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LEED Users Group - VLUG

Vancouver, British Columbia

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Event Details

 

This Month's Topic:

The Living Building Challenge and the North Vancouver Outdoor School (NVOS) Masterplan

 

Situated on 165 hectares (420 acres) of ecological reserve land in the section of the Cheakamus River Valley known as Paradise Valley, BC, the NVOS is unique among a handful of environmental education centres in Canada, serving more than 11,000 people annually, With a Federally recognized wild salmon reserve, and the largest recorded concentration of wintering bald eagles in North America, as well as a rufous hummingbird research site for over 15 years, this project was the recipient of a 2008 Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction Acknowledgement Prize.

Currently NVOS operates out of a series of small 1960s buildings that together with the supporting infrastructure are nearing the end of their service lives. The vision for NVOS is that all replacement buildings and infrastructure embody the environmental principles espoused by the school and the Living Building Challenge. The need to develop a masterplan and establish guidelines was identified as a crucial precursor to the design of the new infrastructure and buildings.

In this workshop, the masterplan will be examined in the context of how the goal of meeting the two aspects of the Living Building Challenge will be examined:

  • How meeting the aspirations of the LBC has framed design responses and
  • Challenges faced by the staff at the Outdoor School in embracing the aspirations of the LBC

 

ABout our Presenters:

Ron Kato, MAIBC, MRAIC, LEED AP

Ron Kato was the Project Architect and LEED project manager for the first building to be awarded a LEED Platinum certification in Canada – the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Operations Centre. Ron has a passion for sustainability and has developed expertise in inspiring, managing, directing and integrating sustainable design efforts within significant architectural work.

As a practicing architect, Ron emphasizes the importance of creating buildings for people which meet both their functional needs and expectations and are stimulating, dynamic environments. A holistic approach in the design of all commissions is followed, emphasizing client participation and sustainability in the design process.

Prior to establishing his firm – Ron Kato Architect, Ron was the senior associate with Larry McFarland Architects Ltd., where Ron was Director of Sustainable Design as well as project architect for many of that firm’s significant projects. In addition to his practice, Ron is the Program Head of the Architectural Science degree program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Recognition of Ron’s efforts includes selection of projects for which he has acted as Project Architect, which have represented Canada at each of the last three Sustainable Building Challenge conferences, held in Melbourne in 2008, Tokyo in 2005, and Oslo in 2002. Ron was also recognized by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) as the Design Architect for the 2007 Green Building Award.

Currently Ron serves on the board of the Cascadia Green Building Council, and on the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Architecture 2030 committee.

 

Victor Elderton, BSc, MA Professional Teacher Certificate

Victor has been working fulltime at the North Vancouver Outdoor School (NVOS) since 1984. During that time he has worked both as a teacher at the school and since 1988 as its Principal Co-Administrator. Victor is a member of various environmental, education and sustainability committees and working groups as well as Director of Environmental Educators of BC, Director of Pac FUNS, Board Member of the Association of Nature Center Administrators, member of VancouverMetro Education Advisory Committee and recent member of BC Premier’s Citizen’s Conservation Council.

Over the years Victor’s work and the accomplishments of NVOS directly have been recognized by Hilroy Fellowship Program (CTF), BC Ministry of Environment Excellence Award, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, ROEE Jim Jackson Award, NS Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (Environment), Canadian Environmental Awards (Silver), Habitat Canada Excellence Awards and Fraser Basin Council Salmon Hero Awards.

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