Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
Shirley Blumberg
Founding Partner, KPMB Architects
Sam Oboh
Adjunct Director, AIA International
Ryan Gorrie
Senior Associate and Lead, Indigenous Design Studio, Brook McIlroy’s
Daniel Pearl
Professor, Université de Montréal
5 Key
Takeaways
A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation
Coming soon
Full Panel
Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. Manual editing was undertaken in an effort to improve readability and clarity. Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.
Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript
Note to reader: Chat comments have been edited for ease of readability. The text has not been edited for spelling or grammar. For questions or concerns, please contact events@canurb.org with “Chat Comments” in the subject lin
From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk
12:01:50 From Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome! Folks, please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:02:27 From Abby S: Abby from Toronto saying hello
12:02:35 From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our sessions at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:03:25 From Darryl Gaston to All panelists: Greetings from Charlotte,North Carolina,USA
12:03:42 From Canadian Urban Institute: Attendees: let us know where you’re logging in from!
12:04:09 From Monica Belliveau: Hello from Ottawa!
12:04:11 From Negin Minaei: Good afternoon from Toronto
12:04:18 From Canadian Urban Institute: To support CityTalk and the Canadian Urban Institute’s other city building initiatives, please donate at www.canurb.org/donate .
12:04:22 From Stuart Filson to All panelists: Hello from London!
12:04:37 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: Port Albert on Ontario’s West Coast
12:04:52 From Lisa Landrum: Hello from Winnipeg!
12:04:56 From Toby Greenbaum: Hello from sunny Ottawa!
12:04:59 From Alixa Lacerna to All panelists: Peace and love from Winnipeg!
12:05:14 From Suzy Godefroy to All panelists: Hello from Downtown Brampton!
12:05:17 From David Ejeh: Hello from Nigeria
12:05:34 From Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going! #citytalk @canurb
12:05:44 From John Stephenson to All panelists: hello from Thunder Bay
12:05:56 From Irena Nikolova: Great topics of discussion, keep th conversation going a,
12:06:01 From Canadian Urban Institute: https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/
12:06:10 From Bernard Bigras to All panelists: Bonjour from l’Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec.
12:06:29 From Heather Smith to All panelists: In Toronto too but happy to see Daniel Pearl who I remember well from my time in Montreal and McGill.
12:06:35 From Canadian Urban Institute:
Shirley Blumberg, KPMB
linkedin.com/in/shirley-blumberg-531568a
@bt_shirley
Ryan Gorrie, Brook McIlroy
Ryan Gorrie
Sam Oboh, Ensight+ Architecture
linkedin.com/in/sam-oboh-faia-ba70872
@SparkleSamOboh
Daniel Pearl, L’Oeuf Architects
linkedin.com/in/pearl-daniel-833b891a
https://www.instagram.com/loeuf.architectes/?hl=fr-ca
12:08:26 From Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding attendees to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:14:21 From Abby S: I love the ambition to go beyond net zero
12:17:06 From Abby S: Dontcha just love zoom?
12:17:49 From Susan Chin: Architects as designers and leaders!
12:19:02 From Negin Minaei: They just need to pay more attention to the urban ecology and people so their designs are nicely context-related.
12:19:37 From Andrew Mills: KPMB We’re going to need you back for our new Central Library building in Saskatoon! Love the proposed design of the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia!
12:21:00 From Hanaa Ali: Interested to know more about the balance between architectural INNOVATION/HEALTH/COST when it comes to affordable housing solutions that can engage developers and produce the needed amount of units
12:23:08 From Yakubu Aminu Dodo to All panelists: Good day all
12:23:57 From Abby S: Your food festival in winter….
12:23:59 From Toby Greenbaum: Don’t forget the Ballet
12:24:06 From Yakubu Aminu Dodo to All panelists: Yakubu Aminu Dodo from Istanbul Gelisim University, Turkey
12:24:31 From Canadian Urban Institute: We love your comments and questions in the chat! Share them with everyone by changing your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees”. Thanks!
12:24:34 From Hanaa Ali: Spot on RYAN!
12:27:47 From Yakubu Aminu Dodo: Goodday all Yakubu Aminu Dodo from Istanbul Gelisim University, Turkey
12:28:04 From Abby S: Covid-19 may be temporary, but science seems to be indicating that more pandemics will emerge. Some of our behaviour is going to change permanently I suspect…
12:28:16 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: Agreed Ryan!
12:28:59 From Hanaa Ali: When one thinks about the unregulated residential schools, the architecture and practices that lead to a significantly high death rate of children of over 30% according to Dr. Bryce’s report.
12:29:25 From David Ejeh: Though the COVID19 pandemic was and still has a Global impact, I am of the opinion that our different Cultures, more than ever, would provide unique interpretations and solutions to the challenges of urban design. Put differently, our culture is key in developing solutions to urban design challenges poised by COVID19.
12:29:27 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: How do we keep the personal connection and build community concensus when we are all isolated particulary on projects
12:29:42 From Rick Merrill: I would be interested in knowing how the fact that staff is working from home, eliminating the important aspect of discussion and testing in an architectural office.
12:29:58 From Abby S: @Hanaa Even our own schools today were not built addressing physical space in ways that are safe during pandemics.
12:30:26 From Susan Chin: How do we change our mindset and culture becauspermanently changed through the adaptation to disease and how does architecture
12:30:29 From Canadian Urban Institute to Michaela Jones and all panelists: Hi, Michaela! Great question – share it with everyone by changing your settings to all panelists and attendees. Thanks!
12:30:37 From Gil Katz to All panelists: When should we expect office buildings to become vertical gardens?:)
12:30:53 From Abby S: @susan 👍🏻
12:30:55 From Toby Greenbaum: Architects may be relevant, but architects remain invisible.
12:31:09 From Canadian Urban Institute to Gil Katz and all panelists: Thanks, Gil! Can you send that again to all panelists and attendees so everyone can see and discuss? Thanks!
12:31:14 From Hanaa Ali: @Abby yes. Much to be done to address enclosed public spaces, schools, stations etc
12:32:07 From Gil Katz to All panelists: With vertical gardens they can sell the vegetables – just a business model change:)
12:32:17 From Abby S: Do you need to bring the engineers into the discussion?
12:32:19 From Susan Chin: How do we change our mindset as designers that we’ll return to “normal” to use this time to address cross cutting issues of equity and environment?
12:33:04 From Irena Nikolova: I would be interested in finding out how architects will contribute to the growth of virtual offices. We will be working in virtual reality for another year, two or more. Some companies have moved to online work indefinitely.
12:33:04 From Gil Katz: When should we expect office buildings to become vertical gardens? With vertical gardens they can sell the vegetables – just a business model change:)
12:33:39 From Negin Minaei: I’ve seen many twitter and Instagram accounts from cities and companies that had design competitions for architectural solutions and some of them have been published actually. But it was couple of months ago based on the data that was available back then so most of the design solutions did not consider the covid19 as an airborn transmitting disease, they only thought about touchless designs and physical distancing.
12:33:52 From James Wood: Do architect associations have public outreach committees?
12:33:58 From Irena Nikolova: I would prefer mor gardens on the ground, where they really belong.
12:34:00 From Lorne Cutler to All panelists: Given that all governments are going into great and that there are limits to debt capacity, how do you see the balance between design and functionality on institutional buildings when better design can often cost more.
12:34:20 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: Question for Ryan – how is your practice of architecture informed by different ways of knowing? vs traditional architecture which looks to precedents
12:34:22 From Lorne cappe: I would like to hear how architects are working directly with residents of the city on architecture and urban design during the time of Covid
12:34:53 From Lisa Landrum: Yes! The “archi” of the architect embodies leadership.
12:35:32 From Suzy Godefroy to All panelists: What about more gardens in our downtown cores? Unfortunately I have to sign-off to go to another meeting – enjoyed todays talk! TY everyone and have a great day!
12:36:19 From Gil Katz: Looks like a lot of heritage buildings are being renovated these days. Is there a warehouse somewhere where all of the antennas that used be on them in the 1800s are stored? Are they being brought back slowly?
12:36:22 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: How can architects make space to listen to others vs ego driven?
12:36:28 From Irena Nikolova: We may have a lot more space on the ground if we continue to work virtually. I would like to see those spaces turned into parks and gardens in downtown Toronto….. the density her has already arched maximum capacity.
12:36:59 From Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding attendees to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:37:53 From Catherine Soplet: Are any panellists familiar with The Penciler pilot project developed by www.urbanism.com
In December 2019 a presentation by Mississauga Planning Department explored a pilot project for towers in its downtown core – December 2019: Penciler presentation convened by Mississauga Planning Department
Tweets: https://twitter.com/search?q=%40canurb%20penciler&src=typed_query&f=live
12:38:08 From Hanaa Ali: Architects follow the money, since the 80s their work is mostly with developers, and the solutions that are investigating with regards to COVID are all about increasing the Net Operating Income of properties for the benefit of the developer. A transformative change is needed, having more architects working with the city and the communities to bring about meaningful and lasting change.
12:39:27 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: tokenism so prevalent
12:39:51 From TJ Maguire: Thank you for the discussion! Related to Ryan’s point about engaging with communities, and relationship building.How are, and how can architecture practices shift from designing for (Paternal/Maternal), to designing with? Co-creative, equitable, inclusive design processes resulting in humane, contextual experiences (especially on the ground floor). Any examples or suggestions?
12:39:52 From Ted Landrum to All panelists: Well said – Ryan – thank you!
12:41:54 From Craig Goodman: The discussion reminded me of a book on my shelf….from a UofT Geography Professor in the 1970’s…a deeper look at the relevance of technology and history in the formation of Canada….”Let Us Be Honest and Modest: Technology and Society in Canadian History.” Bruce Sinclair , Norman R. Ball , James O. Peterson
12:43:50 From TJ Maguire: The Broedplaatsen (Breeding Spaces) program in Amsterdam is a neat example of activating and animating ground floors. https://whatsupwithamsterdam.com/broedplaats-amsterdam/
12:43:57 From Catherine Soplet: Architects can choose to design-in tree canopy in projects, instead of leaving landscape architecture as a setting. Slides to Mississauga Board of Trade show data map overlay of low tree canopy with high vulnerability and policing, which colocate with higher proportion of residents who recent immigrants , and also lowest decile income. Burning holes in Mississauga’s social fabric were mapped by geospatial staff in December 2019. See slides 7 and 8. In January 2020 the map premised a Public Question to Mississauga General Committee, in connection with its Affordable Housing Strategy: When placing affordable housing, ensure there is a repair to the tree canopy.
Here are slides presented to Mississauga Board of Trade – Environment and Sustainability Committee https://bit.ly/2Y4b9Wq
Catherine Soplet
soplet@sympatico.ca
12:44:24 From Marion Goertz: There’s an old marketing adage that might apply here to help rethink community…”One must build relationship before effective, sustainable transactions can occur”
12:44:53 From Abby S: Didn’t you have that architect (Sweden?) a few weeks ago who brought together constituents from many sectors…professional and otherwise for his firm’s projects ?
12:46:25 From Jelena Garic to All panelists: we need multidisciplinary teams right from the get-go. planners, arch, engineers, etc. etc.
12:46:39 From Jelena Garic: we need multidisciplinary teams right from the get-go. planners, arch, engineers, etc. etc.
12:46:54 From Abby S: Yes MARY!
12:46:59 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: Settlers will catch up to IK one day…
12:47:14 From Canadian Urban Institute to Jelena Garic and all panelists: Hi, Jelena! Can you share that with all panelists and attendees? Thanks!
12:48:41 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: “gone are the days of imposing” YES!
12:48:50 From Negin Minaei: Agreed Jelena, specifically now, we need mechanical engineers with innovative ideas about ventilation to work with public health, health and safety and environmental psychologists to help us to get to healthy design
12:50:11 From Lorne cappe: Clever to take the issue of balconies to residents at TCH – a great example of a meaningful consultation that affects design of architecture. Any other examples anyone else has?
12:50:56 From Canadian Urban Institute: Next week is Main Street Action Week! Check out our Main Street Design Challenge Playbook https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/main-street-design-playbook and all of our events https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/action-week
12:51:41 From Canadian Urban Institute: To support CityTalk and the Canadian Urban Institute’s other city building initiatives, please donate at www.canurb.org/donate.
12:53:09 From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our sessions at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:54:52 From Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going #citytalk @canurb
12:55:21 From Lisa Landrum: Two initiatives underway from the architecture sector: Canadian Architecture Forums on Education: https://architecturecanada.ca/gallery/ Rise for Architecture: https://riseforarchitecture.com/
12:55:30 From Catherine Soplet: I am so refreshed and hopeful from this panel.
My tweet of maps for you today https://twitter.com/Soplet/status/1314247827531464711
12:55:58 From Lisa Landrum: Indigenous Design and Planning Students Association: https://www.instagram.com/um.idpsa/
12:56:00 From Negin Minaei: Air-tight buildings might not be the healthiest buildings because of ventilation! This should be studied carefully. After COVID19, maybe we should make sure net-zero buildings and green buildings and passive house buildings are safe enough particularly with their ventilation systems without fresh air with cross-ventilation.
12:56:03 From Hanaa Ali: For change to happen we need to fund and empower the Societies of Architects that exists throughout the country but which are currently extremely underfunded. They do not have the power to push forward the change we all want to see.
12:57:02 From Canadian Urban Institute: What did you think of today’s conversation? Help us improve our programming with a short post-webinar survey – https://bit.ly/3nr2Jmd
12:57:39 From Hanaa Ali: @Ryan completely agree, architecture bodies that bring together Indigenous Architects, BAIDA, NOMA are needed to shed light on the inadequacies that surround us
12:58:15 From Darryl Gaston to All panelists: Today’s conversation was educationally enlightening!
12:58:57 From Catherine Soplet: charity ACER Canada made its inaugural installation of community tree planting for limcate change research at social housing in Peel, on October 7 https://twitter.com/Soplet/status/1313481527339159555
12:59:17 From Mark Guslits: Covid has indeed forced us all to re-examine objectives, goals and methodology. Architects in particular must re-think the type of client that now makes sense and the type of body of work that wants to fill the days. It’s an exciting and sobering time.
12:59:35 From Mary W Rowe to Catherine Soplet and all panelists: catherine could you email me please mwrowe@canurb.org
12:59:36 From Mary W Rowe to Catherine Soplet and all panelists: thx
13:00:36 From Daniel Pearl: https://ca.architectsdeclare.com/
13:00:46 From Daniel Pearl: Important website to visit
13:01:14 From Ryan Gorrie: Miigwech all!
13:01:20 From Faryal Diwan: Thank you!
13:01:30 From Lisa Landrum: Thank you all! Very inspiring.
13:01:34 From Isa Abdulah Adam to All panelists: thank you
13:01:36 From Canadian Urban Institute: CUI extends a big thank you to our partner for today’s session The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
13:01:43 From John Stephenson: aslo look at Rise for Architecture
13:01:47 From Michaela Jones to All panelists: Thank you – Merci – Miigwech!
13:01:48 From Isa Abdulah Adam: Thanks
13:01:54 From Abby S: Thank you! Already registered for next week!
13:02:04 From John Stephenson: an Architecture Policy for Canada
13:02:07 From Yakubu Aminu Dodo: Thank you all the panelist… Arc. Sam we are proud of you sir
13:02:21 From Emma Ekpo to All panelists: Thanks
