Program
Presentations from the conference are now available for download. Click the links below to download individual presentations in PDF format, or download all available presentations in a ZIP file (36 MB).
7:30 - 8:15 am
Breakfast & Registration
8:15 - 8:20 am
Opening Comments
Conference Chairman: Albert Bicol, Partner, Cobalt Engineering
Biography: [more]
Albert champions the use of sustainable solutions in his projects and initiated/leads Cobalt’s Sustainable Master Planning services. He has extensive expertise in Sustainable Master Planning (SMP), passive building design, modelling building energy usage, thermal comfort and indoor air quality conditions.
Albert has a wide range of experience in Canada, USA, and Asia. This experience includes the SMP for several university campuses, mall/retail developments, mixed used developments in the Philippines, and 20 building (eight city blocks) sites for the Southeast False Creek 2010 Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village which includes the design of a 61-unit seniors housing complex with a Net-Zero Energy/GHG emissions goals. Other projects include building systems modelling and design for the Montenay Burnaby Incineration Plant’s office building and a fully underground library for a private college (both with a goal of Net-Zero energy/GHG emissions). Albert also provided the concept design for award winning Langara College Library, which has gained international recognition. Albert is currently providing concepts for three projects targeted to meet the Living Building Challenge and several large sustainable projects in the United Arab Emirates.
As a LEED Accredited Professional, Albert peformed reviews for the USGBC and Canadian Green Building Council on projects applying for LEED certification. He currently sits on the City of Vancouver Council Urban Design Panel – only the second Mechanical Engineer to serve in this capacity. Albert has been invited to deliver over 200 presentations and has been a keynote speaker on sustainable building design, SMP and the true “Net Zero” approach in Canada, the US, and Asia. He has also volunteered to educate elementary school children on climate change. Albert was named as one of Building, Design and Construction’s 2007 ‘Top 40 Under 40’. This annual competition acknowledges industry leaders.
8:20 - 8:50 am
Opening Keynote Address:
TURNING GREEN TO GOLD: It's not just about saving the planet!
Many environmentalists tell us we must adopt green building practices 'at all costs', in order to save our planet. But the fact is, many planners and developers are not sure if the additional cost premiums often associated with green communities and buildings will be economically viable in the marketplace. Vancouver's Olympic Village is just one vivid example. In this keynote address, Michael Geller will provide examples of where commercial tenants and homebuyers have been willing to pay more, along with some innovative ideas to finance green communities and buildings.
Speaker: Michael Geller, B. Arch, MAIBC, FCIP, President, The Geller Group (download presentation)
Biography: [more]
Michael Geller is a registered architect, planner and real estate consultant with four decades of experience in the public, private and institutional sectors. He is President of The Geller Group, active in real estate consulting and property development, and serves on the Adjunct Faculty of SFU’s Centre for Sustainable Community Development.
Michael is a past President of the SFU Community Trust, overseeing the planning and development of UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain. Prior to joining SFU, Michael was Development Manager for Bayshore in Coal Harbour, Deering Island, and a variety of residential and mixed-use projects around Vancouver.
From 1981 to 1983, he was Vice-President Development, The Narod Group. Prior to joining Narod, he was an official with CMHC in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto for ten years.
Michael is a past president of the Urban Development Institute and has served on numerous boards and panels.
8:50 - 9:45 am
Sustainability without a Cookbook
Green certification systems have their place, but using a checklist is a poor substitute for applying the fundamentals of sustainable design. Architects, designers, developers and building operators can realize aesthetically pleasing, functional and enduring buildings by observing three basic sustainable design principles: biomimicry, connectivity and long life, loose fit. Using examples from the built and natural environments, this interactive presentation will provide inspiration through concrete examples of sustainability without a recipe. These same principles can also be successfully applied to innovation in organizations.
Speaker: Andrée Iffrig, LEED AP, DIRTT Environmental Solutions (download presentation)
Biography: [more]
Award-winning graduate architect, community builder, storyteller and professional writer, Andrée Iffrig is passionate about sustainable design. Her critiques and stories can be found online at Suite 101, at DIRTT Environmental Solutions where she works in Communications, and in a variety of professional publications. An RAIC medalist, she uses her design background to collaborate with others in building more sustainable communities and environments.
9:45 - 10:30 am
Excellence in Sustainability, Communication, Consultation and Building at Brighouse Elementary
This session will outline the process of the new and revitalized Brighouse Elementary School in Richmond, British Columbia. School District #38 identified this project as an opportunity to promote sustainability and utilize the school as a teaching tool. The first phase of the project was complete in April 2011 and the second will complete in September 2011.
Through drawings and interviews early on, stakeholders made it clear that sustainability was important to them in their future school. Sustainable strategies incorporated into the design include natural ventilation, maximum natural daylight and a green roof that acts as an environmental teaching tool. Plans include a minimum 45 percent energy reduction. This project is targeting CaGBC LEED NC Certified Gold.
Robert Drew of Perkins+Will will speak to the design, construction and sustainable strategies of the project as well as the process of educating a school throughout the development of a sustainable teaching tool and facility.
Speaker: Robert Drew, MAIBC, MAAA, MRAIC, LEED® AP, Associate Principal, Perkins+Will Canada (download presentation)
Biography: [more]
Robert joined Perkins+Will in 1999, bringing his leadership ability and passion for sustainable design to the firm. As Technical Director for the office, Robert is responsible for the Quality Management Program and the administration of its policies: He coordinates with project teams to ensure each project is in compliance with matters relating to the client’s program, technical performance, risk management, constructability, life safety, envelope design and schedule. Robert is also a leader in the Integrated Design Process, regularly applying the collaborative approach on his projects— which range from renovations and new construction to building assessments—and even advising and providing expertise on the process firmwide. In addition to his experience leading five of the firm’s mixed-use developments to a LEED Platinum Certification, Robert is heavily involved in the office’s K-12 market sector.
10:55 - 11:35 am
Keynote Address: Connecting Cities and People
The City of Vancouver has adopted the bold target of being the greenest city in the world by 2020. With lack of consensus at the international level it is now cities that are taking the lead in developing meaningful climate change and environmental initiatives. At the same time the lexicon of helping the environment has also moved from one of fear and disaster to one of economic development and opportunity through green jobs and green technology. In this talk Dave Ramslie will look at green buildings and the development of green infrastructure in cities as the medium to address our most pressing environmental issues and reinvigorate our economies.
Speaker: David Ramslie, MSc LEED, Sustainability Group, Senior Sustainability Programs Manager, City of Vancouver (download presentation)
Biography: [more]
Dave is the City of Vancouver’s Senior Sustainability Programs Manager. In this role Dave oversees and is responsible for the City of Vancouver's climate change, green building, air quality and electric vehicles programs. Some of his recent work has included authoring the city's 2020 carbon neutral buildings strategy, developing Vancouver's Home Energy Loan Program, its’ solar city initiative and writing what is widely regarded the "greenest building code" in North America.
Dave has taught and lectured on sustainability issues internationally and has served on the Board of Director's of the Cascadia Regional Green Buildings Council and on Canada Green Building Council’s intergovernmental affairs committee. His work has won national awards from the Canadian Institute of Planners for Vancouver’s EcoDensity Initiative, and from the Canadian Green Building Council, for Government Leadership in Green Building.
11:35 - 12:20 pm
Innovative Strategies and Technologies for Low-Exergy Climate Adapted Buildings
In this seminar, Vladimir will present the results and recommendations of a recently completed study commissioned by CEATI International Inc., BC Hydro, Hydro Québec and Manitoba Hydro focused on identifying the most effective combinations of passive strategies and active technologies appropriate to the ASHRAE climate zones 5 and 7 resulting in significantly reduced energy use and carbon emissions while providing enhanced indoor environmental conditions. The study focuses on the four most prevalent building types; Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs), High-Rise Office, K-12 School, and Retail in comparison to their respective standard building performance. The session will also include a brief outline on fundamental considerations, opportunities, limitations and the methodology associated with identifying optimal low-exergy climate adapted building design solutions for each of the four building types in the two climates.
Speaker: Vladimir Mikler, MSc, P.Eng., LEED AP, Partner, Cobalt Engineering (download presentation)
Biography: [more]
Vladimir has a passion for designing energy-efficient and environmentally responsive buildings. With over 25 years of experience, Vladimir is well-versed in all aspects of sustainable building design. As a recognized industry leader, he has completed numerous successful projects. His broad experience extends from fundamental and applied university research, through practical design and project management in both consulting engineering and design-build environments, to “hands-on” construction management and field system installations. As a recognized leader in geo-exchange technology, Vladimir has designed several systems internationally and co-authored the Geo-Exchange System Design Guidelines for applications in British Columbia. He is also a pioneer in the application of low-intensity radiant slab heating and cooling systems in North America. A former member of the City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel, Vladimir completed the development of the City’s Passive Design Best Practices Guide.
12:20 - 1:30 pm
Lunch & Tabletop Exhibit
1:30 - 2:20 pm
System Integration and Building Performance: The Challenge to Create Financial and Social Value
There is a historic disconnect between building owners and building users; in this presentation, we explore how to bridge this gap in the building industry to design sustainable buildings that perform at the highest levels throughout the building lifecycle for both owners and users. We will examine the critical financial components, such as green leases, that must be considered for durable value that demonstrate added value and high return on investments.
Speaker: Roger Bayley, B.E. Structural, PEng, Principal, Roger Bayley Inc.
Biography: [more]
Roger is a strong advocate for sustainable building practices, and has extensive experience as a Green Building leader and educator at conferences on the national and international scale. He is the principal of Roger Bayley Inc., which he founded in 2009 with the aim of harnessing the skills of forward-thinking developers, planners, architects and visionaries to create innovative green buildings and master-planned communities.
Roger’s experience spans 40 years of senior-level project design and management. As a founding principal of Merrick Architecture in (which grew from four to seventy employees during his tenure), he was responsible for project design, value engineering, quality control and project management.
From 2006 to 2010 he was the design manager for the Millennium Water Olympic Village in Vancouver, Canada’s first LEED™ certified Platinum neighbourhood and the largest sustainable community in North America. Roger offers his clients proven expertise in addressing issues such as climate change, urban planning, passive design, healthy communities and energy management in our built environment. Drawing on his own considerable experience – as well as the knowledge of consultants and fellow experts– he helps clients develop innovative solutions that exemplify a new way forward.
2:20 - 3:50 pm
Sustainable Community Planning — Case Study: River District
River District is a vibrant, sustainable, award winning mixed use community located in the South East corner of Vancouver. Situated on the banks of the Fraser River, this 130 acre brownfield site showcases the work of James Cheng and Andres Duany and will be home to 13,000 people at the end of the 20 year build out. It features an eclectic mix of residential, retail and commercial uses as well as a broad mix of community amenities such as schools, a community center, 25 acres of public park and a mile of restored waterfront. The master plan evolved over a six year period and has involved extensive collaboration between the developers, the City of Vancouver, local community groups and an extensive team of consultants.
The panelists will discuss both the challenges and opportunities of planning River District, the biggest project of its kind to be built in Vancouver in a generation.
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| Albert Bicol | Milt Bowling | James Cheng | Norm Shearing | Matt Shillito |
Moderator: Albert Bicol, PEng, LEED® AP, Partner, Cobalt Engineering
Panelists:
Milt Bowling, President, Clean Energy Foundation
James Cheng, Principal, James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc.
Norm Shearing, VP Development, Parklane Homes
Matt Shillito, Assistant Director of Planning, Planning Department, City of Vancouver
Biographies: [more]
Albert Bicol champions the use of sustainable solutions in his projects and initiated/leads Cobalt’s Sustainable Master Planning services. He has extensive expertise in Sustainable Master Planning (SMP), passive building design, modelling building energy usage, thermal comfort and indoor air quality conditions.
Albert has a wide range of experience in Canada, USA, and Asia. This experience includes the SMP for several university campuses, mall/retail developments, mixed used developments in the Philippines, and 20 building (eight city blocks) sites for the Southeast False Creek 2010 Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village which includes the design of a 61-unit seniors housing complex with a Net-Zero Energy/GHG emissions goals. Other projects include building systems modelling and design for the Montenay Burnaby Incineration Plant’s office building and a fully underground library for a private college (both with a goal of Net-Zero energy/GHG emissions). Albert also provided the concept design for award winning Langara College Library, which has gained international recognition. Albert is currently providing concepts for three projects targeted to meet the Living Building Challenge and several large sustainable projects in the United Arab Emirates.
As a LEED Accredited Professional, Albert peformed reviews for the USGBC and Canadian Green Building Council on projects applying for LEED certification. He currently sits on the City of Vancouver Council Urban Design Panel – only the second Mechanical Engineer to serve in this capacity. Albert has been invited to deliver over 200 presentations and has been a keynote speaker on sustainable building design, SMP and the true “Net Zero” approach in Canada, the US, and Asia. He has also volunteered to educate elementary school children on climate change. Albert was named as one of Building, Design and Construction’s 2007 ‘Top 40 Under 40’. This annual competition acknowledges industry leaders.
Milt Bowling is Co-chair of the East Fraserlands Committee, is currently a senior associate of the non-profit Science and Public Policy Institute based in Washington D.C.; President of Risk Management Solutions, L.L.C. Consultancy, Sarasota, Florida; President of the non-profit Clean Energy Foundation, Vancouver, B.C.; Director of the Health Action Network Society, and Director of the Burnaby Fellowship Centre Society, both of Burnaby B.C. For more than three decades, Milt has been a technology consultant and information technology solution provider for Fortune 500 companies, other corporations, and all levels of government. Milt's skill set reaches beyond the technical to the areas of public affairs and community stakeholder recruitment.
James Cheng received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Washington and his Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University in 1977. He apprenticed with Canadian Architect Arthur Erickson for 3 years prior to attending Harvard University. There he studied under American Architect Richard Meier. He was a lecturer at the University of British Columbia for 3 years and has served as visiting critic and juror on national and local architectural competition and design award juries.
James Cheng began his architectural career with Seattle Architect Fred Bassetti and later with Mithun Partners while he was studying at the University of Washington. Upon graduation he moved to San Francisco to work with Henrik Bull of Bull Field Volkmann Stockwell on a variety of urban projects. From San Francisco, James Cheng went to Vancouver to work with Arthur Erickson as a designer on large scale urban and international projects such as the Vancouver Law Court complex, the Anthropology and Sociology Faculty office at the University of British Columbia, a ski resort in Iran, and a competition for the Oil Ministry in Saudi Arabia.
Upon his graduation from Harvard, he (in joint venture with Romses Kwan & Associates) won a provincial competition to design the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. At the same time, he was a design consultant to Bull Field Volkmann Stockwell of San Francisco that won the competition to design a new capitol for the State of Alaska.
James Cheng was first recognized by Architectural Record Magazine and included in their special “Young Architects” issue in December, 1972 for a condominium project he designed while still an undergraduate working for Mithun Partners of Seattle. Subsequently, this project received an Honor Award from the Seattle Chapter of the AIA in 1973, a Merit Award from the National AIA “Homes for Better Living” program, and was included in Architectural Record Magazine’s Record Houses of 1974.
James Cheng won his first major design award from Architectural Record Magazine in 1977 for a private residence. This residence was recognized as one of the 20 Record Houses of 1977 along with Richard Meier’s Shamburg House. Since these first awards, James K.M. Cheng has won over 45 major design awards, including the prestigious Governor General’s Medal from the Royal Architecture of Canada, the Canadian Architect Yearbook Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Gold Award from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, and the Interior Design Institute of British Columbia’s Gold Award of Excellence. His work has been published and exhibited in the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Germany, London and Hong Kong. In recognition of his design achievements, James Cheng was made a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute in 1994. He is past member of the Advisory Design Committee of the National Capital Commission in Ottawa, Ontario; past member of the City of Vancouver’s Planning Commission and Urban Design Panel.
James Cheng’s practice is very diverse encompassing large urban design and city planning projects to very small interior design commissions, form single-family houses to large-scale sustainable communities. Throughout this diversity, the constant is quality of design and execution. James Cheng specializes in complex projects that require great skill in resolving intricate issues in urban design, site planning, programming, technological expertise and meticulous execution. The firm is currently working on projects in Canada, US and China.
Norm Shearing: Since graduating from architecture in 1985, Norm’s career has covered architecture, planning, construction and development. He has been involved in some of Vancouver’s largest real estate projects, most notably the planning and redevelopment of the Expo Lands and the Coal Harbour Bayshore property. He is presently VP of Development for ParkLane Homes, responsible for the award winning development of the 130-acre River District located in Vancouver. Norm is a LEED AP, sits on Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel and is a past Director of both Smart Growth BC and the Canada Green Building Council.
Matt Shillito is an urban planner with a strong commitment to the sustainable development and management of the built environment. His experience includes projects at a variety of scales: from urban revitalisation and neighbourhood planning, through large site masterplanning, to site-specific design and development; all of which have involved extensive community engagement. Following graduation from Cardiff University with an MSc in City and Regional Planning in 1996, Matt worked for multi-disciplinary planning and design consultancies in both Hong Kong and London, and completed a Diploma in Urban Design at the University of Westminster. Matt has been with the City of Vancouver Planning department since 2004 and is currently Assistant Director of Planning, with responsibility for the Community Planning division.
3:50 pm
Closing Comments
