University Boulevard Architectural Competition

The great universities of the world are defined as much by their architecture as their academic excellence. UBC has long history of being an academically excellent, North American leader in research. With the initiation and launch of this architectural competition, it is our intention that the campus will soon be known for its great architecture.

The University of British Columbia has been engaged in the planning of a new University Town for the past several years. After extensive campus consultation a new Neighbourhood Plan was approved for the University Boulevard neighbourhood area in January 2004. The Plan calls for a dynamic, people-oriented, mixed-use neighbourhood woven around development parcels and public spaces.

The UBC Board of Governors is aware of the importance of these buildings and the accompanying open space as an important campus gateway at the entrance to the university. In this regard University Boulevard will set a new architectural standard for future building on the Point Grey campus.

The competition is seen as an opportunity to establish an internationally recognizable signature image for the UBC Campus. In this respect, the University is keen to retain the very best architectural talents to meet these challenges – resulting in a built environment which will not only provide an attractive and functional gateway for the region, but will also be a defining architectural feature of the University of British Columbia in the twenty-first century.

The University Boulevard Architectural Competition is a two-stage competition process to select the architectural consultants for the design of University Boulevard buildings and open spaces at the entry to the UBC Campus. The “Expression of Interest” stage will first produce a shortlist of 6 candidates. In the second stage the three finalists will prepare partial schematic design submissions. UBC students, faculty and staff will be invited to comment by way of a campus wide questionnaire and campus poll on the three finalists in March 2005. The winning design will be announced in May 2005.

In order to be eligible, firms mustl demonstrate that they have extensive experience in the design of institutional/commercial buildings. They must also demonstrate experience with the design of large civic spaces and associated landscape and open space design. They must also have successfully completed prime consulting contracts for major capital works.

This invitation is open to all architectural firms, joint ventures, or consortia of architects, registered or licensed to practise in the Province of British Columbia. Any prospective entrants who are not currently registered or licensed to practise architecture in the Province of British Columbia are encouraged to review AIBC (Architectural Institute of British Columbia) Bulletin 22. Appropriate professional arrangements must be made with the AIBC prior to making any submissions. The three competitors selected through the Expression of Interest stage will be required to demonstrate that they have satisfied AIBC registration or licensing
requirements prior to proceeding to Stage 2, the Architectural Competition.

Firms wishing to compete in the competition that reside outside of the Province of British Columbia are encouraged to take advantage of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s (AIBC) online member and firm search to ensure they form a partnership, joint venture, or consortium with architects registered or licensed to practice in the Province of British Columbia. This service is available at www.aibc.ca. Click on the Find a Member section for further details.

Roundtable lectures will be held in January 2005 to showcase the work of the six short listed architectural firms. The three final competitor proposals will be put on display for viewing in March 2005.

The competition is seen as an opportunity to establish an internationally recognizable signature image for the UBC Campus. The University is keen to retain the very best architectural talents to meet these challenges – resulting in a built environment which will not only provide an attractive and functional gateway for the region, but will also be a defining architectural feature of the University of British Columbia in the twenty-first century.

Full Details
http://www.universitytown.ubc.ca/archcomp/competition.php