The 2017 Recognition Ceremony took place on Thursday, November 23 at VanDusen Gardens. It was a celebratory night, with more award recipients than any other previous year. Awards were presented in two categories; Professional Service and Volunteer Service. Being a night of firsts, two of the recipients accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award as a duo, speaking perfectly to the collaboration that characterizes the profession of architecture. The accomplishments of all AIBC volunteers were also celebrated. Six former council members received Certificates of Recognition for their outstanding service on council.
Michelle Rupp, Lieutenant Governor Appointee to AIBC Council, emceed the ceremony and welcomed award presenters Danica Djurkovic Architect AIBC, AIBC CEO Mark Vernon, Michael Geller Architect AIBC and Scott Kemp Architect AIBC to the stage to present awards and certificates.
Certificates of Recognition
Darryl Condon Architect AIBC, Mona Lovgreen Architect AIBC, David Yustin Architect AIBC, Sara Kasaei Architect AIBC, Jordan van Dijk Architectural Technologist AIBC and Scott Kemp Architect AIBC were honoured with Certificates of Recognition for their contributions as AIBC Council Members or Invited Guests to Council.
Volunteer Service Awards
Stefan Aepli Architect AIBC received the CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service.
Stefan Aepli Architect AIBC is Principal and Partner at Francl Architecture in Vancouver, a registered architect in Switzerland and in British Columbia, as well as a LEED Accredited Professional. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience as well as giving back to the community; currently he is mentoring several Intern Architects AIBC. He is a member of the Registration Board and has served as chair on the AIBC’s Qualifications Committee. He volunteers his services as an AIBC Oral Review Panelist and CACB assessor, and is a past member of Advisory Design Panels with the Corporation of Delta and the City of Vancouver.
The next CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service went to John Davidson Architect AIBC.
John Davidson Architect AIBC graduated from the University of Toronto with the RAIC Gold Medal in 1967 and completed
Graduate Studies at MIT under a CMHC Fellowship, receiving his Master in Architecture degree in 1971. John has been actively involved in the AIBC including: member and Chair of the Registration Board, the Liability Insurance Committee, and the Professional Renewal Task Force; member, Vice-President and President of the AIBC Council during which time the council formalized the policy-governance model of the Institute; and recently a decade of service on the Investigations Committee.
Architects AIBC Scott Kemp and Gordon Richards received the Award for Lifetime Volunteer Achievement, and accepted their awards together on stage.
Scott Kemp Architect AIBC obtained a Structural Engineering degree at UBC. He studied architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow, Scotland and at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, England. He became a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia in 1996 and is currently the Principal of Scott Kemp Architect. Scott has demonstrated an enduring commitment to the Institute. A member of AIBC Council from 2007 to 2015, he served as Registrar, Vice President and President; followed by Past President from 2015 to 2017. During his tenure, he advanced the Institute’s mandate through the introduction of reciprocal agreements and the development of a competency matrix. His knowledge, expertise and reliability have been a valuable asset to the many committees he’s served.
In 1982, Gordon Richards Architect AIBC became a member with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. Two years later, he became a Certified Professional and joined Gage-Babcock & Associates Ltd. (now Jensen Hughes) in 2002 as a specialist in fire safety and code consulting. Gordon’s contribution to the institute merits particular recognition. He was first elected to the AIBC Council in 2004 and joined the Registration Board as Council Liaison. He was appointed Registrar in 2005, and has served in that capacity several times over the past 12 years. He was AIBC Council Vice President in 2009, and President in 2011. He has also been a member of the AIBC Intern Experience Review Committee since 2006 and is particularly interested in the continuing development of the Intern Architect Program.
Professional Service Awards
The AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award was jointly awarded to Joost Bakker Architect AIBC and Norman Hotson Architect AIBC.
Joost Bakker Architect AIBC is an internationally recognized architect and urban designer. His passion for the public realm has inspired the creation of meaningful and memorable public places, such as the internationally recognized Granville Island; a project he led with Norm Hotson, his lifelong work partner who has had a profound influence on his career.
Working within a tradition of place-making, Joost’s focus in his professional, artistic and volunteer work has been on the deep need for ‘civitas’ in city building. Through more than 40 years of professional practice, Joost has focused on innovative urban design as well as institutional and cultural projects. Recent placemaking projects include Quest University Canada in Squamish, B.C., which is Canada’s first private not-forprofit university, as well as the urban transformation of the CBC/Radio-Canada Vancouver Broadcasting Centre. He also recently completed the University of British Columbia’s LEED Platinum Student Union Building, nicknamed “The Nest,” for its floating theatre. Joost has maintained a collaborative practice. With more than 40 years of partnership with Norm Hotson, the two accomplished many influential projects that shaped cities and communities. The spirit of holistic design continues in the aspirational interdisciplinary design firm, DIALOG.
Norman Hotson Architect AIBC graduated from the University of Toronto in 1969 with a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) degree, receiving the Architectural Guild Gold Medal for the highest design achievement over the five-year program. He established Norman Hotson Architects in 1973 in Vancouver practising architecture and urban design. In 1985, he established Hotson Bakker Architects with Joost Bakker, his lifelong work partner and collaborator on many significant projects. Subsequent partners and mergers culminated in establishing the multi-disciplinary firm of DIALOG. Now a retired principal, Norm practices with his son at HOTSON ARCHITECTURE.
Norm has designed and managed a broad diversity of project types, including the master planning of waterfronts, transit systems, and urban redevelopment sites. In all of his endeavours, Norm has pursued his personal interest in the design of the street as the lifeblood of the city, and in place-making, the creation of animated spaces for public interaction and enjoyment in the built environment. His definitive work demonstrating these concepts is the redevelopment of Granville Island, where he served along with Joost Bakker as coordinating design architects for the Government of Canada. Heralded worldwide as one of the most important urban waterfront precedents of our time, this mixed-use community lives up to its original mandate of creating a “people place” in the city.
The final AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award went to Bing Thom Architect AIBC. Mrs. Bing Thom accepted the award on his behalf.
Bing Thom Architect AIBC was a dedicated and artful city builder with a global reputation. During architecture school at the University of British Columbia he began working for his instructor and mentor, Arthur Erickson, and completed his Master of Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley. His commitment to using great architecture to improve the urban context and social condition has been recognized by a range of honours including the Order of Canada and the Golden Jubilee Medal. Among Bing’s successes is the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC and the creation of a new city centre for Surrey, B.C. with Central City. Bing’s buildings are not just beautiful, they also add to the health of the communities where they reside. He believed in a holistic approach to architecture and attributed much of his success to his involvement in all aspects of building. Bing’s commitment to the profession of architecture found expression in his service to the public, outspokenness and practice of uplifting others through his work. In 2008, Bing was named a Life Member of the AIBC to recognize his 30 years of membership.
Event photos are available on Flickr.
Do you know a worthy candidate who should be recognized for their contributions to the profession, the community or the institute? To learn more about the AIBC’s Recognition Program, including the nomination process, please visit aibc.ca.