Pointers from a front-line practitioner

Throughout Canada, as in the rest of the developed world, employers are confronting the looming demographic crisis — the retirement of vast numbers of baby boomers from the workforce — and projected acute shortage of younger skilled workers to replace them. The competition to attract and retain these workers has begun in earnest, and there is a growing consensus in the marketplace that offering a high quality work environment is an essential key to success. The result is a revolution in commercial office building design, the first since the 1960s.

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Vancouver Convention Centre | Simple outward appearance belies underlying complexity of Canada’s largest green roof

The Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project [VCCEP] which opened in April 2009 occupies a prominent site on the city’s Coal Harbour waterfront, with sweeping views west to Stanley Park and north and east to the Coast Mountains. Designed by Seattle-based LMN Architects, in conjunction with Vancouver’s Musson Cattel Mackey Partnership and DA Architects & Planners, the 100 000sq.m [1.1 million sf] facility was conceived as a model of sustainable design for large-scale civic buildings.

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By Bruce Hemstock

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The Builder’s Perspective… and what the homeowner should know about
the new green home rating system

Andrew Oding and Chris Higgins

In Issue 1 of SABHomes, we provided an overview of the new LEED Canada for Homes rating system for single family homes and multifamily homes up to three stories. In this article we will describe what builders and homeowners can expect when embarking on a LEED Canada for Homes project.

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Richmond Olympic Oval

At night the structure of the building is clearly visible: the main arches that span 100m across the sports hall spring from inclined concrete buttresses, while the gently curved roof panels soften the silhouette [photo by Hubert Kang].

by Jim Taggart

The Richmond Olympic Oval is the largest structure to be built for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to be held in Vancouver and Whistler BC. The Oval has been designed to accommodate the Olympic long track speed-skating events with seating for 8,000 spectators, before being transformed into a multi-sports training and recreation facility after the Games. Located adjacent to the Middle Arm of the Fraser River minutes from Vancouver’s international airport, the facility will become the focus of a new residential and commercial neighbourhood. (more…)

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A top-flight jury anchors the launch of the 2009 SAB Canadian Green Building Awards , the second annual celebration of Canadian green design.
The SAB Canadian Green Building Awards recognize excellence in the design and execution of Canadian residential and non-residential buildings of all types, including new construction, renovations and interior design projects. Winning projects are chosen based on criteria of sustainable design, architectural excellence and technical innovation. (more…)