FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Call for Nominations

(Editor’s Update: The following Call for Nominations pertains to the Alberta Chapter Executive, and is hopefully not to be confused with the National RAIC’s search for a Regional Director for Alberta-Northwest Territories. While the Regional Director and the Alberta Chapter Executive work closely together on a great number of initiatives, the national position is being sought through a separate nomination process from that described below.)

The RAIC Alberta Chapter Executive is composed of 7 voting representatives from five different regions of the province: Two (2) representatives from Calgary region, Two (2) representatives from Edmonton region, One (1) representative from Central Alberta, One (1) representative from Southern Alberta and One (1) from Northern Alberta.

Nominations are hereby invited to elect the Chapter’s regional representatives to fill the following vacancies:

Calgary Region - Two (2) Vacancies
Edmonton Region - Two (2) Vacancies
Central Alberta - One (1) vacancy
Northern Alberta - One (1) vacancy
Southern Alberta - One (1) vacancy

In line with the objectives laid out at the chapter’s inauguration in 2006, individuals are elected as the chapter’s regional representatives to represent, advocate and strengthen the architectural profession from grassroots level and to advance the general interest of the RAIC membership in Alberta.
Continue reading Call for Nominations…

AIA Grassroots 2008

As a representative of the RAIC Alberta Chapter, Laura Plosz attended the AIA Grassroots 2008 Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. The conference is an annual event held for the leaders of the various components within the AIA, designed to share skills and strategies for advocating for architecture at the local, state and federal levels. Over a thousand representatives from across the United States attended, as well as a few guests from the RAIC.

Continue reading AIA Grassroots 2008…

A Culture of Advocacy in Alberta

Spearheading a culture of Advocacy in Alberta: A letter from RAIC Alberta Chapter President Samuel Oboh, MRAIC, AIA

Dear RAIC Alberta Chapter Members,

As Albertans go to the polls on the 3rd of March 2008, The Alberta Chapter of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) focused on getting issues important to architects front and center in the 2008 campaign. The Chapter presented (to all the party leaders) an agenda for Alberta’s sustainable future and also reminded them on the need to sincerely make commitment that will ensure a truly sustainable future for Alberta and Albertans. The Chapter’s agenda were sent to leaders of the following parties: Alberta Greens; Alberta Liberal; Alberta Party; Alberta Social Credit Party; Communist Party – Alberta; Progressive Conservative Party; Alberta NDP; Separation Party of Alberta and the Wildrose Alliance Party.

What You Can Do:

• Participate in your in your electoral divisions and talk to the Candidates.

The Chapter wants to encourage architects and RAIC members to participate in the elections by talking to candidates, pose questions on issues important to architects and the profession of architecture to candidates in your electoral divisions and vote on March 3, 2008. Although the RAIC Alberta Chapter executive could talk to candidates and submit questions, we want you to talk about issues and pose questions that matter to you. If you are interested in posing a question to the leaders of the various political entities in the province, you can get their addresses at http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/603.htm

Be sure to identify yourself as an architect or someone from the architectural community!

Kindly note that the RAIC Alberta chapter will not endorse any candidate. We firmly believe that each of us has a key role to play on behalf of the RAIC, the profession and society to advocate on issues that we are passionate about just like we do in our everyday practice. The Chapter’s advocacy will not stop with this election. Architects and members of the RAIC must continue to take leadership roles on issues that affect the built environment in Alberta.

• Participate in RAIC Advocacy Programs and Functions

After the March 3 elections, the chapter is planning a year-round advocacy that requires regular contact with elected officials and policy makers in our province. We need all the help we can get from RAIC members in the province. In the coming months, we plan to invite MLA’s, councilors and other elected officials and policy makers to RAIC Alberta Chapter functions (like Urban Design Award Ceremony, social programs, architectural tours of significant buildings in the province etc); request invitations to legislature press events on key built environment legislation and raise public acknowledgment of the important role architecture play in our lives; increase RAIC’s advocacy role; initiate advocacy programs that will take on challenges facing the profession in the province; etc

In order to achieve the level of success we desire, we need to participate and devote our efforts to becoming advocates all year long.

Thank you for your involvement!

Job Opportunity-Herman Miller

This posting was forwarded to us via the Contact section of this website:

Herman Miller currently has an outstanding opportunity for a professional Healthcare Designer based in a home office preferably in Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto. This dedicated member of the Herman Miller for Healthcare direct team will be responsible for increasing sales by partnering with the sales teams, dealers, other members of the healthcare team, and our healthcare clients to address facility design needs including clinical, administrative, and public spaces within the healthcare environment. You will be responsible for creating solutions through programming with end-users, preliminary design and presentation, and final specification of computer-generated layouts creatively using Herman Miller for Healthcare system products. You will also coordinate project time frames, buyouts, and installation documents in a timely and professional manner. This position is home based with up to 40% travel for client meetings.

Continue reading Job Opportunity-Herman Miller…

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

The RAIC Alberta Chapter is pleased to announce the formation of the chapter’s advocacy / legislative resource action group also known as the Architecture Alberta (A²) Steering Group. Being the advocacy think-tank arm of the RAIC Alberta chapter, Architecture Alberta (among others will spearhead, provide leadership in effectual architectural advocacy and create synergies that will fortify the concept of Good Architecture and strengthen the voice of the Architect among policy makers, politicians and the general public in Alberta and beyond.

The composition of Architecture Alberta (steering group) is as follows:

Malcolm Johnson, FRAIC - Chair
Samuel Oboh, MRAIC - Co-Chair (RAIC Alberta Chapter Executive)
Fred Valentine, FRAIC - Vice Chair
Laura Plosz, MRAIC - Co-Vice – Chair (RAIC Alberta Chapter Executive)
Jane Pendergast, FRAIC
Arthur Ferrari, FRAIC
Vivian Manasc, PP/FRAIC
Len Rodrigues, FRAIC
Brian Oakley, FRAIC
Barry Johns, FRAIC
Loraine Fowlow, MRAIC (Interim Dean, EVDS, University of Calgary)
Thomas Tittemore, MRAIC (AAA VP – Voice)
Naomi Minja, MRAIC
Donna Clare, MRAIC
Tony Luppino (Exec. Dir. Art Gallery of Alberta & Friend of Architecture / Design)
Todd Babiak (Edmonton Journalist & Friend of Architecture / Design)
Stephen Hunt (Calgary Journalist & Friend of Architecture / Design)
Two Non – Architect members interested in Good Architecture / environment

Architecture Alberta will advocate and promote the of importance good architecture, strengthen the voice of architects and encourage the appreciation of the role that architectural excellence play in shaping the quality of life in our province. The RAIC Alberta Chapter look forward to working together with you in making this noble objective of the RAIC, a success.

Annual Report Presented

The RAIC’s Regional Director for Alberta/NWT, Len Rodrigues and Alberta Chapter Chairperson Samuel Oboh attended the OAA / RAIC 2007 Conference and Festival of Architecture in Toronto from May 9 -12.

The first Annual Report of the RAIC Alberta Chapter was presented to the RAIC Board of Directors by Len Rodrigues during the festival. The theme for the festival was The next 100 years: Healthy Buildings, Healthy Communities. Highlights of the festival included festivities to celebrate the centennial of the RAIC; Celebration of Excellence - OAA / RAIC Awards Ceremony; RAIC College of Fellows Convocation featuring Francine Houben and Arthur Ferrari (from RAIC Alberta) who was elected into the RAIC 2007 College of fellows.

A copy of the RAIC Alberta Chapter Annual Report is available as a PDF download from this site.

RAIC Alberta Member Watch

The RAIC Alberta Chapter would like to officially recognize and congratulate Vivian Manasc, FRAIC and Arthur Ferrari, FRAIC. Vivian Manasc, FRAIC has completed a successful tenure as National President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada for 2006 – 2007. Congratulations are also extended to Arthur Ferrari, FRAIC for his investiture into the RAIC College of Fellows.

Speak Up on Land Use

The Alberta Government is holding a series of public consultation sessions over the next two weeks as part of the development of a Land-use Framework for the province. From the Press Release:

“A Land-use Framework will provide the context, overall direction and decision-making framework to govern and manage land use in the province. It will guide land-use decisions on all land, except federal such as national parks and Indian reserves. The framework is intended to meet Albertans’ long-term social and economic goals based on good environmental management.”

To obtain more info including dates and times for the public sessions please visit this link.