News

PROJECT UPDATE: Jubilee Road Residence

Prior to COVID-19, SHAPE Architecture had been actively engaged in using Zoom video communications as a platform for meeting and sharing remotely on projects across the country such as Jubilee Road Residence. Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this project was able to smoothly transition into the construction administration phase via software technologies like CoConstruct and Wyze Cam.

With these tools already in place in the office, our design team has continued to effectively facilitate construction management and engage with contractors and clients straight from their homes during the quarantine period. The ability to participate in real time streaming and procure 360 degree photography has not only enhanced our communications, but also our ability to carry out better designs as they are built.

You can view this material by clicking on the following links: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

NEW PROJECT: 768 + 780 West 27th Avenue

SHAPE Architecture have recently submitted a Development Permit for eleven townhouses as part of the Cambie Corridor Plan. The project challenges the typical apartment / stacked townhouse typology by developing a series of ‘sky suites’ that allow a more equal allocation of space for every unit. As the first phase of three developments in it’s immediate neighbourhood, the proposed design uses careful changes in materiality and massing to integrate with both the existing scale of its context and the future redevelopment of the area.

PROJECT UPDATE: Lakeview Church + Housing

SHAPE Architecture were delighted to officially receive news of Vancouver City Council’s unanimous support for the rezoning of the Lakeview Church + Housing project last week. This is our office’s first Passive House project and enables us to push forward with an ambitious plan to deliver 104 quality residential units as well as a new flexible and welcoming church space for the passionate Lakeview United Church congregation. The scheme was commended for its sensitivity of scale, engagement with context and enhancement of the public realm.

PROJECT UPDATE: Fairfield Townhouses

Fairfield Townhouses consists of three buildings⁠ collectively containing 22 one-to-three bedroom townhouses in the beachside community of Gonzales Bay. The buildings are carefully organized around a central, semi-public courtyard that encourages social interaction and access to green space. Borrowing from local building traditions, the townhouses’ continuous hip roof unifies the three structures. With single-family houses becoming less accessible in this neighbourhood, the units have been configured to accommodate a variety of inhabitants including young families, professionals, and retirees.

The project is currently in the Construction Documentation Phase, with construction commencing at the end of August. To take a virtual building tour provided by Aryze + Purdey Group, click here.

PROJECT UPDATE: Vancouver Masonic Centre

2019 was “the year of demolition and excavation” for the former Vancouver Masonic Centre building, at Granville Street and 8th Avenue in Vancouver. And now, “2020 is the year of concrete”, describes Project Architect David Guenter.  “It’s an exciting year in which the leveled site is witnessing the growth of a 19 storey tower rising to full stature as a concrete skeleton.”

Perhaps the most compelling insights into architecture and construction that this “year of concrete” reveals are those that arise out of Concrete’s role as Structure and/or Envelope.  Concrete is commonly understood as a structural element—and is rightly called the “skeleton” of many buildings—but there are moments when this skeleton is also exposed as skin: as a finished surface that characterizes the identity and complexion of the building within the urban context.

A distinguishing feature of the Vancouver Masonic Centre is its exposed concrete stair core on the west side of the Tower, which is certain to be a hallmark of its identity from the view of Granville Street.  The skin of this concrete core has been stamped with horizontal lines that create something of a measuring stick for the height of the building, based on the Freemason’s interest in measurement, proportion and geometry.

If you have the opportunity to pass by Granville St and 8th Ave throughout 2020, you’ll have a tangible yardstick of the building’s progress during this “year of concrete” as construction advances throughout the year.

AWARD: South Haven Cemetery Awarded Governor General’s Medal

SHAPE Architecture’s design for South Haven Cemetery has been awarded a 2020 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture. These biennial awards celebrate outstanding design in recently completed projects by Canadian architects. Situated just outside downtown Edmonton, the building features a symbolic 13-metre tower which emerges from the prairie landscape and makes reference to the existing grave sites, monuments, columbaria and the latent memory that they embody. The jury highlighted how “the interplay of light and shadow creates weightiness, mysterious, sombre, serious, appropriate to the notion of remembrance.”

A big congratulations to Principal Architect Dwayne Smyth and the rest of the design team! Click here to learn more.

PROJECT OPENING: Maple Ridge Leisure Centre

SHAPE Architecture have recently completed the renovation of Maple Ridge Leisure Centre, a 10,000 square foot Public Aquatic and Multi-use Recreation Centre for the City of Maple Ridge.

The redesign incorporates a new Leisure Pool, Hot Pool, Changing Facilities as well as a complete upgrade to the Pool Mechanical systems. The revised layout includes a common pool deck level allowing for a new beach entry which leads to a warm lap area and elliptical lazy river to be used for therapy and recreation. Photos by Ema Peter.

 

PROJECT FEATURE: North Delta Recreation Centre in sb Magazine

SHAPE Architecture’s North Delta Recreation Centre was recently featured in the January 2020 issue of sb Magazine. This international magazine on sports, leisure and recreational facilities is published by the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS), who received the status of Recognized Organization by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). To read the article feature and learn more about the project’s design strategy and project delivery, click here.

STUDIO UPDATE: SHAPE announces new Associate Avery Titchkosky

With recent expansions to the SHAPE Architecture team, Avery Titchkosky has been appointed Associate Architect. Avery joins Associates Loretta Kong and David Guenter in leading design staff at our Vancouver Office.

Avery joined SHAPE Architecture in 2014, and has contributed to a number of high-profile projects in the office. Most recently, Avery is Project Architect for Maple Grove Elementary in Vancouver, which is currently under construction. He has also been instrumental in refining the design culture of the studio, by optimizing technology implementation and introducing internal training session. Drawing on his diverse experience and education, he’s looking forward to offering a new perspective at the leadership level at SHAPE Architecture.

PROJECT FEATURE: South Haven Cemetery in Azure Magazine

SHAPE Architecture’s recently completed South Haven Centre for Remembrance in Edmonton is featured in the January issue of Azure Magazine. Check out the article here, and learn more about the project here.