The Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) has announced the honorees of their annual Architectural Awards, this year's awards were given to 10 projects and one firm in four different categories. The Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture recognizes excellence in architectural projects completed within the past eight years led by a British Columbia-registered architect. This year, seven projects were selected in this category.
Two Innovation Awards were given to projects displaying achievements in building design that are not strictly architectural, but have a direct bearing on the future of the field in areas such as design, building technology, use of materials and sustainability. To be eligible, they must be completed within the past eight years.
The Emerging Firm Award honors a newly established firm that's a part of the AIBC which embraces broader, more modern types of practice that reflect the changing nature of the profession.
The entire program is rounded off with two Special Jury Awards. The first of these was given to 564 Beatty Street, by Bruce Carscadden Architect, Inc & IBI Group, which adaptively increased urban density within Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The second was presented to Virmilion Sands, by Matthew Soules Architecture for inverting assumptions about landscape by making a temporary canopy installation featuring 3D cones hanging from the structure that are covered in clover and grass. All but one of the 10 projects can be found in British Columbia.
The Wood Innovation and Design Centre, by Michael Green Architecture, received two awards: the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award and the Innovation award.
The competition's jury included D'Arcy Jones Architect, principal of D'Arcy Jones Architecture, Inc.; Gregory R. Mottola, FAIA, principal of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson; Alicia Medina, intern architect at Simcic Uhrich Architects; Andrew Gruft, professor emeritus of architecture at the University of British Columbia; Ray Spaxman, president of Ray Spaxman Consulting Ltd.; and Kerry Gold, Vancouver-based journalist.
To see full descriptions of each project, click on the image name to view it in ARCHITECT'S Project Gallery.
Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture
Vomo Spa, in Vomo Island, Fiji, by ABC Architecture Building Culture
Steveston Fire Hall, in Richmond, British Columbia, by HCMA Architecture + Design
Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon, in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Michael Green Architecture
Wood Innovation and Design Centre, in Prince George, British Columbia, by Michael Green Architecture. This project also received the Innovation award.
UBC Bookstore Expansion + Renovation, in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers
Pitt River Middle School, in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, by Perkins+Will
Newton Field House, in Surrey, British Columbia, by Public Architecture + Communication
Innovation Award
BC Passive House Factory, in British Columbia, by Hemsworth Architecture
Emerging Firm Award
Special Jury Award for Adaptively Increasing Urban Density
564 Beatty Street, in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Bruce Carscadden Architect & IBI Group
Special Jury Award for Inverting Assumptions About Landscape
Vermilion Sands, in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Matthew Soules Architecture
