We had a great time on Thursday evening in Victoria. Everyone we spoke to was enthusiastic about attending an in-person event. The food and drinks provided by our generous sponsors of course added to that enjoyment. There was lots of time for networking and many people stayed right until the end to catch up with their peers and make new connections.
The excellent turnout included people from a well-rounded representation of professional fields, including a number of university students. The students were thrilled with the valuable industry connections they made and were appreciative of how generous our community was with their support. Andy from Introba was the MC for the evening and a key asset in making this event possible.
The first presentation was by Emily Murray and Meghan Whyte, the project coordinators of Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST) the student club at the University of Victoria. They explained how the group got started and the valuable support they received from the building community who provided tools, as well as financial donations. The women outlined their Passive House projects, showing the unique approaches by each team to try and achieve the most warm, stable, indoor air temperature during the winter in Victoria.
After the presentation, there was a panel discussion involving a number of students who worked on the projects. These engineering students emphasized how valuable the practical skills were that they learned. It helped to bridge the gap between their classroom learning and the real world scenarios they will one day encounter. They stressed the value in having industry speakers and guest lecturers, especially female ones, not only in university but even in high school. Several women said they had began in other fields originally, being steered in that direction due to their gender. They are much happier now that they’ve found their way to engineering, and are looking to excel in their field in order to inspire the next generation.
After an amazing first presentation, we brought out our next featured speaker Christine Lintott. Christine is a local Victoria architect and innovator in her people-first approach to designing buildings.
Christine emphasized that in her projects, the initial engagement process is an important first step. Ensuring that all voices are at the table when discussing a buildings needs. There’s lots of metrics in building codes for accessibility, but these engagement sessions will truly show what it means to have a space without barriers, covering some things that can’t be quantified with a building code. Especially in the case of her example project, the Power To Be Basecamp, an outdoor activity centre to support the activities of connecting young people with disabilities to the natural world.
In addition to the focus on physical user experience, The Power To Be building needed a relationship between the inside and outside. Natural light is a crucial element for human wellness, by connecting humans to the surrounding community or nature outside the doors of the building it can improve the mental health of occupants.
The final takeaway from Christine’s inspiring presentation was to emphasize that those individuals creating the built environment need to be willing to consistently get feedback and grow from it. Everyone’s brains and needs in a space are so unique, you will never be able to account for the perfect user experience for everyone, but by learning and growing from past projects, we can improve the number of people who’s lives are made better by adapting how we build communities in the future.
After being thoroughly inspired. Our night concluded with lots of social time. Passive House Canada team members Hayden and Jessica were there showing of their new shirts. We also had Luiz from SIGA and Joffrey from HVAC Systems catching up with old friends and getting to know new faces.
Without our sponsors, these events would not be possible. Please be sure to learn more about each of them!
SIGA
SIGA is a leader in the development and production of high-performance adhesive tapes and membranes for air- and weather-tight building envelopes. SIGA’s vision is a world with zero-energy loss buildings. Today, approximately 40% of the world’s energy requirements are consumed by heating and cooling systems. With SIGA’s innovative products, this energy requirement can be massively reduced. SIGA operates in 40 countries and employs over 500 people working together to shape the future of the building industry.
Introba
Introba is one of the world’s largest building engineering and consulting firms with more than 1,000 employees in offices around the world. Committed to reshaping the world, our problem solvers combine cutting-edge digital solutions with emerging innovations and industry-leading sustainability strategies to transform the built environment. We collaborate with our clients to create living systems that are smart, secure, resilient, and connected – spaces that uplift communities, protect the health of the planet, and adapt to meet the demands of the future.
Cascadia Windows & Doors
Cascadia Windows & Doors is an innovative, industry leading manufacturer, creating beautifully designed architectural fiberglass windows, doors and cladding support systems. Included in some of the most exciting and award-winning construction projects across North America, Cascadia’s goal is to help revolutionize the energy-efficiency of modern buildings and drive the adoption of high-performance building products.
From residential Passive House projects to commercial and multi-family buildings, Cascadia’s fiberglass windows and doors offer unparalleled thermal and structural performance compared to traditional vinyl and aluminum. This increased performance allows architects and specifiers to easily reduce building costs and dramatically improve a building’s overall energy performance, all while delivering an engaging, highly livable space.
HVAC Systems & Solutions
Our experience allows us to select products that meet the industry demands while planning for the needs of the future. We pride ourselves as leaders in the industry by providing innovative products and solutions to our customers. We do this by integrating our core products into the design of each project.
We pride ourselves on providing the right product for the right application. With years of industry experience, we have seen it all! We know what fits together and what works well together. We understand that working alongside our customers is the key to successfully complete a project.
In today’s dynamic marketplace, you need people who are not just good, you need people who are innovative – people who are passionate – people who make a difference every day.
