo: Robert Stirling, Kevin Mullin, Basel Abdulaal, Peter Osborne, Loraine Fowlow