The port city of Rotterdam has reinvented itself over the last 30 years to become attractive again for its residents and businesses. Making the city more social, repopulating the city centre, attracting tourism with iconic buildings, and changing the economy of the city was the first phase. In the second, more ambitious phase, the mostly below-sea-level city is facing challenges regarding climate change in which areas need to be rethought and transformed to be futureproof. Local architecture practice MVRDV has participated in the urban transformation and is a partner for the city today in terms of developing a software that allows the city to analyze and transform the urban landscape based on parametric data.
10/26/2023 8:45 AM
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A shift towards sustained, informed, respectful relationships with Indigenous communities is a key part of reconciliation with the First Peoples in Canada. By sharing their lived experience from Indigenous and non-indigenous perspectives, the panel will explore some of the issues around “Designing for Dignity” for indigenous peoples (in this case, Nunavut Inuit). The conversation will touch on both professional and client/community perspectives. Panelists will discuss their work, consultation and collaboration approaches, and lessons learned, along with some challenging questions about the perpetuation of colonial relationships. They will relate how these experiences have contributed to their personal and professional growth. Few architectural professionals in Canada are Indigenous or have deep experience supporting Inuit in the unique arctic environments that have been their Nunangat (homeland) for millennia. The journey towards “Designing for Dignity” in this context is life-long, but the panel hopes to leave attendees with the education listed below.
10/26/2023 10:45 AM
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Many of us grew up studying the great modernists such as Wright and Le Corbusier, and more recently have seen the emergence of Starchitects like Zaha and Gehry. While there is little question design leadership is required in architecture, we postulate we are in the early stages of a new era of design collaboration that recognizes the importance of many voices and multiple inputs on something as complicated and societally important as architecture. From the early hand sketches to the detailing phase to the rigour applied during construction; architecture is a highly collaborative effort. To recognize and reward it as the work of a single voice is disingenuous, especially in this new era of decolonization and modern complexity. In parallel, we have seen client groups grow in their sophistication and desire to recognize multiple voices within their own teams, as well as within the communities their buildings will serve. This evolution should be met with an equally collaborative process with the design team. Place des Arts in Sudbury is made up of multiple and varied voices of its seven Franco-Ontarian arts organizations. The speakers discuss how these seven client voices were met with an equally collaborative design process employed by the joint venture of Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Bélanger Salach Architecture for the design of the project. Speakers outline the roles and responsibilities of the various team members—client and design team—and unfurl the design, detailing, and construction process for this new cultural facility in the heart of downtown Sudbury.
10/26/2023 10:45 AM
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The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has recently adopted qualifications-based selection (QBS) as its preferred method for selecting consulting architects and engineers. Except in some cases, TCHC will no longer ask architects responding to RFPs to state their fee as part of their proposals; instead, proponents will be scored solely on the merit of their experience and ability to provide excellent service. Fifty years of experience in the United States as well as numerous independent studies have shown that QBS results in better value for clients, fairer fees for consultants, and better buildings for end users. Learn how key metrics for equity, inclusion, and supporting the next generation of practices can benefit from QBS and why this is important for clients, the profession, and the public interest.
10/26/2023 10:45 AM
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Dignity refers to a person’s right to be valued, respected, and treated ethically and equally. The concept of “dignity” is a keystone in the design of spaces for children—particularly buildings that aim to provide care and support to children and youth living with autism, developmental, behavioural, complex care, rehabilitation, and mental health needs. The vision for these buildings is to offer Best Life for every child and youth, with the goal to support children and their families in reaching the highest capability to navigate a world that was not purposefully designed for them, and to do so with dignity. Beyond instilling dignity, safety, and privacy, these children treatment centres are about hope, comfort, and connections, breaking the common perception many parents face that “this world is not designed for my child.” This session by NEUF architect(e)s discusses “Designing for Dignity” through the lens of Children’s Treatment Centres and Schools in Ontario. A case study review of two projects will highlight the unique challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends in designing for children and youth with special needs, including autism.
10/26/2023 1:15 PM
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The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has entered Canadian law. Federal procurement requires 5% minimum Indigenous content, and other clients are requesting Indigenous perspectives in architectural services. Fewer than 1% of licensed architects in Canada are Indigenous. Collaboration is critical to meet demand until the profession diversifies. How can Indigeneity in architecture add value, depth, and cultural richness to our shared environments? How do we avoid exploitative relationships, tokenism, and cultural appropriation? This session explores how to build reciprocal relationships with Indigenous practitioners.
10/26/2023 1:15 PM
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The wasted effort, disputes, acrimony, lack of trust, and litigation experienced by all participants in the design and delivery of projects is steadily increasing—and the cost for everyone, including the insurance premiums we all bear, is no longer sustainable. Put simply, we have reached the breaking point! Integrated project delivery (IPD) embodies a paradigm shift in project delivery, the essence of which is intentional, intensive, and focused collaboration among all key members of the project team—owner, consultants, and contractor—to identify and agree on project goals, and then meet them together. IPD’s hallmarks include early involvement, co-location, stipulated profit at risk, and waivers of claim among the participants. This session focuses on how the architecture profession, as well as owners and contractors (and their legal advisors) need to “think different” in the IPD environment, highlighting the significant benefits of doing so (including greater owner satisfaction, better profitability, reduction of risk, and deep professional satisfaction for the participants). It includes discussion of CCDC-30, the revolutionary multiparty IPD agreement that one commentator states “will reshape the Canadian construction industry landscape,” plus lessons learned from several real-life experiences with IPD.
10/26/2023 1:15 PM
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In Greater Sudbury, the impacts of sulphur gases—from roast yards before 1928 and subsequently through smelter operations emitting sulphur gases and metal particulates—created a barren landscape of about 17,000 ha, with an additional 64,000 ha of stunted forest. The requirement for major reduction of emissions set the stage for implementing an assisted landscape recovery program. Over the past 45 years, the Sudbury Regreening Protocol, based on effective interaction between community, government, academia, and industry, has been recognized globally for its regional landscape transformation. It has evolved from application of dolomitic limestone and fertilizer, seeding of agricultural grasses and legumes, and planting of tree seedlings to a more complete biodiverse restoration strategy using over 80 species. By the end of 2022, approximately 3,500 ha has received soil amelioration treatments, with over 10 million trees and shrubs planted for approximately $36.5 million while employing 4,900 individuals. The continuance of the Regreening Program is one of the pillars of Sudbury’s Community Energy and Emissions Carbon Neutral Plan. The success of the program provides hope and guidance for other world-wide restoration activities during the current UN Decade on Restoration. The rejuvenated landscape provides many opportunities for residents to enjoy a healthy landscape and to design the urban environment in harmony with nature.
10/26/2023 3:00 PM
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