What an evening!
The 2018 Recognition Ceremony took place on Thursday, November 8 at VanDusen Gardens. The event was a celebration of exceptional dedication to the architectural profession and community, with awards being presented in two categories; Professional Service and Volunteer Service. Eva Matsuzaki Honorary Member of the AIBC – a leader in the architectural profession known for pushing boundaries and thoughtful sustainable design – received the prestigious AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding career-long body of work. AIBC volunteers who displayed significant service and dedication to the institute were also recognized at the ceremony in the Volunteer Service Category, with Architects AIBC John J. McCormack receiving the Award for Lifetime Volunteer Achievement, and Russell Hollingsworth receiving the CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service. Five former council members received Certificates of Recognition for their service on council.
AIBC Council Member Michelle Fenton Architect AIBC emceed the ceremony and welcomed award presenters Danica Djurkovic Architect AIBC, AIBC CEO Mark Vernon, Brian Sim Architect AIBC and Sherry McKay to the stage to present awards and certificates.
Certificates of Recognition
David Dove Architect AIBC, Sylvie Gagnon Architect AIBC, Karl Gustavson Architect AIBC, Selwyn Dodd Retired Architect AIBC, and Aaron Urion Intern Architect AIBC were honoured with Certificates of Recognition for their contribution as AIBC Council Members or Liaisons.
Volunteer Service Awards
Russell Hollingsworth Architect AIBC received the CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service.
Russell credits the development of his design sensibility to growing up in an environment surrounded by the early practitioners of West Coast Modernism, as well as his lifelong interest in the philosophy of how design impacts living. In the late 1960s, Russell worked as a student and draftsman for his father, renowned architect Fred Hollingsworth. In November 2003, Russell successfully registered with the Architectural Institute of B.C. He began his practice – Hollingsworth Architecture Inc. – in January 2004. Since registration, Russell has been actively involved with the AIBC. He contributed to the creation of the architectural competency matrix, which formed the basis of an outcomes-based assessment and was adopted at the national level. He has served as a dedicated member of the Registration Board since June 2004, and the Qualifications Committee since 2006. In addition, Russell has been a panelist for Oral Reviews and reinstatement interviews, sat as a member of AIBC Council, and mentored many alternative qualification candidates.
The Award for Lifetime Volunteer Achievement was presented to John J. McCormack Architect AIBC.
John graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Dublin Institute of Technology in 1967. He registered with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia in 1971, and started his own practice in 1974. As of 2018, John has volunteered with the AIBC for more than 45 years. He first served on the Advisory Service Committee, where he started the Architects’ Advisory Service – a public outreach program which ran for 25 years. From there, John continued to demonstrate a remarkable commitment to policy, program, and committee work. Highlights include helping create the Internship in Architecture Program, acting as chair and committee member of the Examining Board and the Professional Conduct Board, being an Oral Examiner and mentor for intern architects, AIBC representative to the CACB, and member of several other committees: Registration Board, Certification Board, Act and Bylaw Review Task Force, Investigations Committee, and most recently, the Bylaw Review Committee. John has also been a presenter of the Ethics, Act and Bylaws course at the AIBC since its inception, and teaches the ethics portion of the Building Envelope Principles course.
Professional Service Awards
The AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Eva Matsuzaki Honorary Member of the AIBC.
Eva Matsuzaki Honorary Member of the AIBC was born in Riga, Latvia. In 1949, she and her family immigrated to New York City. Her interest in design and the built environment started at age ten, inspired by magazines featuring homes and intricate buildings. In 1966, Eva graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture – one of only two women in the class of forty. She began her architectural career working at Eero Saarinen’s office in Connecticut, where she contributed to the design of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eva also met her future husband – Kiyoshi Matsuzaki – at the firm.
Eva and Kiyoshi moved to Vancouver in 1972 where they would work closely together for the entirety of their architectural careers. Eva worked at many notable firms, including McCarter Nairne from 1972–74, and Arthur Erickson Architects from 1974–84. Eva and Kiyoshi then founded their own firms – Matsuzaki Wright Architects with Jim Wright, and Matsuzaki Architects Inc.
During her more than 40 years of professional practice, Eva was at the helm of many influential projects, including leading the transformation of the old Vancouver Court House into the current Vancouver Art Gallery, to designing the iconic C.K. Choi Building at the University of British Columbia. Her work has been widely recognized for its innovation and use of sustainable design, receiving accolades such as the Architectural Institute of B.C. Lieutenant Governor Innovation Award of Excellence, American Institute of Architects Earth Day Award, Building Owners and Managers Association’s Earth Award, and the B.C. Hydro Power Smart Award of Excellence.
Eva has contributed significantly to both her community and the profession. She was a founding member of Women in Architecture, and the first female president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, leading the organization from 1998–99. In addition, she has been a member of AIBC Council, the AIBC Examining Board, Canadian Architectural Certification Board, City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel, and Canada Line Board. She currently sits on the Board of Callanish Society, a support group for people living with cancer.
Event photos are available on Flickr.
2019 AIBC Professional Recognition Award Nominations Now Open!
The nominations for the 2019 Professional Recognition Awards are now open. The process has been updated and significantly simplified – it is now easier than ever to recognize worthy individuals, duos or firms for their outstanding contributions to the profession, community or Institute.
2019 nomination forms, as well as additional information about the program and nomination process, can be found on the AIBC website. If you have any questions, please contact Shawna Chilton, Manager of Human Resources and Administration at schilton@aibc.ca.
Nominations Review Survey
At the AIBC, we are always looking to improve and strengthen programs as part of our commitment to institutional excellence. We are seeking feedback about the professional award nomination process. Please take a few minutes to complete the Nomination Review Survey.