Unique design process blends local and international talents

The U of C is breaking new ground; extraordinary buildings for extraordinary purposes don’t happen by accident

by Laurie Drukier

For a homeowner who’s thinking about a renovation, there are any number of architects who have the expertise to develop a design, budget and timeline. The $113-million Campus Calgary Digital Library (CCDL) and $200-million Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) are extraordinarily unique projects, so the process of finding the right person is far more complicated.
The University of Calgary has developed a new selection process to match the singular nature of these projects. In early February, members of the local architectural community were invited to an information session to hear about this new direction.

Local architects will be chosen as “executive architects” for each of the university’s main capital projects. They will work with the university to then choose a “signature architect,” who will be an internationally known designer.

Together, the executive and signature architects will help the U of C achieve world-class designs to provoke the imagination, reinforce the values and aspirations of the university and redefine the character of the campus. “If you want to shake things up, you have to change the way you do business,” says university architect Jane Pendergast.

Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning Ltd. has been chosen as the executive architect for CCDL. Previously, Kasian was the prime consultant for the new Calgary courts centre in downtown Calgary. The firm has won numerous awards for their work, and with more than 225 dedicated professionals in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, will bring considerable expertise to this project.

Cohos Evamy (in association with Busby Perkins and Will) will take the local lead on the ISEEE building. Cohos Evamy is responsible for the Crowfoot branch of the Calgary Public Library, the first LEED-registered building in Calgary. They also designed the CCIT and HRIC buildings on campus. The firm is considered a world leader in the design of sustainable environments.

The two local architects will work with the university to choose signature architects by the end of May.

The desire to go far afield for signature architects doesn’t mean there aren’t architects in Calgary capable of successfully completing projects of this size. There are a lot of multimillion-dollar buildings in this city, after all. But the U of C is breaking new ground—the blend of local and international is expected to yield remarkable results.

“ As the university moves forward in a period of growth, optimism and tremendous opportunity, we are rethinking approaches, processes and procedures that support the creation of exciting and exceptional architecture and design,” says Brian Sinclair, dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design and presidential advisor on design.

Part of that rethinking began with Sinclair, who asserts that extraordinary buildings for extraordinary purposes don’t happen by accident. “Over the past three years, I’ve put a lot of effort into shifting the culture and building awareness and appreciation for excellent architecture,” he says.

Steve Dantzer, associate vice-president of Campus Infrastructure, is excited by the opportunity. “We want to create buildings that are places and spaces—destinations. Signature architects will bring different kinds of thinking to help us do that.”

For the local architects, it may be a chance to work with colleagues not usually available for Calgary collaborations.