The Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Architectural Awards, which took place on Thursday, April 19. Thirteen awards were presented in five categories; the winning structures represented an impressive width and breadth of projects, including everything from a state-of-the-art hot water boiler facility at UBC to a dynamic community centre in Invermere, British Columbia. Projects spanned from across the province – from Vancouver Island to the Kootenays, from the Sunshine Coast to the Lower Mainland. One common theme connected all of the projects – the ability to enrich the communities in which they are situated and elevate the built environment.
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Awards in Architecture recognize excellence in completed architectural projects led or designed by AIBC members. Three projects received the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture – Medal:
- UBC Aquatic Centre by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. and Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
- Okada Marshall House by D’Arcy Jones Architecture Inc.
- Columbia Valley Centre by Shape Architecture Inc. in joint venture with Hindle Architects
Three projects received the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Awards in Architecture – Merit:
- Langara College Science and Technology Building by Proscenium Architecture and Interiors Inc. in association with Teeple Architects Inc.
- University of British Columbia Campus Energy Centre by DIALOG BC Architecture Engineering Interior Design Planning Inc.
- South Surrey Operations Centre by Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects Inc.
The AIBC Emerging Firm Award recognizes firms that have shown exemplary promise, clear vision, and defined goals in the practise of architecture. It also celebrates and encourages newly-established firms that have embraced broader, modern types of practice reflecting the changing nature of the profession. The award recipient was:
- Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc.
The AIBC Innovation Award recognizes achievements that are not strictly ‘architectural,’ but that have a direct bearing on the future of architecture in areas such as design, building technology, use of materials and sustainability.
- Sechelt Water Resource Centre by WMW Public: Architecture + Communication Inc., for processes innovation and community education.
- UBC Quantum Matter Institute by WMW Public: Architecture + Communication Inc., for creative use of a common material.
- Brock Commons Tallwood House by Acton Ostry Architects Inc., for innovation and sustainability of mass wood construction.
The AIBC Special Jury Award is given for exceptional achievement, selected from all awards submissions and determined by the jury.
- Special Jury Award to Swallowfield Barn by MOTIV Architects Inc. for community engagement
- Special Jury Award to The Dock Building by Michael Green Architecture Inc. for exceptional design clarity.
- Special Jury Award to Crosstown Elementary School by Francl Architecture Inc. for overcoming substantive obstacles to create profound social-environmental impact.
2018 Architectural Award Recipients – Project Background and Photos
UBC Aquatic Centre by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. and Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
The UBC Aquatic Centre is a high-performance training and competition venue, as well as a community aquatic centre in the University Endowment Lands. The training facility is designed to LEED Gold standards and integrates daylighting, innovative water re-use and air quality strategies. Photo credit: Ema Peter
Okada Marshall House by D’Arcy Jones Architecture Inc.
The Okada Marshall House is an ambitiously formed wood structure utilizing the shou-sugi ban technique in Sooke, B.C. The dynamic angles and spatial variety seamlessly integrate the building into its natural surroundings. All of the windows and doors point toward either the rocky landscape or Pacific Ocean, creating lively contrasts as one moves through the house. Photo credit: Sama Jim Canzian
Columbia Valley Centre by Shape Architecture Inc. in joint venture with Hindle Architects
The Columbia Valley Centre is a multi-use facility in the city of Invermere, B.C. Featuring a community hall and village library, the astute design of the building fulfils both the needs of the community, while also accommodating large public events. Photo credit: Ema Peter
Langara College Science and Technology Building by Proscenium Architecture and Interiors Inc. in association with Teeple Architects Inc.
The Langara College Science and Technology Building creates a gateway into the College’s main campus while establishing a home for its science programs and student services. The spatial experience is defined by visual and physical interconnectivity, designed to draw students together in a collaborative environment. Photo credit: Andrew Latreille
University of British Columbia Campus Energy Centre by DIALOG BC Architecture Engineering Interior Design Planning Inc.
The University of British Columbia’s Campus Energy Centre is a state-of-the-art hot water boiler facility that provides the heating requirements for the campus. The selective use of different panel types enlivens the building’s simple volume by the play of light across and through the shroud. Photo credit: Ema Peter
South Surrey Operations Centre by Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects Inc.
The South Surrey Operations Centre is a municipal building which blends city operations into the surrounding neighbourhood. A strategy of nesting was undertaken to integrate the Centre into the area, through protecting existing trees and undergrowth, as well as creating a new wildlife corridor. Photo credit: Mike MacDonald
Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc.
Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc. is an interdisciplinary design studio based in Vancouver, Canada. Their work has been nothing short of impressive since being founded in 2015. They have experienced impressive growth over a short period of time, and have produced a varied and exceptional collection of architectural and interior projects. Their designs are heavily informed by sustainability and collaboration. Not only does the firm have strong values and commitment to architecture, but also to the greater design community. Photo credit: Plus Visual
Sechelt Water Resource Centre by WMW Public: Architecture + Communication Inc.
The Sechelt Water Resource Centre rethinks traditional municipal wastewater treatment by creating a transparent space in the residential heart of Sechelt. The facility features mechanical and biological systems that clean wastewater, encouraging the public to witness their role in the hydrological cycle. Photo credit: Martin Tessler
UBC Quantum Matter Institute by WMW Public: Architecture + Communication Inc.
The UBC Quantum Matter Institute creates a new portal to UBC’s Applied Science Precinct and serves as a new formal entrance to the Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory. Fostering collaboration, both the building’s layout and materials echo the very lattice structures that are under study. Photo credit: Martin Tessler
Brock Commons Tallwood House by Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
Brock Commons Tallwood House is the tallest contemporary mass wood tower in the world. A “keep it simple” design approach was used, featuring encapsulation of the mass wood structure. Erected in only 66 days, the project’s speed, environmental benefits and cost effectiveness make it a model for future mass wood structures. Photo credit: Michael Elkan
Swallowfield Barn by Asher deGroot Architect Inc. (now MOTIV Architects Inc.)
Located in Langley, B.C., Swallowfield Barn used design and construction to build a sense of community within the rural area in which it resides. In the manner of traditional barn raising, the local community was involved in the creation of the structure, from the ground up. Built to last, the barn combines functionality and beauty, featuring a striking, off-kilter, roof profile that creates a warm and inviting entrance. Photo credit: Ema Peter
The Dock Building by Michael Green Architecture Inc.
The Dock Building, located on Jericho Beach in Vancouver, serves a large marina of sailboats. The project’s practical working needs, modest budget, and prominent siting required a simple solution that honoured the cannery and industrial heritage of waterfront buildings that were once found on the site a half-century before. Photo credit: Ema Peter
Crosstown Elementary School by Francl Architecture Inc.
Located in the core of downtown Vancouver, Crosstown Elementary School is a four-storey structure for 510 K-7 children, neighbouring a public park. The design responds directly to a shift in the delivery of education in Vancouver by fitting a non-traditional building within the urban fabric of the city. Photo credit: Michael Elkan
The 2018 AIBC Awards jury reviewed 59 submissions in order to select the recipients of the Architectural Awards. The acclaimed jury was chaired by Matthew Emerson Architect AIBC NCARB LEED AP, Associate Vice-President at HDR|CEI Architecture Associates Inc.; Heba Maleki Intern Architect AIBC, Patkau Architects Inc.; Diarmuid Nash Architect AIBC FRAIC, Partner at Moriyama & Teshima Architects; and Homa Rameshg Architect AIBC MRAIC, Owner of Rameshg Architect.