design quarterly summer 2007

SUMMER 2007 Vol. 8 No. 1P

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HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER

EDITH WORMSBECKER, MCM INTERIORSAPPLIANCES

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SUMMER 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY 3

contents

6 Designer Profile

Edith WormsbeckerRecently married, MCM Interiors Ltd. president andprincipal Edith Wormsbecker joined the cutting-edgedesign firm in 1987 — a match made in heaven.

10 Project Profile

Hyatt Regency VancouverLocated in the downtown core, this Vancouver hotel justcompleted the final phase of an extensive six-yearrenovation, which included 45,000 square feet of publicspace and all 644 guest rooms.

14 Industry Focus

CountertopsAppliancesFurnitureAudio & VideoFlooringWalls & Ceilings

64 Special Supplement2007 AIBC Awards of Excellence

DEPARTMENTS

4 From the Editor

66 Architects in B.C.Intelligent Urban Densification

68 IDIBCFinding Opportunities In The GlobalVillage

69 Design Headlines

6

10

ON THE COVER: Hyatt Regency Vancouver renovated hotel lobby.

34

PUBLISHER Dan [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR Cheryl Mah

ACTING EDITOR Clare Tattersall

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mollie AllenMannie BainsJoann Davis BraymanDuncan CampbellBrian CopelandWanda EllerbeckNancy FecteauLyle FullerDavid GlassMark HannaOliver LangGreg PetersonJon SunderlandJacco VlaarSandee Wahl

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dennis Chui

B.C./ALBERTA SALES Dan Gnocato604.739.2115 ext. 223Lynn Donn604.739.2115 ext. 224Jennifer Wanzel604.739.2115 ext. 221

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PRESIDENTKevin Brown

SUMMER 2007 Vol. 8 No. 1

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4 DESIGN QUARTERLY | SUMMER 2007

From the Editor

An Accidental TouristHaving moved to Vancouver in September 2006,this is my first summer in the city. I’m looking for-ward to taking in the sites and sounds ofVancouver, including the international jazz festival,Bard on the Beach and the annual celebration oflight. Come August, when the city is heating up, Iplan to cool off at the largest freshwater, outdoorpool in Canada and then lounge away the day onan outdoor patio, sipping strawberry daiquiris andsunning my fair skin. To top it all off, one of mydear friends will be visiting from Toronto, whichmeans I can shed my residency status and takeon the role of tourist.

Surprisingly, I’ve done very little sightseeingsince I first arrived 10 months ago. I haven’tcrossed the swaying planks of Greater Vancouver’soldest attraction, the Capilano suspension bridge,nor have I travelled to the top of B.C.’s tallest build-ing, the Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre.These are all things I plan to do when my friendarrives but I must find her a place to stay first.

Unfamiliar with the city, she’s assigned me thetask of compiling a list of hotels that fit her“wants” and “needs.” While it’s long and lengthy,I’m thankful several meet her criteria, includingthe newly renovated Hyatt Regency Vancouver.

Centrally located downtown, our project profileboasts the most spacious rooms in the city and isrenowned for its classy yet comfortable décor,awe-inspiring views and contemporary conventionrooms.

Re-designed by MCM Interiors Ltd., the Hyatt’smodel guest rooms were recognized with anIDIBC award of excellence. This is just one of manyhonours bestowed upon the firm for its outstand-ing projects. Led by Edith Wormsbecker, MCMInteriors celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, amajor milestone for not only the president/principalbut for the innovative interior design firm.

As usual, the summer issue of Design Quarterlyis filled with a number of features. In the pages tocome, you’ll read about what’s hot in countertops,appliances and audio and video equipment, as wellas trends in commercial and modular furniture.We’ve also included a new section on walls andceilings to complement our annual flooring feature.

Clare TattersallEditor

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designer profile

IT’S BUSINESS AS usual on the 16th floor of Two BentallCentre, home of the building’s architect, Musson Cattell MackeyPartnership (MCMP), and affiliated interior design firm MCMInteriors Ltd. Upon meeting MCM Interiors’ president and prin-cipal Edith Wormsbecker, few would know the company just cel-ebrated a major milestone — its 20th anniversary — and evenfewer would guess the firm’s design leader was a week away fromher wedding day. She is cool, calm and collected, possessing noneof the characteristic traits of a soon-to-be bride.

“I try not to stress about things,” she says, a smile spreadingacross her face.

Today, the newlywed is happily married to a health architect.

Separate But UnitedNow in her 24th year with MCM (she spent four years with thearchitectural practice prior to the establishment of MCMInteriors), Wormsbecker, 52, began her love affair with interiordesign when she was a pre-teen.

“I was always drawing and building things,” says Wormsbecker,adding she was captivated by her brother’s university architectureprojects. “He used to bring them home and I thought they werefascinating.”

Then, in Grade 8, after completing two class projects, she com-mitted herself to realizing her dream.

“We had to do a landscaping of a house and write an essay ondesigning your ideal home,” she explains. “I really enjoyed doingthat…and I eventually ended up going into interior design.”

Upon graduating high school, the Saskatchewan-nativeattended the University of Manitoba where she obtained a bache-lor degree in interior design. Shortly thereafter, she returned toher home province to work for BLM Architects before venturingto Vancouver.

In 1983, after a brief stint at a small design firm, Wormsbeckerjoined MCMP where she honed her craft working on a widerange of projects in the commercial and hospitality industries.Four years later, the firm diversified and split into two separatebut related factions — architecture and interior design.

“We had a lot of clients at that point who wanted separationbetween the architect and interior designer,” recallsWormsbecker. “So we decided to keep the two separate and thatgave us more opportunity to do work with other architecturaland design firms.”

But the two have continued to collaborate on projects, includ-ing Bentall 5, the final addition to the Bentall Centre office com-plex located in Vancouver’s business district, and the B.C.Research Institute for Children’s and Women’s Health.

“It’s extremely advantageous to work together,” she says. “Ithink we end up with a better project at the end of the daybecause we’re both involved in and understand the process. Thereare just more synergies between the design of the building andthe interior.”

This is evident in the design of the BC Tel Mobility Centrehead office in Burnaby, B.C., the first project Wormsbeckerworked on after joining MCM Interiors. Awarded a 1995 IDIBCgold award of excellence, the design concept signifies progress,change and forward exploration while maintaining a strong,functional corporate structure. From the exterior, the complexconveys an idiom of modern technology, with a radial structuralgrid, cell-like modular pre-cast concrete cladding and a smoothcurved skin of blue reflective glass.

Laying The FoundationUnder the initial guidance of MCMP’s three founding partners —Frank Musson, Terry Cattell and Dave Mackey — MCM Interiors

A MATCH MADEIN HEAVENBY CLARE TATTERSALL

Edith Wormsbecker

PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITEPHOTO COURTESY NIC LEHOUXPHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL BOLAND

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designer profile

grew at a steady rate, taking on more projects and staff through-out the years. What originally started as a boutique firm of twohas become a medium-sized company of 13, though “the stafffluctuates depending on the projects we’re involved in,” notesWormsbecker, who was named president and principal sevenyears ago when the founding partners retired.

Today, the firm is working on approximately 25 projects ofvarying sizes totalling 200,000 square feet, the largest being anoffice project for Teck Cominco Ltd., a diversified mining andmetals company headquartered in Vancouver.

“Usually we’re working on one or two large projects and multi-ple small ones,” she says. “For instance, right now we’re doing anelevator renovation and space planning for a retail coffee cart in alobby.”

The design firm also just wrapped up its longest running proj-ect — the $40-million Hyatt Regency Vancouver upgrade andexpansion. The model guestrooms were recognized with a bronzeIDIBC award of excellence in 2006.

“We started working on this project six years ago,” saysWormsbecker. “It started off as a cosmetic upgrade but then, aswe got into the project, it ended up becoming a major gut andrebuild of the public areas.”

Known for its award-winning designs, including the Mieledesign centre showroom, JPMorganChase call centre andElectronic Arts Phase 2, MCM Interiors provides expertise inproject management, facilities programming and space planning,and specializes in hospitality, retail, institutional, residential andhigh tech/corporate office interiors, the latter of which accountsfor 80 per cent of the company’s portfolio.

However, “we’re making more of an effort on focusing on hos-pitality work,” she says. “We’ve always tried to diversify and notbe strictly a commercial corporate designer so we can move withthe market.”

Which it has. Approximately seven years ago the firm movedinto the highrise residential market, an untapped resource priorto the turn of the century.

As MCM Interiors has grown and diversified, so too has thecomplexity of the projects and the firm’s design philosophy.

“We like design to evolve with the times,” says Wormsbecker,adding the firm’s intentionally steered clear of adopting a signa-

ture look. “We develop our designs to suit the needs of the clientand reflect the nature of the building.”

Two things that have remained constant, however, are the com-pany’s motto — “Design that creates value, service that builds trust”— and Wormsbecker’s involvement in each and every project.

“We have a policy that a principal always be involved in theprojects so the clients know we’re still there,” says Wormsbecker,who not only manages the Vancouver-based firm but coordinateswith the team on every aspect of design and is involved in allfinancial decisions.

The three other principals — Mark Whitehead, Bill Reid andJohn Marchant — primarily offer management expertise andoversee the direction of MCM Interiors.

Balancing ActBoth Wormsbecker and the Vancouver-based firm have come along way in the course of her career, which has not been withoutits challenges.

Founded in 1987, MCM Interiors was initially plagued by thesustained recession that began in the mid-1980s.

Come the 1990s, Wormsbecker was busy balancing her work-life with raising two young children.

“Before I had my kids I’d be here until nine or 10 o’clock atnight or be working on weekends,” she says. “Then when I hadmy children, I decided I couldn’t do that anymore and I have veryhappy, well-adjusted kids.”

One of which is considering pursuing a career as an architect. Today, the biggest challenge the company faces pertains to

growth.“We’d like to develop a little more diversity so we’re not going

with the ups and downs of the economy,” she says. “But we don’thave anymore space and it’s a challenge finding good staffbecause it’s a very competitive market.”

One that is ever-changing.“Design was much simpler 20 to 30 years ago because we didn’t

have to think about as many issues. Now we have advanced tech-nology, environmental issues and people are much more con-cerned about real estate values and space efficiency,” she says,pausing briefly before adding, “but it’s more interesting in manyways.” DQ

PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: Teck Cominco Ltd. reception, Business Objects meeting room. PHOTOS PAGE 6 LEFT TO RIGHT: Brighouse Library lobby,Nokia Research and Development Centre stairwell, Electronic Arts Phase 2.

PHOTO COURTESY MARION LANDRY PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITE

available at: WORLD MOSAIC (B.C.) LTD.

West 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC Tel: 604.736.8158 Email: [email protected]

I10 DESIGN QUARTERLY | SUMMER 2007

project profile

IT HAS BEEN almost six years since the coordinated terroristattacks on the U.S., which toppled the World Trade Centre, left agaping hole in the Pentagon and, for the first time in history,grounded all civilian flights in North America.

On Sept. 13, 2001, after laying low for two days, aircraft returnedto the sky to resume regular travel. However, in the aftermath of9/11, people were less inclined to board a Boeing 767.

As the calamity of the disaster settled in, it was evident theattacks not only brought down the Twin Towers but the tourismindustry as well. Airline ticket sales plummeted, exacerbatingfinancial problems in the airline industry, and hotel vacancyrates soared.

Unsure of the future, one of the world’s largest premier hotelcompanies put its renovation and new construction projects onhold, that is, all but one — the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. InDecember 2001, the hotel embarked on an ambitious, multi-phased renovation and expansion project, which spanned six years.

“In 1997, Hyatt (Global Corp.) bought out an outside companythat owned 75 per cent of the hotel…and (four years later) it putan offer on the table to buy the land, which was around the timeof 9/11,” says Hyatt Regency Vancouver general manager RolfOsterwalder. “Though the offer was put on hold for a fewmonths, as soon as we were able to buy the land we basically hadto start renovations.”

Built in1973, Osterwalder says the Hyatt was in need of a com-plete overhaul to keep pace with other downtown hotels.

“We wanted to update the property and make it more contem-porary and urban, maximize the meeting space and make it ascompact yet flexible as possible,” he explains, adding this was thefirst major renovation project since the hotel opened, though softgoods renovations were completed in 1988.

Approximately a week before Christmas, the luxury hotelclosed to the public.

According to Stuart Olson project manager Jim Gibson, guests

PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITE

A $40 MILLION FACELIFTBY CLARE TATTERSALL


were exiting the hotel at the same time construction crews wereentering through the back door. Within an hour of final check-out, demolition was already underway.

Working on a tight, three month immoveable deadline, crewsliterally worked around the clock to complete the $15-millionproject on time.

“Today you could never do what we did then,” saysOsterwalder, who has been at Vancouver’s second largest hotel foralmost 10 years. “It would’ve taken us three times as long becauseof the construction boom in B.C. now. It is very difficult to gettrades and keep them on schedule…so, from a time perspective,it was actually advantageous.”

Redesigned by MCM Interiors Ltd. and CHIL (CoordinatedHotel Interiors Ltd.), the first phase included a comprehensivefacelift of all public areas (approximately 45,000 square feet) onthe first three floors. The lobby was completely redone and con-tains a reconfigured guest registration area, custom-designed fur-niture, a quartzite floor and a feature “waterfall” wall constructedof glass, light and holographic film.

“Upon entrance of the hotel, you meet this great wall which isa replicate of a waterfall and it’s a ‘Wow’,” says CHIL principalRichard Negrin. “Guests only remember two things — comingand going — so whether you understand what that wall is, it’s

your first and last impression.”To create additional pre-function space for the Regency ball-

room, one of the largest hotel conference venues in the city, thedesigner team lowered the lobby ceiling from three to two-storeys. Infilling the lobby opening on the third floor created anadditional 2,000 square feet, which can be closed off to provideadditional “breakout” space for events.

Also included in the hotel renovation was replacement of theconcrete port cochere with a glass and metal canopy, revitalizedfood and beverage concepts, including cafes, bars and restaurants,and reorganization of the grand ballroom (formerly divisible intothree large rooms) to create six function spaces when divided.

In terms of concept, the client wanted to incorporate scenicVancouver into the design.

“We played upon the theme of the natural resources — thewater, forests and mountains,” explains Negrin.

But in keeping with the client’s desire to create a sophisticated,contemporary environment, MCM Interiors principal EdithWormsbecker says these West Coast elements were interpretedin an abstract not literal way. For instance, the custom designedcarpet on the third floor is a lively evocation of raindrops andcircles on water. In addition, finish materials — wood, metal andstone — were chosen to reflect the natural resources and the

PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITE


project profile

application of technology to raw materials. While the redesign was relatively straight forward in that there

were no major hiccups design-wise for either CHIL or MCMInteriors, unexpected asbestos posed a challenge.

“There was an asbestos survey done prior to constructionstarted but once things got opened up we discovered there wasprobably 50 per cent more asbestos than we originally thought,”says CHIL senior project manager Riaan de Beer who, at thetime, worked on behalf of project architect Musson CattellMackey Partnership.

As a result, what originally started off as a cosmetic upgradeturned into a major gut and re-build.

“The first three weeks were taken up with asbestos abatement,which really put a crunch on the rest of the schedule,” he says.

But thanks to dedicated construction crews, the Hyattreopened just in time for the British Columbia Teachers’Federation annual convention, which was booked well in advanceof the first wave of renovations.

A Fresh New LookUpon completing Phase 1 of the expansive $40-million project,MCM Interiors remodelled the 4th and 34th floor meetingrooms, which was a continuation of the main lobby design, andembarked on the final phases — renovation of 644 guest roomsto match the design of the new public spaces and the creation oftwo themed feature suites.

Again, this included asbestos abatement as well as replacementof the entire 30-year-old water pipe system.

To minimize revenue loss, the Hyatt remained open and guestroom renovations were executed in two phases — Phase 1, whichtook place last year, saw the 284 rooms on the top floors remod-elled, and Phase 2, which focused on the 360 rooms on the lowerhalf of the hotel, was completed June 2007.

The goal was to update and improve the largest guest rooms inVancouver to meet today’s market and guest expectations whileminimizing construction.

“Originally the guest rooms had a lot of mouldings and trim,”says MCM Interiors senior designer Christina Fong. “The hard-ware had a brass look, there were floral bed covers and the wallswere a yellow colour that worked with the traditional theme.”

Today, rich blue fabrics reminiscent of the deep sea contrast thewhite vinyl wallcoverings. The generous use of textural materials,warm walnut wood and natural polished slate emphasize luxuryand comfort. Spot lighting accentuates the modern interior shapesand adds drama to the rooms. Window treatments were designedto be drawn back along the side walls to take full advantage of thestunning views, maximize daylight and room width.

“Most draperies you draw to the side gather (and) create a lotof bulk, so we created an L-shaped track that pulls the drapes notonly to the side but along the length of the wall,” explains Fong.“Now that it’s parallel to the walls, we have more opening to theview…so when you walk into (the room) that’s one of the biggestdraws.”

Other highlights include the stylish ensuite washrooms contain-ing polished slate tile, backlit vanity mirrors, relaxing rain showers,a combination of unique light fixtures and textured glass.

For the special suites, MCM Interiors presented two separatethemes to the client, both of which were adopted.

“One has a warm wood feel and it followed along that transi-tional feel but in a much more contemporary way,” says Fong.“So, we used a lot of cherry wood trim and panelling through thespace and bamboo flooring. Most of the fabrics are rich earthycolours and we used a textural, horizontal grass wallcovering.”

The design team took a modern approach in the second room,incorporating classic 1920s furniture and vibrant red-orangeaccessories into a predominantly white room.

“When it came to the two feature suites, we started with ablank slate and really got to make them different,” notes Fong.“The Hyatt gave us a real open door to design more or less any-thing, (which) gave us a real opportunity to come up with somereal fantastic ideas.” DQ

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I


industry focus COUNTERTOPS

IN THE LAST two decades, concrete has experienced a rebirthas one of the world’s greatest lost found arts. Used for more than100 years, the humble building material has roots in ancient tech-nologies of the past. But what most of us think of as a purely util-itarian material used for sidewalks and bridges has moved acrossthe boundaries of function and design to emerge as a valuablenew architectural element.

In an effort to push the limits of the modern material, artisanshave exploited the versatility and design possibilities of concretecreating new methods and processes. In turn, this has sparked awhole new industry based on the seemingly infinite capacities ofthis substance. It can be poured, sprayed, shaped, coloured, feelheavy or light, polished smooth or rough, or inlayed with objectsto add a personal touch.

The need for better pigments and sealers has forced a stagnantindustry to take the “new” function of concrete seriously anddevelop superior products for this niche market. Initially a hardsell, interior concrete has developed into a legitimate, viableproduct. It now enjoys a respectable place among other high-endsurface materials. And its rapidly growing popularity is drivingthe industry. Designers are no longer relegated to using just onetype of concrete as there are now numerous surface treatments.

For the countertop industry, smooth, precast, stained and inte-grally coloured, polished terrazzo concrete are the basics. Manyproducers use glass chips and other kinds of special aggregates inthe mix and then grind and polish it to create different effects.

The choice of alternative types of concrete adds to the bour-geoning repertoire. Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC), asprayed polymerized cement-based product, yields large yet lightpieces strengthened by the addition of glass fibre in the mix.GFRC is similar to cast concrete and can be treated the same,however, kitchen countertops can be produced with fewer seamsusing larger pieces. The potential drawback seems to be a ten-dency towards warping. Its durability has also been called intoquestion when used in exterior applications. Of course, the

A CONCRETE REVIVALBY WANDA ELLERBECK


knowledge of the producer dictates the quality of the product.Other cement-based products hitting the market include a

highly engineered material that boasts liquidity and flexuralstrength. As strong as steel and as dense as stone, it can be madeinto thin section slabs and free-standing shapes — a whole newway of designing with concrete. It is truly a material for ourtimes, surpassing other concrete materials. There is little it cannotdo when left to the imagination.

Terrazzo, a ground and polished concrete surface, has its his-tory in Italian tradition. Producers include recycled glass chipsand fly ash in these mixes to create an environmentally-friendlysurface, which can contribute to LEED certification credits. Thesparkle of glass and the integral coloured backgrounds are uniqueto each manufacturer, personalizing the designs and products.

When contemplating concrete as a design choice:

• Do your research. Find the appropriate type of concrete forthe project. This can save time and money and move the proj-ect along. Weight, aesthetics and timing are factors to be con-sidered in choosing the right type of concrete.

• Educate yourself. It is important to know enough about theproduct so you can ask the manufacturer the right questions.Also, look at the producer’s work. It requires a great deal ofskill and attention to detail to manufacture good decorativeconcrete.

• Check out the sealers used. Sealing a concrete countertop isthe industry’s best kept secret. There are no bullet-proof seal-ers but there is a sealer for everything. For instance, heavyindustrial sealers are appropriate for floors but not counter-tops. Staining is only an issue if the countertop has not been

properly sealed or maintained. Maintenance usually consistsof timely applications of a wax, such as bees wax, over food-safe sealers. Repairing scratches can be as easy as applyingwax to the scratch to seal it from liquid, then sanding andresealing the surface once every five to seven years.

• Scout prices. Though they differ from area to area and busi-ness to business, a fair estimate would be $85 to $110 a squarefoot. Installation is typically priced per project.

Though not for everybody, concrete certainly has a uniquenessand quality that a growing number of consumers are looking for.From coloured floors to sculptural forms for basins and furniture,concrete has moved across the board to enhance our daily lives.

Wanda Ellerbeck has been in the decorative concrete industryfor 20 years. Instructing at both the Alberta College of Art andDesign and the University of Calgary, she began Grotto DesignsInc. in 1994. You can contact Wanda at 403.512.3116 or [email protected].

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industry focus COUNTERTOPS

RESIDENTIALLY AND COMMERCIALLY, demand is continu-ing to increase for all types of premium countertops.Homeowners and businesses alike are increasingly opting toinvest in quality surfaces which blend beauty and practicality —all to create and reaffirm the latest styles which make as much ofa fashion statement in the environment we live in as the designerclothes we wear.

For the past few years, the fastest growing category of premiumcountertops, and the one withthe most allure, has been quartz.Designers are working with andspecifying quartz more andmore because of its uniqueappeal in combining depth andcolour consistency — assuringthe desired look is alwaysachieved.

While popular brands ofquartz are here to stay, thisrecent quartz-appeal has notescaped the radar of industryleaders. As a result, there is nowa new collection of solid surfaceswith a look that rivals quartz andnatural stone.

The VisualDifference: It’s InThe DepthTempest is a new surfacingmaterial that provides the aes-thetic of natural quartz andstone, with the properties of asolid surface. This new genera-tion of surfacing product offersa unique visual depth throughlarger, translucent particulaterandomly dispersed throughoutthe matrix. Available in 10 dif-ferent colours, its versatilitymakes it ideal for any residentialor commercial application.

Offering WhatStone Can’tDespite its quartz-like appear-ance, this new surface material,unlike stone, is seamless inappearance and has nonporous,hygienic properties.

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DQ

A TEMPTING ALTERNATIVEBY MARK HANNA

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industry focus APPLIANCES

BEFORE I TELL you how important a patio isand the backyard is an extension of the home,you should know that, according to NewsCanada, 85 per cent of Canadians cook on abarbecue with 45 per cent cooking year round,70 per cent consider themselves adventurous onthe grill and more than 40 per cent barbecuewithout a recipe.

If we are spending that much time cookingoutdoors then we must be spending even moretime entertaining outdoors. That is why it reallypays off to take the time and energy to make thepatio and backyard everything your client wantsit to be.

The barbecue is the heart of an outdoorkitchen, so it is important to spend the timefinding one that works best for your client.When buying a new grill, be prepared to answerquestions so the appliance professional can helpyou select the one that best suits your client’sneeds. For instance:

• How often does your client cook outside?• How many people does your client normally

entertain?• What types of food does your client enjoy

grilling?It is also important to ask the right questions

to ensure you are getting the best quality prod-uct and you are aware of any warranties.

In addition, make sure the sales person isknowledgeable about the differences betweenmodels and components. There is nothing morefrustrating than purchasing a barbecue that can-not achieve the results your client is looking for.

Barbecue options these days reach far beyondthe small camping stoves of years ago. Optionsinclude freestanding or built-in custom basesthat match the home’s décor. Custom cabinetswith matching stainless steel storage can also bebuilt-in to provide a complete outdoor kitchen,where everything you need is right at your fin-gertips. Even the most recreational enthusiast

WINING AND DINING OUTDOORSImproving cooking capabilities adds entertainment value. BY SANDEE WAHL

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can enjoy built-in warming drawers, which helpkeep food hot, and an outdoor fridge to keepdrinks cold.

Okay, wait a minute…Warming drawers andoutdoor fridges?

Imagine grilling up some juicy, homemadeburgers in the backyard. It is windy and there isa cool briskness in the air but it is not quite coldenough to go inside. Normally as soon as youbuild that burger and take the first bite, the foodis cold and you lose some of the mouth-water-ing taste.

Now imagine having the outdoor livingspace designed to the utmost perfection. Youcan take the fresh hamburger buns out of thebarbecue’s bun warming tray and place themon a warm plate from the warming drawer. Thefood is mouth-watering, full of flavour and theheated plate means it doesn’t cool off in thebreeze.

And that is only the beginning. You can getbar caddies that include ice wells for beveragesor a unit that provides cooling and storage for akeg to help pour the perfect pint.

Add in a patio heater for warmth as the sunsettles or, for those cool fall evenings, an out-door fire pit table available in a variety ofappealing heights. These can add hours to out-door enjoyment, even weeks to the season.

But who says the backyard is only used forevening entertaining? With all the accessoriesavailable today, you can even cook breakfastoutside.

Various accessories are available that candiversify outdoor cooking to include more thanjust hamburgers and steak. For example, thereare griddles for pancakes and bacon, cedarplanks for salmon and shrimp basket attach-ments for the rotisserie. You can even find bar-becues with a side burner. Or you can build aseparate burner into the outdoor cabinetry withup to 60,000 Btu/hr, great for lobster boils or bigpots of corn. This provides the power necessary

to bring a large pot to a boil without worryingabout wind or unpredictable weather.

Speaking of unpredictable weather, now thatwe have this amazing outdoor kitchen, whatguarantees it will stand up to the elements?

Two words: Stainless steel.High-grade stainless steel resists corrosion

and can withstand high temperatures. Stainlesssteel is incredibly durable, very easy to keepclean and can endure all types of weather fromthe iciness of Alberta’s winters to BritishColumbia’s pouring rain. It can handle the mostrelaxed family gathering to an event for thewhole neighbourhood.

There are a number of stainless steel grades tochoose from and the quality of barbecue com-ponents can vary drastically. The higher thegrade of the components, the longer it will last— the last part being key.

When comparing similar fridges or barbecuesat two different stores, you’ll probably noticeone may cost less. In most cases, you will findthe higher cost is justified by higher qualitymaterials, which translates into better perform-ance and longer life.

Outdoor living space is the heart of the homeduring grilling season, so spend the time learn-ing about all the products out there. This willensure your clients’ next get-together is enjoy-able and safe and they’re not wasting time run-ning inside for every other item.

Sandee Wahl is the promotions and marketingmanager for Calgary Home Appliance Gallery.A fixture in Calgary since 1967, Calgary HomeAppliance Gallery is family-owned and oper-ated. You can contact Sandee at 403.212.7293.

DQ

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AS AN ARCHITECT or interior designer, questions of style,functionality and price are probably the first things that come tomind when clients turn to you for help in selecting the rightappliances for their home or business. But you also owe it to cus-tomers to recommend appliances that are energy efficient.

Energy efficiency is key for a couple of reasons. First, recom-mending an energy-efficient model will save your clients moneythrough reduced operating costs for as long as they own theappliance. Given that refrigerators have a typical life span of 17years, dishwashers last approximately 13 years and washingmachines have a life expectancy of 14 years, making the rightchoice can lock in energy savings and provide some protectionagainst rising electricity costs for years to come.

Just as important, buying energy-efficient appliances is a goodway for Canadian homeowners and businesses to reduce theirenvironmental impact. In many parts of Canada, fossil fuels areburned to produce electricity, resulting in the production ofgreenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and other pol-lutants that help form smog. Because energy-efficient productsconsume less electricity, they reduce power demand and result infewer harmful emissions.

But does including energy efficiency in the decision-makingprocess make your job more complicated?

Not necessarily because buying the most energy-efficient appli-ances available on the market today is as easy as looking for thefamiliar Energy Star symbol.

Energy Star is the international symbol for energy efficiency —a simple way for consumers to identify products that are amongthe top energy performers on the market, whether they are shop-ping for major household appliances or replacement light bulbs.

Energy Star takes the guesswork out of selecting energy-effi-cient products. Before applying the symbol to any product, man-ufacturers are required to test and certify that the product meetsstrict technical specifications (the same criteria are used to qual-ify products around the world), using standardized, government-approved test procedures. Manufacturers are also required to signan administrative agreement with the Government of Canada,agreeing to conform to the Energy Star program’s technical speci-fications, labelling and promotional guidelines.

Although requirements vary from one product category toanother, equipment must typically be 10 to 65 per cent more effi-cient than a comparable conventional model to be eligible for theEnergy Star symbol (the criteria are updated regularly to keep

pace with evolving technology). In the case of major householdappliances:

• Standard-size refrigerators must be at least 15 per cent moreefficient than the minimum energy performance standard inCanada’s energy efficient regulations.

• Standard-size freezers must exceed minimum federal energyefficiency standards by at least 10 per cent.

• Dishwashers must be at least 41 per cent more economical tooperate than conventional models.

• Clothes washers must use at least 20 per cent less energy and35 per cent less water than conventional models (some mod-els use as much as 50 per cent less energy and water).

• Depending on the model and capacity, Energy Star qualifieddehumidifiers use 20 to 60 per cent less energy to remove thesame amount of moisture as similar-size standard units.

• Bottled water coolers can also qualify for Energy Star.

What is the difference between an Energy Star qualified andconventional product? Essentially, it comes down to the use ofspecial features that minimize energy consumption. What’s more,Energy Star qualified products are required to achieve these pre-mium levels of energy efficiency without sacrificing the features,versatility or quality expected of high-performing products. Andthey often cost no more to purchase than conventional equipment.

SMART APPLIANCESFOR THE HOMEBY NANCY FECTEAU

There are no Energy Star performance levels for ranges andclothes dryers. When shopping for these appliances, the best wayto assess energy consumption is to check the EnerGuide rating.

EnerGuide labels have been a standard requirement on majorelectrical household appliances for more than 25 years. The labeltells you how much energy an appliance will consume (in kilo-watt hours) in a year of normal service. The lower the kilowatt-hour figure, the more energy-efficient the appliance. As an addedconvenience, the EnerGuide label also shows how the appliancecompares with the most and least efficient models of the sametype and size sold in Canada.

So, how do EnergyStar and EnerGuide relate to each other?EnerGuide is an energy consumption rating program while

Energy Star identifies the best performers. While all major house-hold electrical appliances are required by Canadian law to show

an EnerGuide label prior to being sold, only the top energy per-formers are permitted to display the Energy Star symbol.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is responsible for adminis-tering Energy Star in Canada. In addition to enrolling participantsin the program and monitoring use of the Energy Star symbol, thedepartment works closely with manufacturers, retailers, utilitiesand other partners to promote the Energy Star name and symbol.

Energy Star specifications are the benchmark for a number ofprograms that offer incentives for purchasing high-efficiencyequipment. In British Columbia, for example, Terasen Gas haspartnered with NRCan, as well as the B.C. Ministry of Energy,Mines and Petroleum Resources, BC Hydro, FortisBC and heat-ing equipment manufacturers to offer financial incentives toencourage homeowners and builders to install Energy Star quali-fied heating equipment. NRCan is also working with ClimateChange Central and Alberta Environment to increase the marketshare of energy-efficient appliances and technologies in Albertaby creating awareness about the Energy Star initiative. In Ontario,NRCan is supporting efforts by the Social Housing ServicesCorp., which provides bulk purchasing and other services tosocial housing providers and service managers, to procure EnergyStar qualified replacement appliances.

While appliances were amongthe first products to be includedin the Energy Star program inCanada, the list continues togrow and now includes heatingand cooling equipment, con-sumer electronics, computersand office equipment, lightingproducts and windows, doorsand skylights.

Buying energy-efficientappliances doesn’t have to becomplicated — in fact, EnergyStar makes it easy. When yousee the Energy Star symbol ona product, its packaging or inits literature you can restassured the product is amongthe most energy-efficient onthe market.

As for other decisions — likepicking the right wall colourand coordinates to match thecarpet and furniture — well,that’s another storyaltogether!

Energy Star is administered inCanada by Natural ResourcesCanada. For more informationcheck out www.energystar.gc.ca.

DQ



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industry focus FURNITURE

THE LAST 10 years has seen a huge increase inthe number of people choosing to live down-town and the pace of condo construction sug-gests the trend will continue for some time.While an affluent minority may enjoy floorplans that run into several thousand square feet,the reality for most people is that, while thelocation is marvellous, living downtown meansliving in a small footprint. This in turn has ledto an increased interest in multi-functional andspace-saving furnishings.

When it comes to furnishing these smallerliving spaces, the good news is there is greaterchoice than ever before. There was a time when“space-saving” and “multi-functional” was syn-onymous with bland utilitarianism and whitemelamine. Not any more. Living in a smallspace doesn’t mean having to cramp your style.Today, you can find a wealth of furniture andaccessory options that combine cutting-edgedesign sensibility with a grounded sense ofpracticality.

When it comes to ideas on living large in asmall space, it is not surprising Europe is a great

source of inspiration. Europe has long been aworld leader in contemporary furniture design.Coincidentally, the inhabitants of Europe’s citiesalso have had centuries of experience in livingin small spaces. European designers haveresponded by creating furniture that functionsin small spaces and still manages to have a won-derful sense of style and flair. As more and moreNorth Americans migrate to smaller livingspaces, these European design solutions arebecoming increasingly available and popular onthis side of the pond.

However, effectively furnishing a compactinterior is as much about approach as it is aboutproducts. Here are three key guidelines for fur-nishing small living spaces.

First, make maximum use of whatever spacethere is. Lack of space, especially storage space,is one of the most challenging aspects of com-pact living. Fortunately, there are numerousinventive furniture designs that help tackle theproblem — beds that incorporate storage draw-ers in the base, coffee tables that conceal abuilt-in storage area, and stacking chairs andfolding tables that do their bit to conservespace. Admittedly, none of these ideas are new.However, what is new is the range and diversityof design in which these products are nowavailable.

There are also many excellent storage systemsdesigned specifically for smaller spaces. Theseare not the monolithic wall units of years goneby but slim, sleek, low profile units that do theirjob discreetly and efficiently, often packing a lotof storage capacity into a very small footprint.There are also wall mounted units that occupyno floor space whatsoever.

The advent of miniature digital entertain-ment devices and flat screen televisions has alsobenefited space-challenged living. Instead ofoccupying several cubic feet of prime realestate, most home entertainment system com-ponents can now fit on a small shelf or hang ona wall. Lightweight plasma televisions can be

FURNISHING SMALLSPACES: LESS IS MOREBY MANNIE BAINS

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P U B L I S H E D B Y

suspended from the ceiling or mounted on aspecially designed pole.

Second, make rooms multi-functional. Forexample, does the dwelling really need a sepa-rate dining area? Many urbanites typically eitherdine out or eat take-out food seated at theirkitchen counter or in front of their pole-mounted plasma set. So, it makes little sense todevote precious floor space to a dedicated din-ing area, though it would be nice to have theoption of one when needed.

The solution: A smart table that looks andfunctions like a coffee table — low to theground with a modestly sized surface — butwhich can be raised and extended to become afull size dining table. Complement that with asuite of folding or stacking chairs and voila,

instant dining room. Fold-out beds are another great multi-func-

tion item. Again, these units have been aroundfor decades but with increasing demand we’reseeing more and more style and design options.With one of these units the second bedroom caneasily double as an office, den or activity roomand still be ready for company on a moment’snotice. Wall beds are also a great space savingidea, though they do require a higher level ofcommitment and you can’t take them with youwhen you move.

The third rule for making the most of aminiscule space is, to quote architect LudwigMies van der Rohe, “Less is more.” NorthAmerican homes have long favoured an over-stuffed look, with big bulky furnishings that

dominate a room. This look iscompletely inappropriate forlean urban space.

Smaller rooms should be fur-nished with a minimum of care-fully selected pieces. A littleminimalism will go a long wayto keeping a sense of spacious-ness in even the smallest room.

Lighter colours will help add asense of space but every roomshould have a good strongcolour accent as well.

The profile is another veryimportant consideration. Beds,chairs and sofas with low pro-files and long, lean horizontalscreate a roomier atmosphere asthey don’t tend to dominate theroom. They also leave more wallspace for artwork and otherdécor touches that will helpenhance the sense of space.

Another hot trend in beddingand seating is the floating lookin which the supports areslimmed down or recessed fromview, giving an impression thepiece is hovering in the air.

For interior designers, smallerspaces present many interestingchallenges. Fortunately, the fur-niture design industry is creat-ing many interestingsolutions.

Mannie Bains, president andowner of Bravura Interiors Inc.,has worked in furniture retail-ing in the Lower Mainland formore than 20 years. He can becontacted at 604.872.4880 [email protected].

DQ



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F30 DESIGN QUARTERLY | SUMMER 2007


FINE DINING IS not just about eating exquisite food. The term,often used to describe four-plus star restaurants (though the linebetween fine and casual dining has blurred), comprises the entiredining experience — the concept, cuisine, location, service anddécor.

According to Wendy Tait of E+ Design and Construction, adivision of Earls Restaurants Ltd., customers today want morethan good eats; they demand the entire package regardless ofwhere they dine.

“It’s not just the food that brings people in anymore,” says Tait.“People are looking to go somewhere they can enjoy themselves.”

Not only an interior designer for but a long-time patron of thecasual dining chain, Tait has witnessed the restaurant’s furnitureevolve. While the chairs and booths have always been classic andtimeless, comfort was not always key.

“When I first started going to Earls, they had these greenbanker chairs with hard seats and wood backs, so you couldn’t sit

back properly,” she explains, adding this type of furniture designwas common in many establishments.

At that time, comfort often took a backseat to a restaurant’sfood and overall aesthetic appeal. But not anymore. Today, hospi-tality furniture is reminiscent of that found in the home — wel-coming and cozy yet practical.

Tables constructed of warm durable wood, such as maple andwalnut, bars topped with quartzite or engineered stone, uphol-stered leather and vinyl chairs and rich, earth coloured fabrics arecommonplace in many restaurants as they’re not only pleasing tothe eye but will stand the test of time.

“Because we’re a restaurant with food and drink, these types ofmaterials are just the most practical for cleaning up,” notes Tait.“And darker coloured fabrics, such as browns, oranges, rusts andeven black, are used because they don’t stain as much as a lighterfabric would.”

When it comes to hospitality furniture trends, both Tait and M

SATISFYING CUSTOMERS’CRAVINGS FOR COMFORTBY CLARE TATTERSALL

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Studio Design Consultants Inc. principal Marilou Rudakewichare non-believers as furniture selection is ultimately influencedby the establishment’s overall concept, clientele and location.However, they do acknowledge small yet significant advance-ments have been made in terms of functionality, including theincorporation of a stretcher beam in chair design which rein-forces the chair’s legs and provides a foot rest for the customer.

“Another ‘trend’ is (restaurateurs) want bigger seats, not as inthe overall scale of the chair but because they are aware of differ-ent sizes of people,” says Rudakewich, who has worked on a vari-ety of hospitality projects including four Earls Restaurants ofwhich three were recognized with an IDIBC award. “They justwant any person to sit in a chair and be comfortable.”

With approximately one in four Canadian adults consideredobese and the number expected to reach epidemic proportions,super-sized restaurant furniture is one “fad” unlikely to fade.

“Today, (restaurateurs) are also looking for more understatedtypes of furniture,” she says. “Instead of getting a chair that has alot of detail in it, they’re going for a chair that is a lot cleaner andnot as fussy so other parts of the restaurant take the focus (over)the furniture.”

Clean line, simple furniture is also more versatile. When itmoves about the space it never looks out of place and dining roomchairs can easily make the transition to after dinner lounge ware.

“We’ve found that if people want a club lounge chair, we’vebeen making a smaller scale version of it so it doesn’t take up alot of space (when the establishment is functioning) as a restau-rant,” says Rudakewich who, along with partner May Cheng,designed the Ocean Club Restaurant and Lounge in WestVancouver. “This way you can still put four upholstered arm

chairs around a dining room table and it gives the impression of aclub chair (albeit) it’s smaller.”

Whether designing or purchasing furniture for a restaurant,lounge or combination of both,Bryan Frischbutter, owner ofBirchwood Furniture, a family-owned upholstery manufacturerthat caters to the hospitality,restaurant, resort and healthcare industries, says furnitureshould be proportional to thespace. He recommends chairshave a tight arm, tight back andcontain commercial-grade flameretardant foam.

“When people go out to eatthey want to sit in comfortablefurniture equal to their house ifnot better…so going with softerdensities of foam that is withinthe contract levels instead ofsuper hard foam is advisable,” hesays, adding ergonomics, the sci-ence of fitting the physicalaspects of an environment to thehuman body, also plays a role infurniture design.

“It’s about making somethingwhere someone wants to be inthe chair and not feel awkward.”

Because, at the end of the day,the right décor sets the stage forsales. DQ



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TO BE SUCCESSFUL in business today, office design and furni-ture must take into account the rising cost of real estate and keeppace with ever-changing technological advancements, workforcesize, work styles and employees’ needs.

Once spanning eight-feet by eight-feet, workstation footprintshave and continue to shrink. Now approximating six-feet byseven-feet (or 42 square feet), the cubicle is still very much a partof the work culture, though its five to six-foot high partitions arealso fast becoming a thing of the past.

“Over the past 15 years we have seen the average size of theemployee workstation decrease by up to 40 per cent,” says JohnHellwig, vice-president of design and innovation for Teknion, aleading international designer, manufacturer and marketer ofoffice systems and related office furniture products.

“More and more, people are looking for alternatives to thestandard high cubicle (because) when you make it smaller youhave to make it lower or it just gets very claustrophobic.”

As work areas have shrunk in size, manufacturers haveresponded with compact yet comfortable furniture systems, suchas Teknion’s District. Airier than the standard cubicle prototype,this next generation of aesthetically pleasing furniture still pro-vides a private work environment.

New and improved, these furniture systems include a numberof multi-functional components, making efficient use of today’s

smaller office footprints. Credenzas, bookcases and storage tow-ers support work surfaces, reduce clutter and define space.Narrow, small-scale storage units can be stacked on credenzasand serve as space dividers. Overlapping surfaces and under-sur-face storage make even more efficient use of space.

To maximize the appearance of space in the entire office envi-ronment, glass is being utilized more and more in furniture sys-tems. Because of its transparent quality, full-height glass walls cre-ate a feeling of openness and allow natural light to penetrate deepinto the building, which contributes to healthy environments andenergy conservation. Glass walls also support Leadership in Energyand Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation requirements byproviding privacy with a view, which enables meeting rooms andprivate offices to be created without obstructing daylight infusion.

“There’s a real desire for something healthy and a move awayfrom the bleakness of row upon row of cubicles,” notes Hellwig.“Furniture is becoming more humane and less like equipment.”

With global warming at the forefront of many people’s minds,especially millennials (or those born in the age of the Internet),many manufacturers have committed to incorporating earth-friendly materials into furniture design. This includes using sus-tainable wood, such as oak, birch and walnut, and replacingpolyvinyl chloride (PVC) edgebanding on work surfaces withpolypropylene edgeband.

DESIGN DOES MATTERThe next generation of office furniture. BY CLARE TATTERSALL

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“PVC is a very durable (and) inexpensive material which canbe found on many work surfaces to prevent chairs from scratch-ing the edge of the surface…so switching to a PVC-free edgebandis a big deal,” says Mark Schurman, director of corporate commu-nications for Herman Miller, an American manufacturer knownfor designing ecologically sound office furniture and equipment.

“Polypropylene edgebanding has all the performance charac-teristics of PVC but is environmentally neutral.”

Other sustainable measures include manufacturing furniturethat has an infinite lifecycle in terms of use.

“There’s been more attention in recent years to not just (furni-ture) production but its disassembly, which is really vital if you’retalking about making recycling an economically viable solution,”says Schurman.

“We try and use biological nutrients that either biodegradenaturally and restore the soil, such as Kira which is a fabric pro-duced from corn, or can be fully restored into high-qualitymaterials for subsequent product generations.”

Besides being environmentally conscious, today’s generation ofoffice workers are more tech-savvy and mobile than their prede-cessors. They are also increasingly concerned with ergonomics,the applied science of equipment design intended to maximizeproductivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort, andexpressing their individuality while working within a more col-laborative environment.

With the influx of new technology in the market, particularlylaptops, cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), there’sno longer a need for large corner work surfaces to accommodatedesktop computers and their accompanying hard drives.

“Practically everybody has a laptop these days, so you don’tneed all that depth for a desktop monitor and even if they have adesktop they’ve got a flat screen,” says Arly Akman, business anddevelopment manager for Brooks Corning Company Ltd., anoffice furniture and systems dealer based in Vancouver.

“Instead, you’re seeing much more of what the industry calls‘plug and play,’ which means you don’t have to crawl underneath

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the desk to plug in anymore. People can just come in, touchdown (and) plug into accessible voice and data ports.”

Advancements in technology, which have allowed people toremain connected regardless of where they are, have also influ-enced corporate office behaviour. Today, more and more peopleare absent from the office, either on the road, in meetings ormeeting with clients. Office furniture manufacturers haveresponded to this trend with the creation of shared workspacesconducive to interaction.

There are now table products on the market specificallydesigned to accommodate team-based activities. Available in awide variety of sizes, from conference-style or meeting tables sit-uated in the immediate work environment to height adjustablecafé-style tables found in less formal, soft seating office areas,these barrier-free work surfaces encourage collaboration and fos-ter creativity.

“Instead of meeting at the water cooler, people can now justreadily connect, sit down and have an impromptu meeting,” saysAkman. “It’s about personal comfort…and if you want to keepthose people, you have to give them what they want.”

This includes providing aesthetically appealing, adaptable andadjustable chairs that fit people of all sizes for all tasks. Whilecomfort is purely subjective, tilted chairs with high backs, wide,soft armrests and a sloped front edge take weight off the lowerspine, are easy on the arms and reduce pressure under thethighs.

Besides custom fit, an increasing number of employees arekeen on coloured chairs. Earth-tones, neutral whites, grey andsilver continue to dominate office décor, so a coloured chair“pops” the space while adding a personal touch. With the officeconsidered a second home, it’s a great way to make it yourclient’s own. DQ



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The Aeron work stool incorporates the ergonomic and aesthetic features of the classic work chair, includingits three finishes, Pellicle fabric options, active sacralsupport with PostureFit technology and the Kinemat tilt.

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industry focus AUDIO & VIDEO

OVER THE PAST decade, improvements to audiovisual equip-ment have enabled AV integrators to greatly enhance the presen-tation capabilities of corporate meeting spaces. Great strides inthe areas of data and video projection, audio and video confer-encing and system control have raised clients’ expectations andchallenged the AV integrator to come up with new and innova-tive ideas. Throw in the capability to now remotely manage andcontrol AV systems over the Internet and it feels like there isnothing we AV geeks can’t do!

Enter the interior designer who receives direction from a clientto provide the latest and greatest in boardroom AV technology —and “Oh, by the way, we don’t want any of the ‘tech’ to spoil theaesthetic qualities of the space.”

To this end, manufacturers have responded with some noveland clever products that allow AV devices to integrate unobtru-sively into the presentation environment.

Projector LiftsMotorized projector lifts have been utilized for some time toretract these devices into the ceiling space when not in use. Thereare still many effective products available and refinements havebeen made to address situations when space above the ceiling islimited. For example, you can now find lifts that mount into astandard, ceiling tile grid space and then “spin” the projector intothe operational position when needed.

Flat Panel LiftsPlasma and LCD flat panels are being used more and morewithin the boardroom these days and there are now productsthat will retract upward into the ceiling, downwards into a com-mode or millwork cabinet, operate “drawbridge style” or allowthe flat screen to be concealed behind a painting. Be aware, how-ever, that the weight of these displays and the accompanying lift

STEALTH AV FOR THEMEETING ROOMBY DAVID GLASS

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mechanism demands that any supporting structures be properlyreinforced to handle the load

Video Conference CamerasVideo conferencing systems are being integrated into AV presen-tation systems more and more than ever before. A system thatincludes a hideaway enclosure is a novel way to hide the videocamera when not in use. A motorized door that lowers when thecamera is activated and closes when not in use will result in acleaner look and conceal the technology.

Document CamerasDocument cameras have long been used for displaying images ofprinted documents and 3-D objects, primarily for legal, lawenforcement and video conference applications. However, it issometimes cumbersome to locate these devices on the conferenceroom table, and the size and format of originals that can be dis-played is often limited. There are now ceiling mounted documentcameras available that remain out-of-sight, are remotely con-trolled and allow larger originals to be shown, such as blueprintsor large schematic drawings.

Microphones & SpeakersThe most common way to pick up audio when clients requireintegrated audio or video conferencing systems is to mountmicrophones directly into the boardroom table. However, nowthe trend is toward rooms with multi-purpose furniture, meaningthe mics cannot be installed in the tables.

Another factor to consider is table-mounted mics sometimespick up the rustling of papers used during meetings. Fortunately,we now have microphones that mount inconspicuously into theceiling and provide excellent vocal quality when properlyinstalled.

We were recently asked to go a step further and provide motor-ized, concealed ceiling speakers as an alternative to conventional

5-inch to 8-inch circular speaker “cans.” Fortunately, there is nowa series of speakers that retract into the ceiling, effectively disap-pearing when not in use.

Connectivity & ControlWhile wireless connectivity continues to grow, there is still a needfor cabling to allow the hookup of local area networks (LAN),power and audio-video signals within the presentation environ-ment. AV professionals are often forced to work with common“spider boxes” that provide most of the required connectivity butare often lacking in other areas, most notably durability.

AV connections are subject to constant plugging and unplug-ging, so it is important any connection devices are sufficientlyrobust to handle this rigorous use. Some products have proven tobe very effective at managing the “spaghetti” of cables that isoften needed for corporate presentations. They are constructedwith rugged but attractive metal finishes that will stand up to thewear and tear of pro AV. They also come in many different con-figurations and mount into the boardroom table for a profes-sional and integrated appearance.

There is also a product that takes the concept one step furtherby integrating a 3.6-inch LCD touch panel into its recessed table-top control station. This ensures all cables along with the systeminterface are readily at hand for the presenter to use. Again, thehigh-quality brushed metal finish makes this product look verymuch at home in any high-end meeting space.

Well, there you have it. I hope this information will help gener-ate some new ideas on how to make presentation facilities “tech-enabled” yet aesthetically pleasing.

When choosing products, I’d encourage design professionals toengage an AV integrator to ensure the client’s expectations areproperly fulfilled.

David Glass is director of sales for Sharp’s Audio-Visual Ltd.

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Wireless touch-screens offer users the convenience ofrunning the entire AV system, including their presentations,

from anywhere in the room.

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THE CUSTOM ELECTRONIC installation industry emerged inthe late 1980s. While still relatively young, it has been marked byseveral significant shifts in response to consumer demand.

Many of the changes that have occurred relate to the main-stream arrival of consumer electronic installations in upscalehomes during the 1990s. The first significant shift came whenmanufacturers recognized they needed to design products specif-ically for this application. In-wall speakers and keypad controlledelectronics emerged, allowing consumers to place products out ofsight. The next major shift came with the proliferation of flatpanel displays. Suddenly there was demand for more televisionsin the home and with it the desire to view any type of source ateach unit. This desire for multi-panel viewing spawned a newgeneration of hard drive-based products for both audio andvideo, allowing people to transport material and gain access to allof their media from anywhere in the home. These new productsalso began to bridge the gap between the audio-video productand the computer world as people have the ability to access, con-trol and edit content on these devices from any computer on theirhome network.

These changes have presented both an opportunity and a chal-lenge to the design community. From a design perspective, itmeans you no longer have to find space for electronics in everyroom in the home. Electronics can be situated in one centralplace and accessed from anywhere via a keypad or a touch screendevice of either in-wall or handheld design. With the properwiring infrastructure and product selection, it is no longer neces-sary to design millwork enclosures with proper dimensions, ven-tilation and power for every local television in the home.

Unlike the simple installation of a surround system and flat

screen, these more comprehensive systems require speciallydesigned products and proper installation.

The recognition by many of this shift in approach resulted inthe launch of numerous new and unproven products, with indi-viduals or companies promoting and installing them.

Companies involved in the design and installation of customhome electronic solutions became extremely wary over the yearsof products promising the world. Their concern was validatedwhen many products were discontinued and, in some cases,entire companies left the market.

As a result, high-end homeowners became frustrated and manycustom installation firms have now become more cautious aboutwho they source their products from. The more established firmstake a long look at the history and stability of any given manufac-turer before even considering selling and installing their products.As a designer, it is always a good idea to ask what criteria wasused to select any given product and the history behind it. Thesesame questions should be asked of the installation firm too.

In the end, these new technologies and design considerationswill allow your clients to select music and movies while browsingthrough album titles, CD or DVD cover art, pause at any pointand resume in any room they wish with an infrastructure that isactually easier to coordinate and more adaptable as technologieschange. We get flexibility and ease of use for the client and amore pleasing design and less difficult installation for thedesigner. Now that is what we have been aiming for.

Greg Peterson is general manager of Sound Plus custom depart-ment. Sound Plus recently moved to 170 West 6th Ave., Vancouver,and now devotes its entire business to custom audio-video installa-tions. Greg can be reached at [email protected].

DQ

CUSTOM ELECTRONICINSTALLATIONSBY GREG PETERSON

TWOOD WORKS!GALARECOGNIZES WOOD USETHE THIRD ANNUAL Wood WORKS! Excellence in Wood Design awardsgala was all it was anticipated to be and more.

Presented by the Canadian Wood Council — Wood WORKS!, the eventonce again wowed guests with an amazing array of products.

Mary Tracey, executive director for BC Wood WORKS!, said the nominatedprojects raised the bar in wood design and building excellence.

“There were some outstanding projects entered this year and although onlya few won, every single project is a winner,” noted Tracey. “Each and everyone of the projects nominated help build awareness of the benefits of buildingwith wood. The use of wood helps to build a wood culture. Each of the proj-ects nominated is leading by example.”

The eight project categories included Interior Beauty of Wood, ResidentialWood Design, Multi-Unit Residential, Green Building, Natural Cedar,Commercial Wood Design, Institutional Wood Design and the TechnicalInnovation Award.

According to Tracey, the Natural Cedar and Technical Innovation awardswere new categories this year.

Awards were also presented for Industry Leader, Engineer of the Year,Architect of the Year and Wood Champion.

“All the awards are sponsored by companies or associations,” noted Tracey.“Without their support, the event would not be able to take place.”

Forest Innovation Investment was the event sponsor. Gold sponsors includ-ed Canfor, Coast Forest Products Association, Council of Forest Industries,Gorman Bros. Lumber, Interfor, Mill & Timber, Structurlam, Tembec, WesternForest Products and Weyerhaeuser. West Fraser was a silver sponsor andDunkley Lumber was a bronze sponsor.

Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver with a full house of 250 inattendance, the evening’s keynote speaker was B.C. Minister of Forests RichColeman.

Representatives from wood product manufacturers and forestry associationsmingled with designers and builders at the pre-event reception.

Paul Perkins, chair of the provincial Wood WORKS! steering committee,said this year’s jury was particularly impressed with the projects’ use of woodin innovative and creative yet economical ways.

“The jury took into account the ease of the wood use in various applica-tions,” said Perkins. “Each decision involved lengthy consideration on the partof the jury. Not only did they want to see wood used in a beautiful applicationbut they took into account whether or not the way the wood was used couldbe easily replicated.”

Wood WORKS! is an initiative of the Canadian Wood Council to increasethe use of wood through training and technical assistance. For more informa-tion visit www.cwc.ca. �

S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g F e a t u r e

2007 EXCELLENCE IN WOOD NOMINEES AND WINNERSInterior Beauty of Wood – ResidentialRamsay Worden Architects Ltd.Cortez Island Retreat, Cortez Island

Griffiths Uhryniuk Architecture & Interior DesignEmerald Lodge, Whistler

RDC Fine HomesMiller Residence, Whistler

Helliwell & Smith: Blue Sky ArchitectureShalkai House, Salt Spring Island

WINNER:Helliwell & Smith: Blue Sky ArchitectureShalkai House, Salt Spring Island

SPONSORS


Residential Wood DesignGriffiths Uhryniuk Architecture & Interior DesignEmerald Lodge, Whistler

Graph-Tech DesignsLanark Residence, Squamish

Helliwell & Smith: Blue Sky ArchitectureShalkai House, Salt Spring Island

a.k.a Architecture & Design Inc.Whistler Cay Heights Residence, Whistler

Robert Mackenzie ArchitectAinsworth Residence, Penticton

Lamoureux Architect Ltd.Sentinel Hill House, West Vancouver

Bevanda Architecture Inc.Private Residence, Penticton

Openspace Architecture Inc.Spirit Island, Whistler

Salal ArchitectureBeach House, Roberts Creek

RDC Fine HomesMiller Residence, Whistler

Busby Perkins & WillMurch Residence, Victoria

Longhouse Trading Company Ltd.Private Residence, Nanaimo

WINNER:Lamoureux Architect Ltd.Sentinel Hill House, West Vancouver

Multi-Unit ResidentialWood Design Graph-tech Design and Lund Architecture Ltd.Arbourwoods, Squamish

AHC Developments Ltd.Pinnacle Ridge Resort, Fernie

Meiklejohn Architects Inc.Cannery Lofts, Kelowna

WINNER:Meiklejohn Architects Inc.Cannery Lofts, Kelowna

Green Building AwardAlora Griffin ArchitectFort St. James Bicentennial Library, Fort St. James

Killick Metz Bowen RoseArbourwoods, Squamish

Bernard Perreten Architecture Inc.South Cariboo Multi-Use Arena, 100 Mile House

Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects & UrbanistesNk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos

WINNER:Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects & UrbanistesNk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos

Commercial Wood DesignBernard Perreten Architecture Inc.Williams Lake Tourism Discovery Centre, Williams Lake

Stantec Architecture Ltd.The Tsawwassen Quay Market, Tsawwassen

Killick Metz Bowen RoseLoon Lake Lodge, Maple Ridge

Scott M Kemp ArchitectYukon Suspension Bridge — South Klondike Highway, Yukon

WINNER:Scott M Kemp ArchitectYukon Suspension Bridge — South Klondike Highway, Yukon


Natural Cedar AwardPaul Fast Jr.Design Build Sauna, Nahatlatch River

Longhouse Trading Company Ltd.Haida Heritage Centre, Skidigate, Queen Charlotte Islands

Andrew Cheung Architects Inc.Dharma Drum Mountain Temple, Richmond

Killick Metz Bowen RoseLoon Lake Lodge, Maple Ridge

WINNER:Paul Fast Jr.Design Build Sauna, Nahatlatch River

Institutional Wood DesignHotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects & UrbanistesNk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos

Andrew Cheung Architects Inc.Dharma Drum Mountain Temple, Richmond

Bernard Perreten Architecture Inc.Williams Lake Tourism Discovery Centre, Williams Lake

Allen & Maurer Architects Ltd.Kindergarten Feldgatterweg, Italy

Interior Logging AssociationSilver Lake Forest Education Society, Peachland

Town of SmithersSmithers Municipal Hall, Smithers

Larry McFarland Architects Ltd.John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse, Vancouver

Larry McFarland Architects Ltd.Ripple Rock Elementary School, Campbell River

Bevanda Architecture Inc.Penticton Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Penticton

Longhouse Trading Company Ltd.Haida Heritage Centre, Skidigate, Queen Charlotte Islands

Acton Ostry Architects Inc.King David High School, Vancouver

DGBK ArchitectsB.C. Wildlife Park Centre, Kamloops

WINNER:Acton Ostry Architects Inc.King David High School, Vancouver

Wood ChampionLarry McFarland, Larry McFarland Architects Inc.

North Cariboo Community College, Quesnel

Technical Innovation AwardSilva Panel Canada Ltd.Western Red Cedar panels from short lengths

School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture UBCSolid wood panels

Thinwood Forest Products Ltd., Canfor Corp. and TSW LaminatingSeries of cladded wood products

WINNER:Silva Panel Canada Ltd.Western Red Cedar panels from short lengths

ArchitectBernard Perreten, Bernard Perreten Architecture Inc.Williams Lake Tourist Discovery Centre, Williams LakeSouth Cariboo Multi-Use Arena, 100 Mile House

Ron Kato, Larry McFarland Architects Ltd.North Cariboo Community College, Quesnel

Mark Koropecky, PBK Architects Inc.McLeod Athletic Park Grandstand Building, Langley

Stantec Architecture Ltd.The Tsawwassen Quay Market, Tsawwassen

Russell Acton, Acton Ostry Architects Inc.Old Massett Primary SchoolSkidegate Elementary SchoolHar El Synagogue Mount Currie Day CareHealth Centre Siple House

Greg Dowling, DGBK ArchitectsB.C. Wildlife Park Centre, Kamloops

Bruce Haden, Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects& UrbanistesNk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos

Larry McFarland, Larry McFarland Architects Ltd.North Cariboo Community College, Quesnel

WINNER:Russell Acton, Acton Ostry Architects Inc.


Engineer Zelimir Anic & Paul Fast, Fast & Epp StructuralEngineeringWood Presentation Centre, Shanghai China

John Wallace, Pomeroy EngineeringRipple Rock Elementary School, Campbell River

Jim Mandelli, JM EngineeringWilliams Lake Tourist Discovery Centre, Williams Lake

Gerry Epp, Fast & Epp Structural EngineeringOffice Roof at Avon Lot 2, Avon, Colorado

Jochen Stahl and Paul Fast, Fast & Epp StructuralEngineeringArmstrong – Spallumcheen Arena, Armstrong

Paul Fast, Fast & Epp Structural EngineeringNorth Cariboo Community College, Quesnel

Ian Boyle, Zelimir Anic and Paul Fast, Fast & EppStructural EngineeringSimon Fraser University Gymnasium, Burnaby

WINNER:Jochen Stahl and Paul Fast, Fast & Epp Structural Engineering

Armstrong – Spallumcheen Arena, Armstrong

Industry LeaderJim Engelson

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industry focus FLOORING

“GREEN” IS NOW an important consideration in consumerdecision making. But what does it really mean in terms of woodand wood products used? Should we feel good about using woodwhen photos of clear cut forests and the rainforest ablaze aresome of the current poster children for global warming?

In the broadest sense, sustainability for forest managementmeans using and cultivating the forest to keep the forest.

Today’s designers have many choices and they can make woodflooring purchases with confidence, knowing it has come fromsustainable yield forest practices.

Their hardwood flooring comes from forests with sustainabil-ity practices either privately managed or inspected by a thirdparty audit organization, such as the Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

The industry is constantly reviewing its forest inventory andreports are issued by the forest inventory and analysis (FIA) pro-gram, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) Forest Service.

In Indiana, for instance, the forests have been inventoriedusing an annual inventory system. According to a recent study,timberland area has continued to increase since the 1967 inven-tory, with steady increases in the saw timber stand size. The totalarea plus the volume of all trees has increased from six billioncubic feet in 1986, to more than nine billion cubic feet in 2005.And as selective logging practices have been employed, the qual-ity of the trees has increased.

Rainforest PracticesExotic hardwood species from the rainforests — such as Jatoba(Brazilian cherry), Cabreuva (Santos mahogany), Cumaru(Brazilian teak), Ipe (Brazilian walnut), Muiracatiara (tigerwood) and Andiroba (royal mahogany) — are in high demand.

Today, consumers can choose products from sustainable yield

forests under private management certified by the FSC.Sustainability, reforestation and plantation projects are underdevelopment in Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.

Producing within strict environmental and socioeconomicstandards set forth by the FSC, many manufacturers are commit-ted to preserving South America’s rainforest and, thus, dedicatedto sustainable forestry practices.

Plantation owners are in control of forest management. Theyembrace the following key principles:

Ecological balance. This involves maintaining the habitats ofall native plants and animal species. Chemical fertilizers or pesti-cides are not used.

No clear cutting. Trees within the forest must be of various ages.Openings created by cutting are to be no larger that what is neces-sary to meet the biological requirements of non-harvested trees.

Soil conservation. Conventional forest management tech-niques, such as clear cutting, destroy soil organisms necessary forforest health. The heavy machinery used in industrial loggingoften causes soil compaction, erosion and extensive damage toresidual vegetation. Instead, light equipment is used and no cut-ting occurs on steep erosion prone slopes.

Sustained yield. The amount of timber removed from a givenarea must not exceed the amount that will grow in the cuttinginterval or rotation. Sustainable yields assure continuity and eco-nomic viability to the rain forest.

BambooIn addition to sustainable logging and manufacturing practices,certain species of hardwood, such as bamboo and cork, are moreenvironmentally friendly than others.

Bamboo has become very popular as a “green” flooring option.There are more than 1,500 species of bamboo, some of which areused to manufacture building products.

SUSTAINABLE HARDWOODSBY BRIAN COPELAND

PHOTO COURTESY ART GRICE / TERAGREN LLC PHOTO COURTESY STEVEN YOUNG / TERAGREN LLC

Growing up to two-feet daily, Moso bamboo reaches full matu-rity in approximately six years (compared to 60 years or more formost hardwood trees), and can be harvested repeatedly from thesame root system.

If harvested and manufactured correctly, bamboo can be 25per cent harder than oak and twice as stable as maple.

Strand bamboo is even more durable. Manufactured through aprocess that fuses bamboo strands with an environmentally safeadhesive, it can be 100 per cent harder than oak.

Bamboo flooring typically comes in two colours — the naturalcolour of the bamboo fibre or a “caramelized” colour. Thecaramelized light coffee colour is obtained through a process ofpressure heating the fibre. The longer the fibre is heated, thedarker the sugar compounds become.

Cultivating bamboo relieves pressure on degraded forests andcontributes to reducing global warming. Bamboo releases 35 percent more oxygen than a comparable cluster of trees. Some typesof bamboo can remove (or“sequester”) nearly 5 tonnes ofcarbon dioxide from the air peracre, helping to reduce harmfullevels of carbon dioxide in ouratmosphere.

Using bamboo flooring quali-fies project designers for pointstowards LEED (Leadership inEnergy and EnvironmentalDesign) certification. Forinstance, all bamboo flooring,panel and veneer products con-tribute to LEED credit MR 6 —rapidly renewable materials.Depending on the manufactur-ing adhesive used, all bambooflooring, panel and veneer prod-ucts may contribute to LEEDcredit IEQ 4.4 — low emittingmaterials.

However, while bamboo isinherently an eco-friendly mate-rial, not all bamboo products arecreated equal. Buyers must knowwhat to look for to ensure they’repurchasing a sustainable product.

Bamboo flooring should notonly be sustainably harvested andmanufactured in a factory certi-fied by the InternationalOrganization for Standardization;it should also include a water-based, solvent-free finish thatdoes not release volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) and a man-ufacturing adhesive that at leastmeets Occupational Safety andHealth Administration (OSHA)standards for formaldehydecontent.

Other factors to consider

include whether the bamboo originated from an area not inhabitedby pandas (who survive almost exclusively on bamboo), whetherwaste created during the manufacturing process is utilized to createenergy and whether it was purchased at fair market rates.

When harvested and manufactured properly, bamboo is abeautiful, versatile fibre that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyeand gentle on the environment — making it an ideal choice forenvironmentally conscious builders, architects, designers andconsumers. It is ideal for any interior application and may be per-fectly complemented with matching bamboo stair componentsand flooring accessories, as well as bamboo cabinetry and par-quet butcher block countertops or islands.

CorkThe natural renewable and sustainable quality of cork is a greatpick for environment conscious consumers.

Unlike some of the previous sustainable products, no trees are


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cut down to make cork products. Cork oak trees are protectedby law in most countries.

The product we know as cork consists of the bark of the corkoak tree. The bark is stripped from approximately a third of thetree every nine to 12 years. This process actually enhances thelife span of the tree, which ranges 150 to 200 years.

The wide range of cork products and manufacturingprocesses ensures a complete use of the resource.

Engineered FlooringIn an attempt to reduce the amount of material used, manyflooring manufacturers are introducing engineered flooring,which is made up of a plywood type base and a top layer of theforest resource.

Depending on the thickness of the wood veneer, the yield isbetween three and 10 times more sustainable than traditionalthree-quarter inch solid hardwood flooring.

Some very high quality engineered floors with five to sixmillimetre wear surfaces offer the look and feel of solid floorswith the efficiency of less hardwood per square foot of flooring.This manufacturing process allows for longer and widerveneers (seven inch by 96 inch) with dimensional stability. Thisallows for installations of a premium floor in a wide range ofsite conditions.

A grand look with environmental and sustainable benefits.

B.C. Hardwood Floor Co. specializes in hardwood, bamboo andcork flooring. With more than 100 years of experience, we offera premium selection of imported solid and engineered products.

DQ

BBEAUTIFUL FLOORING IS the canvas of any well-designedroom. It can set the tone for a warm, countryside retreat or achic, urban loft space.

While many designers today are turning to hardwood floors toachieve the look they desire, high-style carpets are emerging inthe marketplace from top flooring manufacturers. Fashionablepatterns, metallic yarns, high pile twists and fresh colour palletswill have you shouting, “Welcome home, carpet!”

Carpet CoutureBring floors to life with patterned carpets inspired from trends ofyears past and current couture designs, from the New York run-way. For example, houndstooth clothing and accessories haveinspired stylish houndstooth patterned carpets.

Available in endless designs, including botanical leaves, ’gatorskins and paisleys, patterned carpets have the ability to pull aroom’s look together. For instance, if using a fabric with geomet-ric squares for your client’s draperies, then select a patterned car-pet for the flooring with similar geometric squares to add styleand dimension to the room.

Most manufacturers will create room-size rugs from their pat-terned carpets if wall-to-wall carpet is not desired by the client.

Think Outside The Beige BoxDon’t always choose basic beige carpet. Forward-thinking design-ers are selecting bold colours, such as red, chocolate brown, greenor black, to really spice up a room’s design. International influ-ences such as food, fabrics and jewelry are shaping the way lead-ing flooring manufacturers select colours for their products.

In years past, flooring manufacturers may have used the samecolours for several styles of carpet but today they are inspired bythe specific carpet style. For instance, a zebra patterned carpet isinspired from the home of the animal, with the colours deep andtrue to the pattern’s African descent.

Current pattern and colour selections are about relating to themodern, well-travelled and creative homeowner. In fact, patternedcarpets are the fastest growing segment in the carpet category.

Wear & TearBesides great style, carpets must have the ability to withstand thetest of time. A toddler’s tricycle, new puppy or Moroccan-styledinner party that leaves red wine on the flooring can cause wearand tear to the carpet. Choose carpets with stain-resistant protec-tion. Applied to the yarn fibres before the product is constructed,this powerful prevention ensures stains literally lift and bead ontop of the carpet for easy cleanup.

Also, choose durable fibres, such as nylon, polyester orpolypropylene, which are very sturdy when constructed properly.While carpets can last up to 10 years, the transit lifestyle of themodern family lends itself to moving or remodeling before thelife of the carpet has expired.



Smart Flooring Ltd.1-888-878-8654

[email protected]

Healthcare, Retail, Education and Hospitality – TOLI vinyl flooring products

provide superior performance in high traffic areas.

FASHION FORTHE FLOORBY MOLLIE ALLEN

PHOTO COURTESY SHAW INDUSTRIES

When it comes to carpet, colour is all the rage. Burnt orange hasacquired a sophistication over the years and green is easy on the eye.

Natural FibreCarpet takes up critical space in the world’soverflowing landfills, so diverting the prod-uct from the landfill is a goal of many com-panies. As a result, eco-friendly flooringchoices are available from leading manufac-turers. Carpets containing recycled content,carpet with the ability to be recycled and sus-tainable hardwoods are widely available inthe marketplace. And environmentally-minded consumers are interested in eco-friendly products.

Consumers want to feel good about theirhome selections and manufacturers haveresponded by introducing eco-friendly floor-ing products that are beautiful and durable.Unlike in years past, consumers no longerhave to sacrifice style to be environmentally-friendly.

Creating ComfortBe fearless in your flooring design choices andrediscover the beauty, warmth and durabilityof carpet. Whether it is a playful shag style inburnt orange for a retro-chic movie room oran eggplant paisley pattern for a sophisticatedformal living room, basic beige carpet is a lookof the past.

With turmoil in the world around us, thecomfort of home is more important than everbefore. Make home a place that will brightenyour smile in the morning and soothe you inthe evening. Make the comfort of home beginwith beautiful floors.

Mollie Allen is the public relations specialistfor Shaw Industries, a subsidiary of BerkshireHathaway Inc. Shaw manufactures and dis-tributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminateand ceramic tile for residential and commer-cial applications. Mollie can be contacted [email protected].

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Please contact Mr. Nigel Rogers or Mr. Jerry Moore at our Vancouver Office: 604.583.2355

Sales/Service Centres: Vancouver-Calgary-Edmonton-Saskatoon-Regina-Winnipeg

Flooring products for:

HealthcareEducationCorporateHospitality

RetailProperty Management

Home Builders

Distribution for:ARMSTRONG

WILSONART LAMINATE FLOORSCROSSVILLE PORCELAIN TILE

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JOHNSONITE RUBBER PRODUCTSOMEGA CARPET BY KRAUS

SHAWMARK CARPETWE CORK FLOORING

ACCOUSTICAL UNDERCUSHIONCASCADE NATURAL STONE

DANSK HARDWOODBAMBOO FUSION COMMERCIAL

UA ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING

Providing flooring solutions for all segments of the commercial, builder, & multi-family markets for over 75 years.

Available in endlessdesigns, includingbotanical leaves, ’gatorskins and paisleys,patterned carpets havethe ability to pull aroom’s look together.

W



WHETHER YOU ARE involved in erecting a new building orretrofitting an existing one, there are a lot of decisions to be madeby the various stakeholders involved in the entire process.Choosing the right building and finishing materials can be apainstakingly long process since you need to weigh all kinds offactors. One factor that has become of increasing importance toall stakeholders is finding environmentally-friendly products.

Determining which floor covering to use in the building is oneof the most important decisions a designer must make — thefloor is the one part of the building that is in constant and imme-diate physical contact with its occupants. The material you decideupon now is crucial in making or breaking a substantial part ofthe operational costs of a building.

From a technical or performance point of view, you shouldchoose a floor that is durable, cost-effective to clean and maintainand retains its appearance in-between maintenance periods.

From an occupant’s point of view, you should look for a floorthat contributes to a pleasant, comfortable and healthier indoorenvironment. The design should suit the purpose of the buildingand be either colourful or subdued but never too distracting orboring.

From an environmental perspective, look for a floor coveringthat performs responsibly not only while it is covering the floorbut also during the extraction of raw materials and the actualproduction process of the floor covering that precedes installa-tion. It is also important to consider the affect on the environ-ment after removal and disposal of the flooring material.

Somewhere along this road, another crucial factor you willhave to consider is affordability, which is usually of great interestto the owners of the building. It makes sense to look at the cost ofownership of a floor, which factors in cleaning and maintenancecosts in addition to the initial cost, such as purchase of the floor-ing material and installation.

Let’s see if modern linoleum flooring, the resilient floor cover-ing first produced 150 years ago, can meet all these demands.

Sustainable & DurableFrom a performance point of view, linoleum floors have alwaysbeen known to be extremely durable.

In the past few years, linoleum manufacturers have come upwith a new, technically different factory finish, which has boostedthe cleaning and maintenance effectiveness of the product signifi-cantly. At the same time, comprehensive green cleaning andmaintenance programs have been developed that minimizelabour time and the use of chemicals, while maximizing perform-ance and appearance retention.

A comfortable and healthy indoor environment in a building

can contribute largely to the well-being of its occupants.Linoleum is allergen-free and is clinically proven to inhibit thegrowth of various types of bacteria living on it, includingMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria andthe Clostridium difficile bacteria (better known as C-diff), whichis causing serious health issues in a growing number of hospitals.This may reduce the use of chemicals significantly and, mostimportantly, reduce the risk of occupant infection not only inhospitals but in offices and educational facilities alike.

Various international studies have shown that good indoor airquality has a positive impact on the health and well-being of abuilding’s occupants, resulting in higher productivity and betterconcentration and focus.

The smooth surface of linoleum, which can be easily kept dust-free, the absence of plasticizers and, subsequently, the off-gassingof these chemicals in the indoor environment support this com-fortable and healthy indoor environment.

In addition, the wide colour and range available in modernlinoleum floors enables you to design the right atmosphere inevery application. The latest trend is to use linoleum tiles, whichmakes designing a colourful floor really easy without the down-side of higher installation costs.

When it comes to environmental friendliness, linoleum ismade with predominantly natural and renewable raw materialssuch as linseed oil, wood flour, limestone, rosin and jute.

The environmental footprint of linoleum has been investigatedand confirmed by independent institutes all over the world fordecades now and has enabled manufacturers to constantlyimprove their footprint. For example, the world’s largest linoleummanufacturer has recently switched over to using only green,

THE TRUTHABOUTLINOLEUMBY JACCO VLAAR

12 Dutch Designers • 12 Individual Inspirations • 12 Unique Colours

Forbo cooperated closely with 12 Dutch designers to create the Marmoleum Dutch Design collection. The 12 designers were granted complete artistic freedom. Their inspiration was very personal: a favorite colour, a shade with a great future or a colour missing from the current ranges. The result is 12 unique colourings, 12 designs each telling their own story.

With a track record of over 100 years, Marmoleum has gained popularity among architects, designers and consumers all over the world. Made from renewable, natural ingredients, Marmoleum is an environmentally responsible, durable flooring that features naturally inherent antimicrobial and anti-static properties.

Marmoleum Dutch Design is available in a thickness of 2.5mm with matching welding rods available for all designs. Marmoleum Dutch Design is protected with the unique Topshield finish. Thanks to Topshield each colour keeps its natural beauty, just as the designer intended.

creating better environments 1-866-661-2351 • www.forboflooringNA.com • [email protected]

www.FloorsByPhoenix.comBritish Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes

1-800-268-8108

renewable electricity in all its production locations. Not only isthis a major improvement in their product’s environmental per-formance but it also emphasizes the company’s commitment todoing the right thing, realizing the immediate impact on thecompany’s bottom line is negligible in the long run.

Various linoleum factories have recycling programs in place forstock remnants and production waste. At the same time, there aretest programs in place to locally compost installation waste aswell as old removed linoleum floors. Composting installationwaste has turned out to give a better environmental performancethan recycling.

There is an interesting Canadian story to linoleum as well —most, if not all, linoleum produced in the world is made of lin-seed oil from flax plants grown in the Prairies. With linseed oilmaking up 30 per cent of the content of linoleum, using linoleumdirectly supports farmers in Western Canada.

At the same time, farmers and scientists have worked togetherto develop better ways to grow flax, such as no-tilt processing inthe fields, significantly reducing erosion, improving moistureretention in the soil and, through the carefully balanced use offertilizer, minimizing or even eliminating utrification, whichcauses algae in water bodies.

Over the past few decades, linoleum has improved technicallyand, as a result, is sure to withstand any competition from a per-formance point of view. Now, with the growing desire across theboard to make the right environmental choice, it is no wonder weare seeing a growing demand for this smooth flooring surface incommercial and office buildings nowadays.

Jacco Vlaar is the national sales manager for Forbo FlooringSystems in Canada. Forbo is a leading producer of flooring sys-tems and adhesives as well as conveyor belt solutions. For moreinformation contact Jacco at [email protected].

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Most, if not all, linoleum produced in the world is made of linseed oilfrom flax plants grown in the Prairies.

Linoleum is allergen-freeand is clinically proven toinhibit the growth ofvarious types of bacterialiving on it, includingMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) bacteria and theClostridium difficilebacteria (better knownas C-diff), which iscausing serious healthissues in a growingnumber of hospitals.

November 6 – 7, 2007Roundup Centre, Calgarywww.designtrendscalgary.com

diamond sponsormedia sponsor supporting associations

Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities still available.

Contact Wolfgang Ortner at 403.241.1088 or [email protected]

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Producers of

> Design Northwest, DesignTrends Edmonton

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Register to attend at

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F


industry focus WALLS & CEILINGS

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTIAL wallcoverings were adopted as“background” décor and supported the objects in a room. Notunlike paint in many ways, the quiet “do not notice me” type ofwall finish prevailed. And did I mention beige was the colour ofchoice? Why beige is as Canadian as maple syrup!

Fast forward to the early years of the new millennium when anew generation of designer emerged, eager and willing to maketheir mark on residential interiors. This new group of creativeprofessionals is keen on experimenting with texture and colour asnever before. Global influences have opened up a whole newspectrum of design combinations that, when married with thechanging demographics and psychographics of colour, generatesquicker turnover in decorating trends.

Tactile design elements add depth and dimension that appealto the emotional desire of every residential interior designer.Newer wallcoverings feature designs with glass beads, Swarovskicrystals, sand effects and hand-moulded plaster carvings.

Made more than 2,000 years ago, glass beads were once consid-ered trade secrets and even used as currency. As a design ele-ment, the tiny, hand-made beads enhance wall decor by absorb-ing and reflecting colour within the variations of the glass itself.

Famous for its crystal sculpture and ornaments, Swarovski hasprovided designers the opportunity to create custom wall decorwith a little bling — just enough to set any room apart.

Sand, when used as a wallcovering for a tone-on-tone texture,

is a stunning feature that transcends all styles of design from tra-ditional to modern.

An extremely sought after feature in the styling of high-endwallcoverings has been environmentally safe and friendly prod-ucts such as fine Arrowroot grass cloth wallpaper and bamboowall décor, both made from renewable resources. The use ofRaffia, woven by artisans from banana and palm leaves, alsohelps support the environment. Some Raffia can be laminatedwith fabric backings, which allows designers to use the weaves onlight upholstery and as wall decoration.

Woven by fifth generation craftsmen using 100 per cent recy-cled paper, Japanese paper weaves are a true art form of walldécor. Professional designers will love the extensive colour rangesand the rich depth of the intercontinental palettes.

Bamboo has the advantage of surrounding rooms in a tropicallandscape as well as being eco-friendly. Innovative designers havefound other decorative uses for bamboo, applying it to ceilings,furniture or cabinetry. A light wipe with lemon oil is all theupkeep needed.

Expanded choices in residential interior wallcoveringsinclude the delicate elegance of hand-pressed leaves. Harvestedfrom silk plants and hand-dried, the leaves are laid randomlyatop fine quality paper to emulate the look of falling leaves.Subtle metallic finishes are also hand-applied for a soft, naturalglistening shimmer.

UNCOVERING WHAT’SNEW FOR WALLSBY DUNCAN CAMPBELL

It Pays To Be Good

Using High Performance Building techniques will increase the market value of a building. By making energy effi ciency a priority, you will lower your building’s operating and maintenance costs. And you’ll gain a real competitive market advantage.

Are you in the planning stages of a new commercial building? Make sure you take advantage of the fi nancial incentives, recognition and resources offered by BC Hydro’s High Performance Building Program. The result will be a building with lower costs for your tenants, and higher profi ts for you. It’s also a good thing for our province,because conservation is the fi rst and best choice for starting to meet B.C.’s growing need for electricity.

Find out more today by calling 604 453-6400 in the Lower Mainland, and 1 866 453-6400 in the rest of the Province.

From now on, being good and being profi table go very well together.



Sophistication reigns supreme in wallcoverings woven fromhemp, a renewable resource harvested in the Hawaiian Islands andthe Philippines. Classic patterns are produced using a Japanesetechnique called shadow printing, which creates a product ofcasual elegance in a large variety of natural and decorative colours.

Natural linens, coloured using environmentally-friendly veg-etable dyes, fine silk Japanese wallcoverings in delicate neutralcreams and flax colours, and rice paper and parchment treat-ments create a Zen-like effect for walls.

Embroidered wallcoverings, inspired by the exquisiteCatherine Palace built in 18th century Russia, add a new dimen-sion in elegant decoration. Sweeping vine motifs and delicate softflorals are meticulously embroidered and expertly laminated atopsilk-like textured backgrounds.

Another favourite decoration handed down from generation togeneration is the authentic gold, silver and copper leaf wallcover-ings crafted using century old techniques. The metallic finishesare applied using chopsticks and then hand-brushed to a specialbacking paper.

Many colour experts are seeking palette combinations that arerealistic and sustainable — colours that have a sense of solidityand permanence but, when combined in new and unexpected

ways, will withstand the variances and morphing of newer trends.Nature plays a large part in the prediction of colour trends and,

in many instances, new shades are often named after influencingenvironmental issues. Colours are becoming more organic and,as a result, there’s an assortment of richer colour combinations.Layered, tone-on-tone colours accented with metallic bronze andburnished dark gold are described as “luxe and luster.”

What else does the future hold in colour trends? Look for theBeijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games to have a large affect oncolours in North America. Global colour and international influ-ences will prevail and excite designers of the next generation.

The world of wallcoverings is constantly expanding and open-ing up new avenues of wonderful décor products. Colour palettesevoke emotions that one can almost taste and touch as well asview. Rooms that once had “quiet” background decor now featurewalls with personalities that reflect the mood and emotion of thepersons living in today’s modern spaces.

Duncan Campbell is director of marketing for Crown Wallpaperand Fabrics, a Canadian company that supplies creative andunique interior decoration. In business for 70 years, Crown hasshowrooms in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. For moreinformation, call 1.800.268.1300.

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IT TYPICALLY SAVES time, money and many headaches todetermine the acoustical needs of a project during the designphase. The wait and see approach to acoustics can be detrimentaland significantly more expensive.

Acoustic materials perform one of two functions. They absorb(or diffuse) sound or block its transmission. Therefore, one mustdetermine whether the goal is to control noise and the acousticalenvironment within a room or reduce the transmission of soundfrom one room to another.

Quite often, both objectives must be met. For example, speechintelligibility (sound absorption) is very important in a boardroom.Equally important is ensuring information shared in a boardroomcannot be heard outside (blocking sound transmission).

The human ear is able to hear sounds from zero to 130 deci-bels (the average pain threshold). The range of hearing for anaverage person is 20 to 20,000 hertz, with the upper rangedecreasing with age, while the frequency range of speech is 125 to8,000 hertz. These figures provide insight into the complexities ofdealing with simple sound control issues.

The frequency of a sound wave is dependent on its length. Thelower or deeper frequency of 125 hertz has a wavelength of ninefeet. Conversely, a higher frequency of 8,000 hertz has a wave-length of 1.75 inches. Lower frequency sounds are more difficultto control because of their longer wavelength (think foghorn).This is why you only hear the thumping of the bass when loudmusic is playing in an adjacent room — the high frequencies maybe blocked.

Be careful when selecting an acoustic control product basedsolely on its noise reduction coefficient (NRC). NRC tests do notinclude values below 250 hertz or above 2,000 hertz. As a result,two materials may have identical NRC ratings but very differenttrue absorption characteristics.

Reflection, the occurrence of sound striking one or more sur-faces before reaching its receiver, is influenced by the shape of thespace as well as surface materials within the space, and it canhave unwanted (or even disastrous) consequences to clarity.Reflective parallel surfaces, such as those found in conferencerooms, boardrooms, school gymnasiums and many classrooms(which are often made into music rooms), lend themselves to aunique acoustical problem called flutter echo. A flutter echooccurs when sound ricochets back and forth between the samespots on parallel surfaces.

Reverberation, the prolongation of a sound in a room, iscaused by continued multiple reflections. In an enclosed space,when a source stops emitting sound, it takes some time for thesound to become audible. The length of the reverberation needsto be addressed to ensure proper acoustics.

The multiple reflections in reverberant (live) spaces build uponthemselves and actually cause the noise level to increase. Themore absorption in a room, the more unwanted reverberant noiselevels will be controlled. However, over-treatment may cause aroom to become flat or “dead” sounding, so a balance must beachieved. A project that has a significant noise source mayrequire several differing noise control procedures.

The effects of reverberation time on a given space are crucialto clarity of music and speech. A reverberation time that is opti-mum for a music program could be detrimental to the intelligi-bility of the spoken word. Conversely, a reverberation time that isexcellent for speech may cause music to sound “dry” and “flat.”The optimum reverberation time is dependent on the use of thespace. The amount of absorption material required will dependon its respective NRC as specified by an acoustical consultant.

There are sound absorption acoustical systems that can beused to reduce the noise level, eliminate unwanted reflections andcontrol a room’s reverberation time (typically measured by theNRC of the material used).

Absorption is a quality in materials that combats unwantedreflections. When sound waves strike a material, part of thesound energy is absorbed (essentially converted to heat energy)and the other part is reflected. All materials absorb a certainamount of sound energy. This amount is expressed in terms of asound absorption coefficient (SRC), which is the percentage ofsound absorbed by a material at a particular frequency. If materi-als have a sound absorption coefficient of 0.90 at 1000 hertz, 90per cent of the sound striking that material is absorbed and only10 per cent is reflected. When multiple reflections in a room arereduced through absorption, the noise level of the room isreduced, with the degree of reduction relative to the amount ofabsorption materials used and its NRC. The NRC equals theaverage SRC (at 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 hertz). Depending on theuse of the room, reflective parallel surfaces may cause flutter echoand this ricocheting of sound as well as other multiple reflections.These must be considered and treated by changing the shape ofthe room and/or by adding absorption. Reducing noise levelwithin a space through the use of absorption material will alsoreduce the noise level available to be transmitted through thewalls, which will help reduce transmission to other spaces.

Lyle Fuller is the owner of GWP Wallworks, a full-service companyspecializing in all types of walls, floor and ceiling finishes, withexpert knowledge in architectural/industrial noise control as well asall types of window coverings, stage draperies and sound absorptiontreatments. 403.255.3550 [email protected]

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ACOUSTICAL SOLUTIONSBY LYLE FULLER

R. Fraser Elliott Hall, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

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TAKE A LOOK above your head. What do you see?Chances are it is a mineral fibre acoustical ceiling panel sus-

pended in a metal grid. That’s because this type of ceiling is stillthe most popular system used in commercial spaces ranging fromoffice buildings to schools to hospitals.

However, there is a revolution going on overhead in terms ofthe increased use of acoustical ceilings other than traditionalmineral fibre. And that’s because of a trend toward more dynamicacoustical ceiling visuals in public spaces, like lobbies and corri-dors, and not so public spaces, such as conference rooms andboardrooms.

Metal CeilingsTwo of today’s more common alternatives to mineral fibre aremetal and wood.

Metal ceiling systems, which combine stylish design with func-tional performance, continue to increase in popularity because oftheir durability, especially in areas where access to the plenum isfrequent.

Another reason is aesthetics. Metal ceilings are available in avariety of finishes that can impart a very high-tech or sophisti-cated look to a space. And, even though it is metal, this type ofceiling can also provide very good acoustical control.

To achieve the acoustic benefits, however, the panels must beperforated. The perforations themselves vary in size depending

on aesthetic appeal, although today it’s possible to have “micro-perforated” panels in which the holes are so small, they are essen-tially invisible. Perforated panels are usually supplied with a fac-tory-supplied, black, sound absorbent acoustical fleece liner.

Wood CeilingsOne of the primary reasons wood ceilings continue to increase inpopularity is their beauty. Wood is often the richest and most ele-gant architectural element within a space. As a result, wood ceil-ings are perceived as very upscale and stylish, even when used inconjunction with a standard suspension system and standardlight fixtures. Wood ceilings also impart a warmer ambiance to aspace.

As in the case of metal, wood ceilings are available in a varietyof finishes and a broad range of standard sizes and edge details inaddition to their custom capabilities. Perforated versions are alsooffered for better acoustical performance compared to a non-per-forated panel.

Some architects and designers believe specialty ceilings, suchas metal and wood, are difficult to work with. However, theyaren’t. They are easily installed in standard grid systems and inte-grate well with standard light fixtures, including high hats.

Acoustical Canopies & CloudsIn another effort to move away from the traditional, there has

THE EMERGENCE OF ADYNAMIC DESIGN ELEMENTMetal, wood and free-floating ceilings are causing many to look up. BY JOANN DAVIS BRAYMAN

PHOTOS COURTESY ARMSTRONG CEILING SYSTEMS


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been an increased use of “free-floating” ceilings. As part of thistrend, acoustical canopies and clouds are becoming popularbecause of the unique look they offer and their ability to accentu-ate an area.

Acoustical canopies are small in size (usually about 48 inchesby 72 inches) and help reduce reverberation noise in the spacebelow them. Their ability to combine a pleasing visual withsound absorbing properties that provide spot acoustics makethem ideal for use in open plenum or exposed structure areas aswell as over spaces, such as work stations and reception desks.And the use of multiple canopies improves acoustics even more.

Aesthetically, the smooth surfaced, curved canopies offer avery visually pleasing acoustical treatment, especially in high pro-file areas.

Acoustical clouds are much different in size and look comparedto acoustical canopies. In terms of shape, for example, cloud sys-tems are available in squares and rectangles as well as circles, ovalsand a number of other geometric shapes. Visually, acousticalclouds are generally larger and flat, while canopies are curved.

Acoustical cloud systems typically consist of pre-cut ceilingpanels with factory-finished corners. A separate kit containing allthe pre-cut suspension system and trim components is requiredto create the cloud. The pre-engineered elements help eliminatemany of the risks of a custom installation. The choice of ceilingpanel options in the system includes mineral fibre, fibreglass andperforated metal panels.

Acoustical clouds can actually provide more sound absorptionthan a continuous ceiling of the same surface area because sound

is absorbed on both the front and back of the cloud. In fact, themore “live” the space, the greater the effect on reverberation fromthe addition of the clouds.

Acoustical clouds are quick and easy to install and can beadjusted to the desired hanging height and angle. They can beinstalled under a drywall ceiling, to the deck of an exposed struc-ture or under an existing suspended ceiling. They can also beinstalled as individual units or grouped together.

Custom InstallationThe emergence of specialty ceiling systems like those describedabove has resulted in the need for much more collaborationbetween the architect, building owner and ceiling manufacturer,especially in the case of custom installations.

To help meet this need, some manufacturers now offer consul-tative design services comprised of specialists with expertise inboth architecture and engineering, whose sole purpose is to part-ner with designers in the implementation of signature ceilingsand provide complete project management for the ceiling systemfrom concept to completion.

So, if you’re thinking about what to do with the ceiling, it’stime to break out of the traditional ceiling mould and discoverthe enormous opportunity that’s overhead. You’ll be surprisedhow easily you can change the entire look and feel of a space bysimply changing the ceiling.

Joann Davis Brayman is vice-president of marketing, commer-cial ceiling systems, for Armstrong World Industries, the world’slargest manufacturer of acoustical ceiling systems.

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2007 AIBC Awards of Excellence

2007 AIBC AWARDS

Winnipeg Library AdditionArchitectural Firm: Patkau Architects/LMArchitectural GroupLead Design Architects: John Patkau, PatriciaPatkau, Peter Suter, Samantha HayesClient: City of WinnipegGeneral Contractor: Man-Shield Construction Inc.Structural Engineer: Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd.Mechanical Engineer: SMS Engineering Ltd.Electrical Engineer: MCW/AGE ConsultingProfessional EngineersLandscape Architect: Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram

Originally constructed in the 1970s, the main branchof the Winnipeg public library underwent a $20-mil-lion redevelopment. Completed in 2005, theMillennium Library, previously known as theCentennial Library, is now a contemporary, state-of-the-art facility with approximately 45,000 square feetof additional space and 115,000 square feet of reno-vated space. The project features an additionalfourth floor, the creation of new social spaces and aninnovative, multi-level reading terrace with a four-storey high, passive solar glass wall that faces ontothe adjacent park and city streets. Other changesinclude reorganization and expansion of the librarycollections, reconfiguration of the circulation sys-tems, panoramic glass elevators, integrated staircaseand the creation of an outdoor reading garden. Anenlarged two-storey lobby allows for street-levelentrance to the library and skywalk access. The reju-venated library is a true “signature statement” for theCity of Winnipeg.

Nk’Mip Desert Cultural CentreArchitectural Firm: Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Lead Design Architect: Bruce HadenClient: Osoyoos Indian BandGeneral Contractor: Greyback Construction Structural Engineer: Equilibrium Consulting Inc.Mechanical Engineer: Cobalt EngineeringElectrical Engineer: MCL EngineeringLandscape Architect: Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg

The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre is the first of sev-eral new Aboriginal cultural tourism attractions toopen in B.C. in the lead up to the 2010 Olympic WinterGames. Located in the South Okanagan, the culturalcentre is the anchoring component in the OsoyoosIndian Band’s ongoing development of its 200-acre,all-season Nk’Mip resort. The new $9-million centreis an architectural marvel that merges functionalitywith environmental consciousness. The use oforganic building materials, including a green roof andthe largest rammed earth wall in North America,make it a natural extension of the surrounding envi-ronment. Other sustainable features include low-flowfaucets, dual flush toilets, an in-slab radiant coolingand heating system with 100 per cent outdoor air dis-placement ventilation and the use of blue-stainedmountain pine beetle wood. Inside the partially sub-merged structure is a multimedia theatre, rattlesnakeresearch facilities and interactive exhibits whichextend outdoors. Complementing these attractions isa network of self-guided walking trails through theGreat Basin Desert, the only one of its kind inCanada.

Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. Medals of Excellence

Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre

Aberdeen Centre

PHOTO COURTESY NIC LEHOUX

PHOTO COURTESY JAMES DOW

Winnipeg Centennial Library


Aberdeen CentreArchitectural Firm: Bing Thom ArchitectsLead Design Architect: Bing ThomClient: Fairchild Developments Ltd.General Contractor: Dominion Construction Co.Structural Engineer: Bush, Bohlman & PartnersMechanical Engineer: Keen Engineering Co. Ltd.Electrical Engineer: RA Duff & Associates Inc.Landscape Architect: Fred Liu & Associates

Located in Richmond, B.C., the new state-of-the-artAberdeen Centre is three times the size of the origi-nal shopping mall, encompassing six acres. Theambitious architectural redevelopment features anundulating 420-foot multi-coloured luminous glasswall that wraps around the east side of the buildingand flows with the curvature of the street. Inside the380,000-square-foot structure — designed to estab-lish a new standard for the suburban Asian mall inCanada — the large domed ceilings accentuate thebuilding’s grandeur. At the heart of the three-storeycomplex is a central court. Surrounded by terracedwalkways, the “theatrical space” and its focal pointfountain can be converted to a stage for specialevents. Illuminated with natural light from the exten-sive exterior glazing and a series of oval skylights,the development acts as a large glass sculpture; pro-jecting the animated activities within the Centre out-side and the ever-changing movement of the streetsand weather indoors.

Killarney Community PoolArchitectural Firm: Hughes Condon MarlerArchitectsLead Design Architect: Roger HughesClient: Vancouver Board of Parks & RecreationGeneral Contractor: Smith Brothers WilsonStructural Engineer: C.Y. Loh AssociatesMechanical/Electrical Engineer: Keen EngineeringLandscape Architect: Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg

Replacing the original swimming pool at the KillarneyCommunity Centre, the new 31,000-square-footKillarney Community Pool is the first indoor publicpool built in Vancouver in 25 years. It is also the firstpool to be completely replaced under the City’saquatic services long range plan. Completed inJanuary 2006, the ozone-treated pool is organizedaround two long rectangular plan elements — thechange room entry lobby area and an expansivenatatorium, which includes a six-lane 25 metre lappool, a 15 metre warm lap pool, hot pool, steamrooms, a three metre diving platform, water slide andlazy river feature. The corridor to the universalchange rooms is located parallel to the communitycentre entry walkway and is glazed to allow viewsinto the pool area. Sited in the same location as theoriginal pool, the north side of the newly expanded,$11-million aquatic facility is dominated by a stunning6,000-square-foot glass wall with coloured panels,giving the building a sculptural look.

LeBlanc HouseArchitectural Firm: Peter Cardew ArchitectsLead Design Architect: Peter CardewClient: Jean Claude LeblancContractors: John Mason & Associates, PeterMontgomery, Highliner ConstructionStructural Engineer: Rob Smith

Although the most ubiquitous form of single-familydwelling in North America since the end of theSecond World War, the split-level has neverachieved the iconic status that would encourageadaptation over demolition. This project is the prod-uct of the client and design firm’s shared belief thatthere is value to mid-century suburban housing, andthe cultural investment in retaining these strucuresis more important than the economic advantages oftheir removal. The client desired to improve theexisting house whereby the architecture wouldincrease the spatial and material quality in a man-ner respectful of the house and its context. Thearchitect retained the original structure, replacedexisting materials and systems with those of greaterdurability and reflectivity to increase the level andquality of natural light deep within the house, andreconfigured the floor plan to allow for overlappingfunctions common to contemporary living. Theadaptation of this split-level not only retains archi-tectural evidence of the most significant residentialbuilding boom in Canadian history, it also shows thatthis existing building stock can be adapted to sat-isfy, without compromise, the requirements of mod-ern living.

Mole Hill Housing ProjectArchitectural Firm: Hotson Bakker BonifaceHaden/S.R. McEwan Associated ArchitectsLead Design Architects: Norm Hotson, Sean McEwenClients: Mole Hill Community Housing Society, B.C.Housing, City of VancouverGeneral Contractor: Kindred Construction Ltd.Structural Engineer: C.A. Boom Engineering Ltd.Mechanical Engineer: Versacon Consultants Inc.,Alexander Boome Consulting Engineering Ltd.Electrical Engineer: Mahanti Chu Engineering Ltd.Landscape Architect: Durante Kreuk Ltd. LandscapeArchitects

Located on the edge of Vancouver’s West End, MoleHill is the oldest intact neighbourhood in the city.Originally slated for demolition to make way for high-rise condominiums, 27 of the heritage homes werefully restored as part of a publicly funded non-profithousing project. The $27-million redevelopmentincluded preserving the City-owned homes whileincorporating new technologies, such as geothermalheating, and sustainable principles. An alleywaybehind the houses was reconfigured to re-create theoriginal period character. Shared facilities, such asworkshops and laundries, were incorporated into thedesign as well as community gardens. Built in thelate 1800s and early 1900s, these old-world Victorianand Edwardian homes now provide 170 rental unitsfor low-income singles, families, seniors and long-times residents of the block. The project has beencited as a precedent for future community initiativesin B.C. and nationally.

Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. Certificates of Merit

Special Jury Awards

PHOTO COURTESY NIC LEHOUX & MARTIN TESSLER

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Killarney Community Pool

LeBlanc House

Mole Hill Housing Project


Architects in B.C.

CITIES ARE IN a state of upheaval and rampant growth, espe-cially around the Pacific Rim. The process of urbanization isaccelerating at an unprecedented rate. Globalization has de-ter-ritorialized our existence beyond regional and national bound-aries. Emergent technologies, mass customization and innova-tion in material science have already profoundly changed manyfields and soon will revolutionize building construction as weknow it today.

While global warming and significant migration is adding to thecomplexity we are confronted with, this complexity should beregarded as a dynamic resource for unforeseen and emergentopportunities and not as a threat to our agreed standards. Thisresource may not only help address some pressing questions butmay turn innovation, knowledge and leadership into a businessadvantage in the global marketplace.

The question of sustainability today should not be limited todamage control or an idea where applied systems increase theefficiency of building performance. Certainly, innovations such asgeothermal heating and cooling systems are fantastic contribu-tions that will hopefully become as common as a catalytic con-verter. The argument here is to find solutions at the root cause toprevent damage in the first place and use the idea of substantialurban densification as a possibility for the qualitative improve-ment of urban life.

This year, mankind will become primarily an urban species withmore than 50 per cent of the world population living in cities.While Canada already has one of the highest urbanization rates inthe world — 80.1 per cent compared to the U.S. (80.8 per cent),China (40.4 per cent), Asia (37.1 per cent) and Europe (72.2 percent) — its cities follow the same model as most North Americancities, distributing this urban population in a pattern of vastsprawl with fairly low density.

Upon analyzing current data published by the United Nationspopulation division, it’s apparent that cities everywhere will con-tinue to grow even when overall populations decline, such as inEurope. In fact, some cities will grow at staggering proportions.

Between now and 2030, Canada will need to accommodateapproximately 300,000 new urban dwellers every year. In theU.S., city space and infrastructure will be needed for an additional3 million per year. In China, this number will balloon to approxi-mately 14 million ever year (48 million a year in Asia).

With the world urban population expected to grow from 3 bil-lion to more than 6 billion by 2050, urban densification is not onlya potentially desirable option but an unavoidable necessity. Thismeans the need to find broad and far reaching strategies for sus-tainable architecture and urban models is simply an imperative.

While the population of the City of Vancouver has grown 41 percent over the last 30 years, the Greater Vancouver RegionalDistrict (GVRD) has grown more than 225 per cent. As a result,commuting distances between home and work have grown sub-stantially. The disadvantage of sprawl is not only an environmen-tal problem but also the inaccessibility of important urban ameni-ties. The separation of the larger urban fabric intomono-functional territories presents a significant limitation forengagement with the city.

Alternative models have existed for a long time. In 1859,Ildefons Cerda, a Catalan urban planner, drew a new master planfor Eixample, a high density neighbourhood for 250,000 house-holds in Barcelona. At 35,000 people per square kilometre, it isone of the densest albeit most liveable neighbourhoods in theworld. Six to eight storeys of housing rest on a solid podium ofcommercial and industrial space, interwoven by parks and publicamenities.

The City of Barcelona conducted studies with regards to mini-mum density, motivated by the fact that the much laudedOlympic Village was a substantial commercial failure. It wasfound that a density of less than 50 dwellings per hectare or12,000 people per square kilometre generates insufficient urbanlife for consistent amenities. Sustainable urban vitality seems tobe best accomplished at approximately 100 dwellings per hectareor 20,000-25000 inhabitants per square kilometre.

In comparison, the City of Vancouver currently has 11,100inhabitants per square kilometre in the central core and 4,500inhabitants per square kilometre outside the central area, whileCalgary has approximately 1,400 inhabitants per square kilome-tre. Within its 720 square kilometres, Calgary could accommo-date 25 million using the Eixample density or reduce its footprintto one-twenty fifth of its current size. While the Barcelona modelis certainly not without its flaws, it helps illustrate that higherdensity can catalyze entrepreneurial activities and cultural andsocial inventiveness.

However, excellent sustainable design needs to make its owncase and convince people they will gain more than they will giveup and leave behind. Intelligent urban densification will try to dothat. Bringing people back into the city means giving them backthe time they would otherwise lose commuting, providing hous-ing that offers true livability with substantial outdoor areas, flexi-bility and choice for live and live/work styles and understandingarchitecture as an integral part of making the contemporary city.

But it seems that successful urban densification also needs adevelopment process away from fixed projections of the future,in which developers, contractors and consultants have potentiallyseparate and conflicting positions for the development of cities.Instead, a model-based system of collaboration and front enddesign management can develop a project dependent syntax.From the beginning, design management addresses issues, suchas sustainability (urban, cultural, technological, material andenergy), community consultation (how the heterogeneity of thepublic is reconciled), approval processes with municipalities (howthe intentions and not the technicalities of bylaws are met —accelerating direct control bylaws and/or comprehensive zoningdistricts), defining project targets and opportunities with all stake-holders, building intelligent platforms for choice and mass cus-tomization and making the construction industry part of the teamand leveraging their experience.

Oliver Lang is a registered architect in B.C., New York and Germany and is thefounding principal of Lang Wilson Practice in Architecture Culture (LWPAC). Hehas practiced architecture for more than 20 years in Germany, Spain, China, theU.S. and, since 1999, in BC.

DQ

Intelligent Urban DensificationTHE NEED FOR A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF SUSTAINABILITY IN ITS ARCHITECTURAL, URBANAND, THEREFORE, CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS. BY OLIVER LANG


The ambition for Roar_One, a development of double storeystacked homes in Point Grey, was to substantially enhance liv-ability, flexibility and sustainability. Each of the 10 units wasconceived as a “sky-house.” Porosity was accomplishedthrough strategic slots that run front to back through the build-ing. Interestingly, the patio slots allowed for a re-organizationof unit layouts. The concept allows for livability through largelyincreased daylight, cross ventilation and seamless indoor-out-door continuity, while virtually eliminating any artificial lightingduring the day and need for cooling despite the large south

facing window walls. Privacy issues were addressed whilemaintaining transparency. Social and cultural vitality isensured through multi-programming, diversity of units andlive/work scenarios. Construction methodologies wereinvented that can be executed without compromises in quali-ties but at low cost. Designed and executed by Lang WilsonPractice in Architecture Culture (LWPAC) in association withHotson Bakker Boniface Haden, Roar_One was recognizedwith a 2006 AIBC Lieutenant-Governors Medal Award ofExcellence as well as an Innovation Award.


IDIBC

FAR AND BEYOND is now near and close. The traditional “local”marketplace, where we used to sow our seeds and reap the har-vests — usually in our hometown, province or country of resi-dence — has expanded to include the “world.”

Yes, the world is now our local market. And just as technologycrosses geographical, geopolitical and cultural boundaries, so toodoes today’s modern design business. Enabled by ever-effectivetools, such as web and video-conferencing, mobile technologyand more efficient air travel, the opportunities presented in thissmaller, closer world are open for all to explore. Even competitionhas gone global as firms from different countries bid for projectsacross continents. The market is looking for expertise as well asshared knowledge and resources in an attempt to create efficien-cies, increase revenues and drive down costs.

By the same token, companies have been forced to move out-side their markets in an effort to insulate themselves fromregional, geopolitical and economic downturns.

Today’s modern design firm is no different. While some firmsremain decidedly ad hoc, others have chosen — often basedupon the specific skills and interests of company leaders — tospecialize in particular areas.

Specialization can have both positive and negative outcomes.On the upside, clients come to recognize the leaders of particularindustry designs and, thus, turn to those firms first. On thedownside, perhaps, is those same design firms become toofocused on one sector, thereby missing out on opportunities thatcomplement the companies’ combined talents, while providingfurther growth.

It seems fair to speculate that specialization is a big decisionthat develops as a business matures.

As you discover and develop your firm’s specialized product andservices, there is value in creating a corporate identity and person-ality — a brand — to further distinguish your business. Your brandmust shine through every aspect of your business — from howyour telephone is answered and how your interactive voiceresponse (IVR) invites participation to demonstrating an under-standing of your clients’ businesses. If you can effectively commu-nicate your brand attributes and there is strength and substanceto your brand, chances are clients will want to work with you.

Your brand must also talk to your ability to “deliver goods” thatexceed clients’ expectations. This becomes especially importantwhen working within the constraints of different time zones andcultural norms.

Once you have identified your brand, you must create and buildawareness among your target audience as to what it is yourbrand delivers and why it is unique. This is where you can lever-age your experience within different categories. Typically, this canbe accomplished through proposals, websites, print materials,media interviews, advertising, presentations, conversation and, ofcourse, reputation.

Those companies that entered the international game early,embracing whatever technology tools they could muster, are nowestablished as global players. However, the world is now so smallthat even the little guy can establish an international practice.

So, you know the world is small and there is lots of opportu-nity. You have decided to specialize and you have a unique brand.What next?

Well, it is always a good idea to remain abreast of global activ-ity in whatever industry it is you are interested. Simply knowingwhat is happening in your own backyard will not suffice. Youshould read up on the cultures of the countries in which youwould like to work. To compete effectively, you need to be confi-dent your offering is unique from the clients’ own market.

For example, in regions where there is a large working popula-tion, such as Asia, the construction industry works 24/7 and canreplace a small restaurant with a large highrise within a veryshort time frame. This means every aspect of the project isscheduled to a very tight timeline and, as the design firm, youare expected to have the resources and be able to put in theextra time necessary to meet the deadlines. This is an areawhere technology can really help, since there are no sleep times.An e-mail can be sent from North America at 5 p.m. and, withluck, a response is sitting in your inbox early next morning.

For international projects, as with those closer to home, it is alsovery important you form strategic partnerships with firms thatshare your brand attributes and that recognize and value the impor-tance of successful project execution. These partnerships cannotbe established via technology. You have to meet and interviewprospective project partners and be sure the fit is right before pro-ceeding. After all, it is your reputation that is on the line. In future,technology will help us reduce our carbon footprints further, mini-mizing our need for such frequent travel. It follows, then, that con-siderable importance must be given to establishing local workingrelationships that are sustainable.

Across the globe, there is a constant: A need to find solutionsto business questions through a regimented process, one thatconsiders economics and time parameters. What never ceases tointrigue me is that in the delivery of international projects, it doesnot matter where in the world you work; the process and clientconcerns remain the same. Designer skill sets are geographicallytransferable.

Exciting opportunities are everywhere and they will continue togrow. Learn through your eyes, ears and open your mind. Yourpossibilities are without limit.

Jon Sunderland is partner and CEO of the SmartDesign Group, an international designfirm that specializes in the design of revenue generating facilities for the transporta-tion, hospitality, retail, sports and entertainment industries. The company’s head officeis in Vancouver, B.C.

DQ

Finding Opportunities In TheGlobal Village... And MakingThem HappenBY JON SUNDERLAND

Wembley Stadium

Market Food Court, Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport

Calgary-Based ArchitectGoes GlobalPoon McKenzie Architects is now a part ofthe Ingenium Group of companies, aninternational employee-owned, multi-national consulting and development com-pany headquartered in Toronto.

While Poon McKenzie will continue tooperate with the same focus and underthe same name, the firm will now be sup-ported by an expanded family of relatedcompanies.

Ingenium’s origins link back to the amal-gamation of the Giffels and NORR entitiesa decade ago. The Ingenium Group iscomprised of three primary operating divi-sions — consulting services, whichincludes architecture and several engineer-ing disciplines operating within six majorbusiness units, design-build and assetmanagement.

Some local Calgary Ingenium andPMA's shared projects to date haveincluded the Exchange, Highbury Towers,OPUS Campus Heritage Station andCambrian Professional Centre.

Celebrating 150 YearsThe American Institute of Architects is cel-ebrating its 150th anniversary this yearwith the release of the 11th edition ofArchitectural Graphic Standards. This com-memorative 75th anniversary edition fea-tures more than 8,000 illustrations, refer-ence drawings and constuctiblearchitectural details.

Thoroughly reviewed and edited by hun-dreds of building science experts andexperienced architects from the AmericanInstitute of Architects, the expanded con-tent includes: new structural technologies,building systems and materials; expandedand integrated coverage on inclusive, uni-versal and accessible design strategies;and a focus on environmentally sensitiveand sustainable design including greenmaterials and Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design standards.

Hockey’s Flames CenterOf New RestaurantWhile the playoffs are over, hockey fanscontinue to flock to Calgary’s new state-of-the-art, upscale sports club. Located inthe old Palace Theatre in the heart ofdowntown Calgary, Flames Central andWildfire Grill is a 25,000-square-foot hybridrestaurant, bar and entertainment facility,which opened its doors in April.

Capable of hosting live concerts, specialevents, corporate meetings and confer-ences, the three-floor multi-function venueis a joint venture between the CalgaryFlames hockey club and the Concorde

Entertainment Group, the company behindThe Whiskey, ei8ht Restaurant and MyntUltralounge in Calgary.

Interior design features include brightred walls, 150 LCD flat-screen televisions,original NHL memorabilia, customizedCalgary Flames’ emblem light fixtures anda bar made entirely of hockey pucks.

This is the first time a pro hockey teamhas been directly affiliated with this typeof establishment.

Kasian Expands RosterOne of Canada’s largest architecture anddesign firms has expanded its roster ofassociates. To support significant growth,Kasian Architecture Interior Design andPlanning has named five of 12 new associ-ates to its Western offices.

With 25 years of professional interiordesign experience, Ricky Gruetz hasjoined Kasian’s Vancouver office along with


Design Headlines

A Leading Residential DevelopmentConstruction is underway on Vista Place in North Vancouver, one of the first LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver residential buildings inCanada. Designed by Ramsay Worden Architects Ltd., Vista Place is comprised oftwo residential towers as well as a connecting two-storey podium level, totaling284 units.

To attain LEED silver certification, many eco-innovations have been incorporatedinto the project, including water-efficiency systems that reduce water use by 30per cent, a green roof system that captures storm water and reduces heat, insu-late “Smart Glass” windows and heat and hot water systems that are 30 per centmore energy-efficient. Other sustainable features include interior finishes that uselow-emission paints, adhesives and carpets.

During construction, materials with high-recycled content will be used to limit theuse of natural resources and reduce waste. Aimed at reducing waste by more than75 per cent, an onsite recycling plan is also being implemented.

Upon completion, residents at Vista Place will also have access to a shared high-efficiency hybrid vehicle.

project manager Saniye Karacabeyli, whohas been practicing architecture in Canadafor 20 years.

New additions to Kasian’s Calgary officeinclude interior designer Tina Mitchell,known for her customer service focus,architect Pablo Escabillas who has morethan 30 years of experience in Canada andthe Philippines, and contract administratorGerald Garvin who is skilled in the designand preparation of construction docu-ments for all types of projects.

Brenda Lee, Charles Lau, JanineGrossman, Mark Pitman and JamesMansfield were named to the Torontooffice, and Noorali Hakamali and PeterStreith joined the Kitchener-Waterloooffice in southwestern Ontario.

Excitement Abounds atDesign Vancouver ExpoDesign Vancouver once again proved thereis a market for unique, high-end interiordesign products and services on the WestCoast. More than 17,000 attendees weretreated to a plethora of new innovations aswell as eye-catching and thought-provokingexhibits at the third annual interior designand urban living expo, which took placeMay 4 – 6 at the Vancouver Conventionand Exhibition Centre.

Geared to design professionals and con-sumers looking for unique and high qualitysolutions not found in the average homestore, this year’s theme was StoriesBehind Design.

Highlights of the three-day consumer-industry hybrid expo included the Valcucinerecycled and recyclable kitchen, the bluewood design competition featuring custommountain pine beetle designs, Vancouver-based Smallworks’ custom-built lanewaystudio, and Brent Comber’s bird’s nestsculpture which he wove out of windblowndebris from Stanley Park.

Five-Star RenovationOne of Vancouver’s finest restaurants hasreceived a facelift. The 75-seat Five SailsRestaurant with private dining roomlocated at the triple-A five diamond PanPacific Vancouver recently re-opened afterbeing closed for renovations.

Redesigned by Situ Design, the newcontemporary interior décor rivals thebreathtaking water and mountain viewsthat have made the restaurant so popularwith visitors and residents alike.

The new owner-operators of the FiveSails, executive chef Ernst Dorfler andcatering director Gerry Sayers, embarkedon the approximately five-week renovationin March, shortly after acquiring the award-winning establishment.

This is the first time in more than 21years the restaurant’s changed hands,

albeit familiar ones. The husband and wifeculinary team, who met while working atthe landmark hotel, left their jobs to moveacross the lobby to the restaurant.

According to Pan Pacific Vancouver gen-eral manager, Steve Halliday, the new FiveSails reflects a growing trend amongmajor hotels to feature independentrestaurants.

AIBC Adds To Its RanksThe Architectural Institute of BritishColumbia (AIBC) inducted 79 new archi-tects into its ranks at its annual inductionand retirement ceremony April 28, held atthe four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver.

Of the 79 newly registered architects,19 are foreign trained. Registering throughalternative qualifications, the 19 bringdesign excellence to the province whilehelping to fulfill the growing demand forarchitectural services.

The AIBC, a self-governing body dedi-cated to excellence in the profession ofarchitecture for the benefit of its member-ship, society and the environment, hasensured foreign trained professionals areable to register as architects through inno-vations in the registration process andnew interpretations of the Architects Act.

To become a registered architect in B.C.,members must possess a graduatedegree from a recognized school of archi-tecture, complete 5,600 hours of experi-ence requirements, write seven interna-tionally administered exams, completeAIBC professional courses and pass anoral review before a panel of architects.

Architects from other jurisdictions arealso able to practice in B.C. provided theymeet all professional requirements.


Design Headlines

2nd Century Rug Co. ..........................................................IBC

Arborite...................................................................................15

Baer / Wide Plank Hardwood.............................................50

Barclay Sales ........................................................................49

BC Hydro ................................................................................59

Beaulieu Carpets ..................................................................51

Blooms Ventures...................................................................50

Bradlee ...................................................................................19

Buckwold Western...............................................................53

Canadian Wood Council ......................................................44

Coast Wholesale Appliances .............................................21

Commercial Electronics ......................................................38

Design Quarterly.............................................................13, 27

DesignTrends Calgary..........................................................57

Edmonds Appliance .............................................................23

Fontile .....................................................................................29

Forbo .......................................................................................55

Grotto Design ........................................................................15

Livingspace............................................................................37

Masonite ..................................................................................7

Mayhew’s Wholesale...........................................................28

Northwest Stoves .................................................................25

Odyssey Wallcoverings ...................................................OBC

Pacific Granite / Leeza Distribution...................................16

Pella ........................................................................................24

Satin Finish...........................................................................IFC

Sharp’s Audio Visual ............................................................41

Silent Gliss Canada ..............................................................36

Smart Flooring .......................................................................52

Sound Plus ...............................................................................4

Sound-Rite Acoustics ..........................................................63

Sunburst Closets...................................................................39

Teak Direct.............................................................................32

Teknion ...................................................................................35

Van Goh Designs...................................................................31

Vinyltek Windows...................................................................5

Whittaker Designs / Birchwwod Furniture ......................33

World Mosaic..........................................................................9

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