Images: Conceptual sketches of the "Workplace Cafe" and lobby spaces
New Winnipeg Office Renovation Aims to Boost Design Culture
We are excited to announce plans for a major renovation to our Winnipeg Exchange District office at 115 Bannatyne Avenue. The goal of the 14,000 sq. ft. renovation is to enhance the client and employee experience while improving our internal team processes to serve our clients better.
“The new office will strengthen Number TEN’s design culture and allow us to more effectively showcase our people and the amazing work they do in the community,” says practice leader Greg Hasiuk. “We want clients, visitors and staff to feel inspired and engaged with the creative process the moment they walk through the door.”
To achieve this, the design team set out to create a new open work environment where architects, interior designers and technologists can better work together, collaborate, and support each other. The new design will provide a mix of large and small meeting spaces with integrated technology, a unique reception area feature wall and a central workplace café designed for informal interactions between employees, clients and visitors. The smaller fourth floor will be converted into a dynamic makerspace complete with a flexible project research centre, and a new library for organizing design resource materials and product samples.
The design process included a series of creative staff engagement workshops to gain insight from employees into what matters most to them in the workplace. The results highlighted a series of themes to guide Number TEN’s internal design team.
“The staff engagement process was a very helpful tool for us to define the look, feel and functionality of the new space,” says workplace design lead Genevieve Bergman. “Our staff wanted to showcase the iconic legacy of Number TEN in Winnipeg with visual representations of design work from the past, present and future. They also wanted to work in new and exciting ways with more opportunities for collaboration and casual interaction, along with upgraded technology to help them succeed.”
The renovation provided an opportunity to reinvigorate the office with a fresh modern-classic design style that compliments the historic features of the 1899 Donald H. Bains building, where Number TEN has been proudly located for over 35 years.
“The building’s impressive exposed brick, high ceilings and heavy timber structure will be highlighted with high-contrast black and white accents, subtle patterning and textures to create a sense of warmth in the office,” says Bergman. “Pops of colour and biophilic elements will add contrast and inject a unique energy that will both reflect and enhance Number TEN’s dynamic workplace culture.”
To ensure the highest standards of occupant health and wellness, Number TEN’s office renovation is pursuing Fitwel® certification: a globally recognized program that promotes the optimization of buildings to support heath and wellness among building users. Fitwel strategies include increasing access to natural daylight, incorporating direct and indirect LED lighting, upgrading mechanical systems, and providing a variety of workstyle options including multi-height tables and sit-stand workstations. The new design will also create a more universally accessible workplace for staff and visitors alike.
Construction for the new office renovation begins March 4, 2019 and is expected to be complete by August 1, 2019. During the construction phase, Number TEN’s Winnipeg staff will be working from Camp 10 – our temporary office located around the corner at 200-200 Waterfront Drive.
Images: Grand opening ceremony
Manitoba’s skilled trades industry got a major boost with the official grand opening of the new Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (STTC) on November 15, 2018. The 104,000 sq. ft. building is designed to offer cutting-edge training for over 1,000 students per year in high-demand trades that are a vital component of Manitoba’s economy.
“This building makes a very strong statement of what the college is all about,” said Red River College president and CEO Paul Vogt. “Every component was designed for the student experience, for applied learning. The building itself displays the leading-edge construction techniques students will be putting into practice after they graduate.”
The project, designed by Number TEN Architectural Group in association with Pico ARCHITECTURE inc. and a multidisciplinary consultant team is the result of a five-year collaborative process involving a large stakeholder group including key representatives of RRC’s administration, instructional staff and students.
Construction of the STTC was led by Akman Construction and included over 60 subtrade companies as well as key contributions from Red River College students involved in skilled trades programming. In addition, approximately 75 percent of the more than 1,000 workers who helped construct the building are alumni of RRC programs.
At the grand opening ceremony, RRC student and newly hired Akman Construction employee Allison Enns spoke about her experience being involved on Akman’s construction team while on a series of co-op work placements as part of her RRC trades education. “I’ve been able to be on the construction site from day one, in a variety of different roles. To be working on this building, and see how it’s done from different perspectives, it’s an experience of a lifetime.”
Enns, who was eventually hired by Akman Construction, spoke with excitement about what the new STTC means for the next generation of RRC skilled trades and technology students. “Everything about this building represents what all of us are striving toward. It really showcases what we can do, and it’s a space where everyone can be excited to learn.”
Images: Allison Enns leveraged her RRC training into a job with Akman Construction | Student-built work benches
The building is oriented around a sky-lit central galleria which serves a two-storey pedestrian street that spans nearly two-football fields in length, flanked with floor to ceiling windows offering views into the each of the state-of-the-art workshops organized by trade discipline.
“Each workshop and classroom has extensive glazing into the galleria to encourage transparency, collaboration and sharing of knowledge so that the work of each of the trades is showcased,” said Number TEN partner Doug Hanna. “It was conceived as a ‘shopping mall’ of education for the trades.”
Images: Number TEN partner Doug Hanna addresses the audience at the grand opening ceremony | Transparency into the workshop spaces is achieved through extensive glazing
The design not only celebrates the skilled trades and technologies through its transparent and carefully integrated building components, but also serves as a teaching tool by providing opportunities for learning and hands-on interaction. Features such as sensors in walls, ceilings and windows provide real-time data for students studying how the building interacts with the external environment.
The building’s exterior is designed to be a focal point at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus, offering a signature design statement that expresses the college’s commitment to innovation, training and applied research.
“The seemingly random patterns of black, white, and wood-coloured aluminum panels and windows were inspired by the visual cues from a birch forest and was done quite intentionally to create a non-institutional feel and make a more informal and inviting environment for students,” said Hanna.
In addition to the main building is the 6,000 sq. ft. Smart Factory, set to be completed in early 2019. The Smart Factory will combine emerging technology including robotics, automation, additive manufacturing, high-speed robotic inspection and industrial networking to support research and applied-learning.
Sustainability was another crucial design driver for the STTC project, with a variety of design features that improve energy performance by 34.6 percent compared to the National Energy code reference building. The STTC, currently targeting LEED® Gold status from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), recently earned a Green Building Excellence Award in Green Building Construction by the CaGBC for its application of sustainable design strategies.
Michael McPherson
Number TEN Architectural Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael McPherson to director of finance, following successful achievement of his CPA and CGA designations. Michael previously served for two years as Number TEN’s accounting manager where he proved himself to be a highly diligent, dedicated and knowledgeable leader. Michael’s determination to balance full-time work commitments with his family and academic responsibilities are a testament to his work ethic and commitment to the firm’s continued success.
Leslie Myers
Associate and professional interior designer Leslie Myers is serving as chair of the Executive Committee for Women in Construction (Wic) Victoria, a grassroots Vancouver Island network working to promote and support female participation in BC’s construction industry. Leslie served as vice chair of the Executive Committee in 2017 and was elevated to her current role as chair in November 2018.
Erin Riediger
Architectural intern Erin Riediger earned a prestigious Bronze Alpha Rho Chi Medal. Since 1931, the Bronze Alpha Rho Chi Medal has recognized graduating architecture students for their leadership and service and what they offer the future of the profession. Erin was also recently appointed to the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation board of directors, and is actively involved in numerous initiatives in Winnipeg’s design community.
Dave Lalama
Partner Dave Lalama continues a decades-long Number TEN tradition of supporting the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (RMTC) by joining its board of trustees. Dave is excited to be part of an organization that celebrates the widest spectrum of theatre art and is so vital to our community. Number TEN’s support of the arts began with its founding partners in the 1950’s. Number TEN also designed the Royal MTC building, which opened during Manitoba’s centennial celebration in 1970. The Royal MTC was later declared a National Historic Site in 2009.
BC Housing announced on November 13, 2018, projects that were selected for the Building BC: Community Housing Fund.
“Years of inaction on the B.C. housing crisis left families struggling to get by and unable to get ahead,” said Premier John Horgan. “These new, affordable rental homes are an important step toward addressing the housing crisis and giving families in every part of the province a break from skyrocketing housing costs.”
The new homes are designed to address the need for affordable housing across a range of income levels, in response to a housing crisis that has made housing unaffordable for even middle-class families.
Much like past investments in co-op and non-profit housing, individual buildings will contain units aimed at a mix of income levels, including homes for middle-income individuals and families, deeply subsidized rentals for seniors and others on fixed incomes, and homes for low-wage workers.
“Through the Community Housing Fund, we are building housing so that growing families, aging seniors and low- to moderate-income individuals can afford homes in the communities they live and work in,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “These new homes will have life-changing impacts for people and communities right across the province.”
The Province’s new Building BC: Community Housing Fund, a $1.9-billion investment over 10 years, will build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes for seniors, families and low- and middle-income earners, with many to include child care. These 4,900 homes, the first set of projects selected through this fund, will include both non-profits and co-ops, and will be built over the next two to three years.
Number TEN is working with two non-profit housing societies whose projects were selected by BC Housing:
$5.8 million to the Gorge View Society who are looking to add 58 homes for families and seniors on their property at Chown Place. They have operated 100 suites for seniors for the past 50 years on their property at 11 Chown Place in the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood of Victoria.
$2.4 million to the Rogers Court Society who are planning on 24 homes for non-profit seniors housing at the Anglican Diocese's property of St. Peter & St. Paul's in Esquimalt neighbourhood of Victoria. This project envisions a new campus that incorporates a heritage designated church, a new Ministry Centre and 24 units of seniors housing.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation New Education Facilities
Number TEN has been awarded the design contract for two new education facilities for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, a vibrant and thriving First Nation based in Nelson House, Manitoba, about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg and 80 kilometres west of Thompson. The two new schools will be designed to meet projected student growth increases in the community and will replace an existing school that is nearing the end of its useful life. The project includes a new 5,613 sq. m. grade 7 to 12 school with a capacity of 476 students, a new 4,828 sq. m. Kindergarten (K4/K5) to grade 6 school for 587 students, and 1,660 sq. m. of new housing for teachers.
“Our approach is to work closely with the NCN to gain an understanding of the community’s needs, culture, and priorities in order to develop a design that will improve learning outcomes for the people of Nisichawayasihk for decades to come,” says Number TEN partner and practice leader Greg Hasiuk. “Our goal is to provide Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation with state-of-the-art learning environments that will also enhance their cultural identity, land-based education programs, and engagement with the community.”
A key design strategy will be to incorporate proven 21st century learning concepts to more effectively engage a new generation of students and offer new and exciting ways to teach and learn. “Our firm brings leading-edge approaches to 21st century learning developed through extensive research, experience and advocacy work with some of Canada’s most progressive school boards in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta,” says Hasiuk. “Additionally, our extensive experience working with First Nation communities will serve the project well and help achieve positive outcomes for all stakeholders.”
Currently in the pre-design stage, the Nisichawayasihk educational facilities project is targeting occupancy
by 2022.
Project Team
Prime Consultant: Number TEN Architectural Group
Project Manager: P.M. Associates Ltd.
Structural Engineering: Crosier Kilgour & Partners
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: SMS Engineering
Landscape Architecture: HTFC Planning & Design
Civil Engineering: Neegan Burnside Ltd.
Quantity Surveying: Postma Quantity Surveying
Environmental Assessment: True Grit Engineering
Dave Lalama
Number TEN partner and Hospitality / Entertainment Studio lead Dave Lalama was recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) - the leading voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada. The fellowship recognizes outstanding achievement in design excellence, exceptional scholarly contribution, or distinguished service to the profession and community. Dave was one of 40 architects across the country, and one of two in Manitoba, to earn the prestigious fellowship.
Leslie Myers
The Number TEN Partners are very pleased to announce Leslie Myers as a new associate in the firm. Leslie is the lead interior designer in the firm’s Victoria Office and possesses a balance of experience and skills that translate into great client service and continued success for our firm. As an associate Leslie will broaden her involvement in firm-wide strategic planning, firm management, and leadership succession.
Leslie has grown the Victoria office's interior design practice during the past five years and has recently achieved her professional NCIDQ certification. Currently, the Victoria office’s interior design work has been focused on a range of BC government projects including the redevelopment of the historic Queen’s Printer building in downtown Victoria. Read about the interesting story of the Queen’s Printer project on Number TEN’s Inspired blog.
Brent Bellamy
Creative director and associate Brent Bellamy was selected to be part of an esteemed jury for Infrastructure Canada's Smart Cities Challenge, which encourages communities to adopt a smart cities approach to improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology. Brent was invited by Canada’s minister of infrastructure and communities to be part of the twelve-member jury to advise on the selection of finalists and winners of the Smart Cities Challenge Canada.
Greg Hasiuk
Number TEN practice leader Greg Hasiuk has been nominated and selected as a prairies region finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year program, which recognizes the achievements of Canada’s top entrepreneurial talent. Greg will join the other distinguished regional finalists at the Prairies Entrepreneur of the Year gala in Calgary on October 18.
Aruna Anaparti, Laura Thomson and Sian Porter
Three Number TEN staff members achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) green associate status from the Canada Green Building Council. Aruna Anaparti, Laura Thomson and Sian Porter earned the credential in recent weeks, bringing the firm’s total number of LEED certified staff members to 23.
Laurene Bachand and Aaron Pollock
Residential / Commercial Studio lead Laurene Bachand and architectural intern Aaron Pollock played leading roles in organizing Winnipeg’s On the Docks; a campaign to engage community members and design professionals to develop ideas for the redevelopment of Winnipeg’s derelict Alexander Docks site. Check out their recent interview with CBC news. Laurene and Aaron also placed as finalists for the Winnipeg Architecture and Design Film Festival’s Archishorts competition for their independent entry titled Beige City.
Doug Hanna, Erin Riediger, Aaron Pollock
Partner Doug Hanna is serving as the MAA’s new treasurer, while architectural intern Aaron Pollock is appointed as intern representative. Designer and intern architect Erin Riediger recently completed her tenure as student representative. The MAA is a self-governing professional association, mandated by the Province of Manitoba under The Architects Act to regulate the practice of architecture in the province.
Craig Bachynski
Long-time Number TEN contract administrator Craig Bachynski received the CCCA (Certified Construction Contract Administrator) designation from Construction Specification Canada (CSC). The professional certification attests to Craig’s knowledge of recommended practices in organizing, implementing and supervising construction contract documents, as well as expertise in written communication.