The Facades+ conference series will come to Vancouver, Canada for the first time on May 21. For the event, The Architect’s Newspaper partnered with Perkins&Will’s Vancouver studio as co-chair firm, assembling a program which features the most sustainable and high performing projects in British Columbia and beyond.
Indigenous Envelopes: First Nations Health Authority
The day begins with a case study of DIALOG’s First Nations Health Authority in North Vancouver. Derived from the vernacular plank houses of the Coast Salish people, the design was executed using a post-and-beam timber structure. Kate Gerson and Ryan McClanaghan from DIALOG will delve into the technical details, covering fire-rating requirements and the coordination of the prefabrication process.
Architectural Solutions for High Performance Problems
The next session highlights two projects in Canada which have been designed to passive house specifications. Michael Banman from Stantec will present the Buffalo Crossing Community Center in Manitoba, while Caroline Inglis of Diamond Schmitt Architects will share the Marpole Community Center in Vancouver. The presentations will contrast the climatic conditions of the two sites, describing how weather-impacted design choices relate to insulation and energy performance.
Seismic Resiliency: The Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology, designed by Arthur Erickson in the 1970s, is one of Vancouver’s most iconic modern structures. Brian Hubbs and Felix Weber of RDH Building Science will describe their work on a renovation of the museum, which has improved its resilience to earthquakes. The pair will be introduced by Nick Milkovich, principal at Milkovich Architects, who worked with Erickson in the ‘70s. The presentation will cover the design and installation of updated structural glass, as well as the replacement of skylights throughout the building. These changes were orchestrated in a manner that is respectful to Erickson’s original design.
Modular Prefab Facade from Design-Assist to Construction: UBC Gateway
The final presentation of the day will spotlight co-chair firm Perkins&Will’s Gateway project for the University of British Columbia. The building is on track to receive a number of high performance certifications and was designed from a hybrid structure of glulam, steel, and concrete. Importantly, the facade and structure were prefabricated off-site and designed through a comprehensive design-assist process which streamlined project efficiency and execution.
Click here to learn more about the event and register.
