Our Story – Celebrating 25 years of Proscenium
It is with pride that we recognize 25 years of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc! What started in 1996 as a small architecture and interior design firm specializing in theatre design has grown to a mid-sized firm in 2022 working across many project types. We want to take this opportunity to reflect on where we came from and where we are going. Team members
750 SW Marine Drive in for DP
We are excited to start this new mixed-use project in the quickly developing South Marpole area of Vancouver. Proscenium is providing full architectural services for 750 SW Marine Drive, an eight-storey office/industrial building for Chard Development awaiting its Development Permit. This is a much-needed building typology in Vancouver and we have used our recent experience to optimally combine office and industrial use in the
UBC MacLeod: Inside the Envelope
Clothing a building has become infinitely more complex due to new building codes. Building envelope technology, which once may have been akin to throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, is now the equivalent of designing a custom Gore-Tex parka, with a sweat-wicking base layer for good measure. As expectations for buildings’ environmental performance increase to meet new sustainability goals by clients and municipalities, navigating envelope
Meet Natasha, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
A very warm welcome to Natasha Louie, who joined Proscenium in May as a Junior Architectural Graduate! Where were you born? Burnaby, BC. How did you get into architecture? I was inspired by the architecture of my high school. I found that the different spaces and qualities the building provided enhanced my learning experience. I started taking drafting classes there, and continued studying fine art,
We Are Hiring!
*note: Position filled Proscenium is seeking to hire a SENIOR/INTERMEDIATE INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO WE ARE Proscenium Architecture + Interiors is a forward-thinking, mid-sized Architecture and Interior Design firm working in an integrated design team (IDT) environment. We started in 1996 as a firm specializing in arts & cultural design and expanded our scope over time to include residential, commercial, institutional and public projects of
Two Projects Recognized in Recent Awards
We are proud to share that two buildings we worked on for Chard Development won developer awards in the last month! The Urban Design Institute (UDI) Awards 2022 recognized The Royals for best Purpose Built Market High Rise. UDI recognized Vivid at the Yates for best Non-Market Housing. The Georgie Awards also recognized Chard for Vivid at the Yates with the Provincial Award for Excellence
T3 Mount Pleasant receives support from Design Panel
Last week, we received support from the Design Panel for T3 Mount Pleasant, a new 12-storey mass-timber office project designed by DLR Group for which Proscenium is Associate Architect. The project (developed by Houston-based Hines and local developer PC Urban) joins other T3 buildings around the world named for their use of mass timber, technology and close proximity to transit. Renders by Steelblue
Donation Drive for WISH and Working Gear!
Spring is in the air and we have completed our annual donation drive for WISH Drop-in Centre and Working Gear! These are two great organizations that benefit folks in need in our community. Proscenium has been supporting WISH and Working Gear since 2010. We truly believe in the work they are doing and are glad to be able to donate physical items again. Thanks to
MEC Vancouver receives 2022 SABMag Award
We are excited to announce that MEC Vancouver Store has received the 2022 SABMag Canadian Green Building Award for Mixed-Use projects! We are blown away at the recognition this building has had since its completion in 2020, including the 2020 BC Wood Design Award, 2021 Canada Green Building Award, runner-up for the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Award and now the 2022 SAB Mag Award. It's a
Meet Saeedeh, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
We are excited to welcome Saeedeh to our growing team at Proscenium! She joins us with a Masters of Urban Design from UBC and has hit the ground running in a busy spring season at the firm. Where were you born? I was born in Tehran, Capital of Iran How did you get into architecture? When I was 15 I visited an art school. I
Staff Ski Day 2022
For our winter staff day out this year, one half of the team opted for a romp through the snowy woods of Cypress Mountain while the other half took a meander through Vancouver Art Gallery! We were lucky to have a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy the afternoon away from phones and emails. Staff Ski Day came a little late for actual skiing this year,
An ASHRAE Technology Award for the MEC Vancouver Store
We are thrilled to share the news that mechanical/electrical lead on MEC Vancouver, Pageau Morel, has received second-place for MEC Vancouver at the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Awards. During the winter conference of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Pageau Morel received a second-place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) store project in Vancouver.
Mass Timber projects featured on ArchDaily
We're excited to see that two of our MEC projects have been featured in this great new article on biophilia and workplace design on ArchDaily. The article points to the positive effects of wood in built environments, including the sensory experience of users and its timeless aesthetic value as a natural material. The article points out that several new studies, including one from the University of British
Working with a local Performing Arts School
For many years Proscenium has worked with local arts groups, big and small, to realize their vision for performing spaces. We are excited to share that we are designing a new home for Vancouver Performing Stars, a dance and theatre performance school for children and youth. The project includes a black box theatre with approximately 90 seats, 2 secondary studios, offices, front of house including
Four projects are finalists for the Georgie Awards
We are excited to share that four projects we recently completed for Chard Development are named as finalists in the 2022 Georgie Awards, hosted by Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. The Georgie Awards celebrate excellence in home building and renovation in the residential construction industry. Projects are submitted by member companies for consideration by a panel of industry professionals from across Canada and the
PAI Insight: Incorporating Theatres into New Developments
Designing and renovating theatres has been a focus of Proscenium since 1996 when our firm started. In recent years, we have been approached by multiple clients who want to design theatres that are incorporated into new developments. Often this results in having a theatre on ground level (at grade) with a residential or mixed-use building attached. When handled correctly we think this is a great
Designing Ballet BC’s New Home
We are excited to be working with Ballet BC with the design of their future home on Granville Island! Our team is currently working with the dance company to renovate the space at 1286 Cartwright St, formerly occupied by Arts Umbrella. The project includes new administration and dance rehearsal spaces. Over the holidays the company announced the news: Following more than a decade at Scotiabank
Happy Holidays from PAI!
Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season, from all of us here at Proscenium. Our office will be closed from noon on December 24th to Tuesday, January 4th. See you in the New Year!
Supporting Carnegie Community Centre & The Gathering Place
Over the years, Proscenium has held donation drives to support two exceptional organizations we have worked on in the past, Carnegie Community Centre and The Gathering Place in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. This year, we are excited to be collecting physical items from our staff to bundle together and drop off to benefit their programs! A little bit of history: CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Carnegie Centre is
PAI Highlight: 1235 Marine Drive
We are pleased to be moving forward in the design phase with our project at 1235 Marine Drive in North Vancouver! This Mixed-Use project on the vibrant Marine Drive corridor consists of one floor of Commercial Retail and three stories of market residential condos ranging from one to two bedrooms. Some great design features include: A widened pedestrian sidewalk and added seating to encourage
Photographing our New Office
We decided to wait until most of the team was back in office before taking some pictures to show off the space! Thanks to Kori for his photography skills and the Interiors team for their help. Our office is located on the third floor of the MEC Vancouver building (have you heard about its new award?). A bonus of designing this building was envisioning a new
QET and BMO Theatre featured in Construct Connect
We're excited to see two of our favourite theatre projects featured in September's edition of Construct Connect. The issue's main feature is an article on Acoustics called "Perfecting the Sound Experience in Theatres", written by Payam Ashtiani. It's certainly an interesting time for the performing arts community as audiences re-enter theatres following the pandemic. Many organizations are looking for safe ways to accommodate higher numbers
MEC Vancouver wins CaGBC Award for New Construction
We are so pleased to receive the 2021 Canadian Green Building Award for New Construction for MEC Vancouver! Thank you to Canada Green Building Council for recognizing the project. Hugh Cochlin will be giving a presentation on the building's many green features along with Roland Charneux next week, September 28th at 9am PST. CaGBC Awards Lunch ‘n’ Learn: New Construction Tuesday, September 28th; 9-10 am
Lawn Bowling with PAI Staff
For the first time ever, it rained so much we almost didn't get to play! Our staff's annual August lawn bowling tournament at Dunbar Lawn Bowling was a bit colder than usual this year -- but great fun once we got moving! Laughing, heckling and lawn bowling jargon were heard all over the green and PAI staff persisted through the weather with good attitudes and
MEC Head Office Featured in a Japanese Magazine
The MEC Head Office was featured in the Japanese Wood Building Magazine. It looks at our high use of wood throughout the building.
Meet Proscenium’s Employees!
Name? Shereen Chak Where were you born? Toronto, Ontario Where did you go to school? Why? I went to University of British Columbia for Architecture school. I believe that sustainability and awareness of the natural environment is important for design, plus I love how beautiful and culturally diverse Vancouver is! What class in school has proven to be the least useful? Philosophy of Art. it has not proved useful
New West Scavenger Hunt
Last Friday the staff of Proscenium did a scavenger hunt out in New Westminster. We learnt about some New West history and architecture, then had a fabulous time at Steele & Oak where we drank excellent beer, ate some delicious BBQ and enjoyed the sunny weather.
UBC Pool/Gym Renovation
Proscenium recently completed a renovation of one of the pools up at UBC and converted it into a new gym space.
Proscenium collects items for the WISH Charity
Last week Proscenium organized a clothing and item drive for the WISH Charity. The WISH Charity focuses exclusively on aiding female sex workers by providing a non-judgemental place where they can get nutritious hot meals, showers and hygiene items and clothing. They also help by providing an on-site nurse, referrals to detox centres/rehabilitation houses and shelters for upwards of 150 women. Thank you to all
Langara’s Science and Technology building progression
The new Science and Technology building continues to progress towards its June 2016 opening. This week, the temporary shores have been removed and the cantilever is now realized.
Office Food Scraps and Recycling Programs
Get some great ideas on food scraps and recycling programs for the office from this article in Business Vancouver featuring expert advice from Jeff Bohnen, Office Manager at MEC.
Fun Fridays
The unprecedented good weather Vancouver has been enjoying this summer has sparked the imagination of the folks here at Proscenium and has resulted in Fun Fridays. Nearly every Friday this summer saw some kind of treat or fun activity. There was the Crawfish lunch complete with bibs, the Lucky’s donuts that just appeared one morning (Thanks Ben P!) and the blender drinks topped with little
Meet PAI Employee Steve Dixon
Where were you born? Woodlands, New Zealand. It's a tiny rural village of about 150 people at the bottom of the country. How did you get into design? I became interested in design when I was a kid watching my uncle drawing floor plans and construction details at his drafting table. I was fascinated with technical drawing and after taking graphic design in high
Meet PAI Employee Juliette Dubois
s Where were you born? Brussels, Belgium How did you get into design? I’ve always been touched by beautiful things and spaces and I wanted to improve people’s lives through my work, so design seemed like the perfect way to combine both. What class in school has proven to be the least useful? None. Even the classes I thought weren’t useful at the time
Design Week MEC Head Office Tour
MEC Head Office Tour (May 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at 1077 Great Northern Way) Get a behind-the-scenes look at MEC, the grand-daddy of sporting-goods stores in Vancouver, with a free tour of the company’s East Van HQ. Led by the company’s CEO, CFO, and senior director of product design, as well as Hugh Cochlin, principal of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors, the jaunt will walk
Lt. Governor Merit Award: Langara College Science & Technology Building
We are honoured to have received one of three Lt. Governor Merit Awards for The Langara College Science and Technology Building. The $54-million building is a gateway to the college’s main campus that cantilevers out 16 metres over the 49th Avenue entrance. Proscenium Architecture and Interiors Inc in association with Teeple Architects Inc
Western Living Magazine: Kitchen Design Secret #11
http://ow.ly/Jqp830j4kmx 9. Know that a kitchen is more than just a place to cook. When architect Kori Chan of Proscenium Architecture and Interiors began working with his clients on designing their dream home, it was clear that the design of the space itself was far more important to them than flashy appliances or marble counters. So the budget went into creating an airy open-concept design, complete with
MEC Head Office news & award
In November 2017 Canada Green Building Council certified The MEC Head Office LEED Canada Platinum, the highest level of distinction for a sustainable building! In January 2018, ASHRAE awarded Pageau Morel 1st Place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the construction of the Mountain Equipment Co-op Head Office.
Elenore on Fifth in the news
Our Elenore on Fifth project was featured in The Vancouver Sun by Kathleen Freimond: http://vancouversun.com/homes/buying-selling/elenore-on-fifth-set-to-maximize-outlooks “The podium steps down and the tower itself steps down, creating the massing that moves with the slope of the land and allows us to have lovely big terraced decks,” Cochlin says.
Proscenium is Hiring!
We are currently looking for a junior and two intermediate Architectural Graduates, Graduate Technologists or Interior Designers with at least 2 to 3 years of postgraduate experience. This individual must be confident enough to take on projects, develop a work plan and work well both independently and as part of a team. Confidence in decision making and
Langara S&T Building to be certified LEED Gold!
We are proud to announce that the Langara College Science and Technology building has achieved 67 LEED points and will be certified as a GOLD level building!!!
MEC Head Office receives Landscaping Award
15th Annual Design Awards of Excellence Awards Announced Connect Landscaping is excited to announce that two projects will be recognized with the 2017 Green Roof and Wall Award of Excellence. The Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence will be awarded for Mountain Equipment Co-op Head Office and VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre in September at the 15th Annual CitiesAlive in Seattle, WA. https://citiesalive.org/ http://connectla.ca/blog/
Metal Construction News article: Rheinzink
Renovating a Historic Cathedral Marcy Marro, Editor, Posted 07/03/2017 RHEINZINK protects and preserves heritage of 120-year-old church Built in 1894, Christ Church Cathedral was the first church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over the past 22 years, the church underwent a major four-phase renovation, which concluded with the total replacement of its roof. The church's original roof was cedar shake, and over the years, various additions and modifications were undertaken,
Pipe Shop Completed
We are excited to present our freshly completed renovation of the Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Accessible washrooms, a servery, a projector surface, and fresh paint were added to the 1940’s Pipefitter’s Building – a 9,050 square foot community hall at the base of Lonsdale Avenue. Check out the full project description in our WORK section! Photography by Sam
Energia Prize: Letter of Congratulations
Following the Energia Prize we received last May, we’ve received a congratulation letter from the Minister of “Développement Durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatique" of the province of Quebec. We thought we’d share the letter: Gentlemen, I would like to address my most sincere congratulations on winning the “AQME Prize” during the 2017 Energia Contest organized by l’Association québécoise pour la maitrise
The Jericho Tennis Club Pool & Deck Project is complete!
Please see the "Work" page of this site for more photos and details of this project.
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes Pageau Morel!
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes excellence in Quebecois achievements and celebrates local genius in matters of energy efficiency in categories related to building, technological innovations, industrial processes and manufacturing, transportation, integrated design and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Pageau Morel was recognized as the electrical and mechanical engineering firm on the design team of MEC’s Head Office, which was designed using an integrated design process involving
Pipe Shop Venue Renovation – North Vancouver
We are thrilled to see the community embrace our recently completed renovation of The Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Since opening on April 8th, The Pipe Shop has hosted weddings, yoga classes, galas, dinners, pop-up markets, night markets, early learning initiatives, photo shoots, and private events. The Pipe Shop, built in the 1940’s and previously known as the Pipefitter's Building, was
Proscenium wins AIBC Special Jury Award for Christ Church Cathedral!
We are honoured to have received The AIBC Special Jury Award for the long term stewardship of a significant heritage resource and seismic upgrading technology for our work on the Restoration and Renewal of the Christ Church Cathedral. The C.C.C. team included Hugh Cochlin, Matthew Kurnicki, Ron Clay, Ben Nielsen, Sarah Piccinato and Sara Theuerkauf. We couldn't have done it without The Christ Church Cathedral
Progress Report: Jericho Tennis Club hot tub
The tiling for both the JTC hot tub and pool are being filled for testing. Although there is much to be done, one can now envision just how awesome it will be to relax in the tub, jets firing and take in the spectacular mountain view from this beach-front project site.
Canadian Architect article on climate change
"Proscenium Architecture + Interiors designed Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Vancouver headquarters to underscore the company’s sustainability agenda, using daylighting and advanced air control systems that allow it to be 70 percent more energy efficient than a conventional office building." -Canadian Architect Magazine Photo by Ed White Photographics https://www.canadianarchitect.com/features/the-heat-is-on/
CCC Bell Tower on the Daily Hive
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/christ-church-cathedral-vancouver-november-2016
MEC Stores-Edmonton
We are very excited about the completion of the newest MEC store in Edmonton! The MEC South Edmonton Common store received final occupancy on Thursday and it's looking great. Meanwhile, the store in the Brewery District (relocation of the downtown store), is moving along quickly and is starting to really take shape.
Bell Tower Lighting
It’s getting darker and darker earlier and earlier. That meant we didn’t have to be up too late on a school night for PAI to be on-site for the focusing and commissioning of the Christ Church Cathedral bell tower lighting. Silver linings.
Bells will be ringing…
Christ Church Cathedral – bell ringing test Monday August 22, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B97luRQcy-M
Christ Church Cathedral Bell-Spire
A crowning feature of the current project is the addition of the highly anticipated bell-spire at the north-east corner of the Cathedral, set atop the existing elevator core. This open glass and steel structure housing four electronically controlled and custom cast bronze bells will be one of the last Architectural additions to this project. This weekend was an exciting milestone, as the bells were lifted
Langara S&T Building to be certified LEED Gold!
We are proud to announce that the Langara College Science and Technology building has achieved 67 LEED points and will be certified as a GOLD level building!!!
Metal Construction News article: Rheinzink
Renovating a Historic Cathedral Marcy Marro, Editor, Posted 07/03/2017 RHEINZINK protects and preserves heritage of 120-year-old church Built in 1894, Christ Church Cathedral was the first church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over the past 22 years, the church underwent a major four-phase renovation, which concluded with the total replacement of its roof. The church's original roof was cedar shake, and over the years, various additions and modifications were undertaken,
Pipe Shop Completed
We are excited to present our freshly completed renovation of the Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Accessible washrooms, a servery, a projector surface, and fresh paint were added to the 1940’s Pipefitter’s Building – a 9,050 square foot community hall at the base of Lonsdale Avenue. Check out the full project description in our WORK section! Photography by Sam
Energia Prize: Letter of Congratulations
Following the Energia Prize we received last May, we’ve received a congratulation letter from the Minister of “Développement Durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatique" of the province of Quebec. We thought we’d share the letter: Gentlemen, I would like to address my most sincere congratulations on winning the “AQME Prize” during the 2017 Energia Contest organized by l’Association québécoise pour la maitrise
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes Pageau Morel!
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes excellence in Quebecois achievements and celebrates local genius in matters of energy efficiency in categories related to building, technological innovations, industrial processes and manufacturing, transportation, integrated design and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Pageau Morel was recognized as the electrical and mechanical engineering firm on the design team of MEC’s Head Office, which was designed using an integrated design process involving
Pipe Shop Venue Renovation – North Vancouver
We are thrilled to see the community embrace our recently completed renovation of The Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Since opening on April 8th, The Pipe Shop has hosted weddings, yoga classes, galas, dinners, pop-up markets, night markets, early learning initiatives, photo shoots, and private events. The Pipe Shop, built in the 1940’s and previously known as the Pipefitter's Building, was
Progress Report: Jericho Tennis Club hot tub
The tiling for both the JTC hot tub and pool are being filled for testing. Although there is much to be done, one can now envision just how awesome it will be to relax in the tub, jets firing and take in the spectacular mountain view from this beach-front project site.
Canadian Architect article on climate change
"Proscenium Architecture + Interiors designed Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Vancouver headquarters to underscore the company’s sustainability agenda, using daylighting and advanced air control systems that allow it to be 70 percent more energy efficient than a conventional office building." -Canadian Architect Magazine Photo by Ed White Photographics https://www.canadianarchitect.com/features/the-heat-is-on/
CCC Bell Tower on the Daily Hive
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/christ-church-cathedral-vancouver-november-2016
Christ Church Cathedral Bell-Spire
A crowning feature of the current project is the addition of the highly anticipated bell-spire at the north-east corner of the Cathedral, set atop the existing elevator core. This open glass and steel structure housing four electronically controlled and custom cast bronze bells will be one of the last Architectural additions to this project. This weekend was an exciting milestone, as the bells were lifted
Christ Church Cathedral Bell Tower
On Friday July 8th, 2016, crews lifted into place the two halves of the new Christ Church Cathedral Bell Tower. The tower was constructed and painted offsite to take advantage of the precision assembly and coating possible in a controlled shop environment. It was constructed in two halves because the transmission of gravity loads generated by lifting the entire tower would have blown in the
MEC’s Head Office graces cover of Interior Designers of Canada’s D Magazine
Our own Kerri Shinkewski was interviewed for the brand new Spring 2016 edition of D magazine! The article explores the use of sustainability practices in the design of the MEC Head Office.
Langara’s Science and Technology Building’s Steel Structure
The Langara Science and Technology continues to make good progress. Below you can find some of the work that has been done on the steel structure. Photos by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural
UBC Pool/Gym Renovation
Proscenium recently completed a renovation of one of the pools up at UBC and converted it into a new gym space.
Artist Selected for Christ Church Bell Spire
Proscenium has been working with Christ Church Cathedral on restoring their heritage cathedral over the last decade. The current phase of work sees the restoration of the roof along with the construction of a 1oo foot tall bell spire clad in stained glass. The bell spire is one step closer to reality with the selection of Canadian artist, Sarah Hall and her stained glass design,
Patagonia’s Vancouver Flagship Coming Soon
Proscenium is hard at work with Patagonia on their new Vancouver store, the first in city and only the second in Canada. The West 4th flagship location in Kitsilano is targeted to open at the end of November just in time for the Christmas shopping season. This adaptive re-use project retains much of the existing building, salvaging as much material as possible for the new store.
Guest Blogger: Jeff Bohnen, MEC
We are so excited to have Jeff Bohnen, Office Services Manager at MEC back as a guest blogger. Please read on for some insight into the process of bringing the new MEC head office to life. After years of continued expansion, MEC has simply outgrown our existing Head Office space. Creative solutions to increase our capacity – increasing density by removing separation panels to create open,
Office Field Trip
It was a rainy Friday when the office trekked out to see our latest completed project; 17,000 square feet of office space for Austeville Properties in Vancouver. As the Final touches were being completed we had the opportunity to tour the space, appreciate the workmanship and a job well done.
Duet
Proscenium had the good fortune to work once again with Chard Development on their new residential project in Victoria. Now under construction, the Duet is 90 condos nestled in the prime Victoria neighbourhood of James Bay. You can read more about our design process with Chard Development on the Duet Blog.
Meet Maria, our new Interior Designer!
We would like to welcome Maria Volk, who joined Proscenium this summer as a Senior Interior Designer! We are thrilled to have her as part of the team. Where were you born? Victoria, BC. How did you get into interior design? My best friend encouraged me. What class in school has proven to be the least useful? Lighting…but only because it wasn’t about design it
Setting up Royal Bay Presentation Centre
After three recent successful residential projects in Victoria, BC in the last few years, Proscenium is excited to be continuing our work on Vancouver Island in Colwood, BC! We are providing full interior design services for Royal Bay Ryder Village, a new multi-family residential development located in the Royal Bay neighbourhood of Colwood, at the edge of an urban seaside. Our interior design team
Our Story – Celebrating 25 years of Proscenium
It is with pride that we recognize 25 years of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc! What started in 1996 as a small architecture and interior design firm specializing in theatre design has grown to a mid-sized firm in 2022 working across many project types. We want to take this opportunity to reflect on where we came from and where we are going. Team members
750 SW Marine Drive in for DP
We are excited to start this new mixed-use project in the quickly developing South Marpole area of Vancouver. Proscenium is providing full architectural services for 750 SW Marine Drive, an eight-storey office/industrial building for Chard Development awaiting its Development Permit. This is a much-needed building typology in Vancouver and we have used our recent experience to optimally combine office and industrial use in the
UBC MacLeod: Inside the Envelope
Clothing a building has become infinitely more complex due to new building codes. Building envelope technology, which once may have been akin to throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, is now the equivalent of designing a custom Gore-Tex parka, with a sweat-wicking base layer for good measure. As expectations for buildings’ environmental performance increase to meet new sustainability goals by clients and municipalities, navigating envelope
Meet Natasha, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
A very warm welcome to Natasha Louie, who joined Proscenium in May as a Junior Architectural Graduate! Where were you born? Burnaby, BC. How did you get into architecture? I was inspired by the architecture of my high school. I found that the different spaces and qualities the building provided enhanced my learning experience. I started taking drafting classes there, and continued studying fine art,
We Are Hiring!
*note: Position filled Proscenium is seeking to hire a SENIOR/INTERMEDIATE INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO WE ARE Proscenium Architecture + Interiors is a forward-thinking, mid-sized Architecture and Interior Design firm working in an integrated design team (IDT) environment. We started in 1996 as a firm specializing in arts & cultural design and expanded our scope over time to include residential, commercial, institutional and public projects of
Two Projects Recognized in Recent Awards
We are proud to share that two buildings we worked on for Chard Development won developer awards in the last month! The Urban Design Institute (UDI) Awards 2022 recognized The Royals for best Purpose Built Market High Rise. UDI recognized Vivid at the Yates for best Non-Market Housing. The Georgie Awards also recognized Chard for Vivid at the Yates with the Provincial Award for Excellence
T3 Mount Pleasant receives support from Design Panel
Last week, we received support from the Design Panel for T3 Mount Pleasant, a new 12-storey mass-timber office project designed by DLR Group for which Proscenium is Associate Architect. The project (developed by Houston-based Hines and local developer PC Urban) joins other T3 buildings around the world named for their use of mass timber, technology and close proximity to transit. Renders by Steelblue
Donation Drive for WISH and Working Gear!
Spring is in the air and we have completed our annual donation drive for WISH Drop-in Centre and Working Gear! These are two great organizations that benefit folks in need in our community. Proscenium has been supporting WISH and Working Gear since 2010. We truly believe in the work they are doing and are glad to be able to donate physical items again. Thanks to
MEC Vancouver receives 2022 SABMag Award
We are excited to announce that MEC Vancouver Store has received the 2022 SABMag Canadian Green Building Award for Mixed-Use projects! We are blown away at the recognition this building has had since its completion in 2020, including the 2020 BC Wood Design Award, 2021 Canada Green Building Award, runner-up for the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Award and now the 2022 SAB Mag Award. It's a
Meet Saeedeh, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
We are excited to welcome Saeedeh to our growing team at Proscenium! She joins us with a Masters of Urban Design from UBC and has hit the ground running in a busy spring season at the firm. Where were you born? I was born in Tehran, Capital of Iran How did you get into architecture? When I was 15 I visited an art school. I
Staff Ski Day 2022
For our winter staff day out this year, one half of the team opted for a romp through the snowy woods of Cypress Mountain while the other half took a meander through Vancouver Art Gallery! We were lucky to have a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy the afternoon away from phones and emails. Staff Ski Day came a little late for actual skiing this year,
An ASHRAE Technology Award for the MEC Vancouver Store
We are thrilled to share the news that mechanical/electrical lead on MEC Vancouver, Pageau Morel, has received second-place for MEC Vancouver at the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Awards. During the winter conference of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Pageau Morel received a second-place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) store project in Vancouver.
Mass Timber projects featured on ArchDaily
We're excited to see that two of our MEC projects have been featured in this great new article on biophilia and workplace design on ArchDaily. The article points to the positive effects of wood in built environments, including the sensory experience of users and its timeless aesthetic value as a natural material. The article points out that several new studies, including one from the University of British
Working with a local Performing Arts School
For many years Proscenium has worked with local arts groups, big and small, to realize their vision for performing spaces. We are excited to share that we are designing a new home for Vancouver Performing Stars, a dance and theatre performance school for children and youth. The project includes a black box theatre with approximately 90 seats, 2 secondary studios, offices, front of house including
Four projects are finalists for the Georgie Awards
We are excited to share that four projects we recently completed for Chard Development are named as finalists in the 2022 Georgie Awards, hosted by Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. The Georgie Awards celebrate excellence in home building and renovation in the residential construction industry. Projects are submitted by member companies for consideration by a panel of industry professionals from across Canada and the
PAI Insight: Incorporating Theatres into New Developments
Designing and renovating theatres has been a focus of Proscenium since 1996 when our firm started. In recent years, we have been approached by multiple clients who want to design theatres that are incorporated into new developments. Often this results in having a theatre on ground level (at grade) with a residential or mixed-use building attached. When handled correctly we think this is a great
Designing Ballet BC’s New Home
We are excited to be working with Ballet BC with the design of their future home on Granville Island! Our team is currently working with the dance company to renovate the space at 1286 Cartwright St, formerly occupied by Arts Umbrella. The project includes new administration and dance rehearsal spaces. Over the holidays the company announced the news: Following more than a decade at Scotiabank
Happy Holidays from PAI!
Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season, from all of us here at Proscenium. Our office will be closed from noon on December 24th to Tuesday, January 4th. See you in the New Year!
Supporting Carnegie Community Centre & The Gathering Place
Over the years, Proscenium has held donation drives to support two exceptional organizations we have worked on in the past, Carnegie Community Centre and The Gathering Place in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. This year, we are excited to be collecting physical items from our staff to bundle together and drop off to benefit their programs! A little bit of history: CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Carnegie Centre is
PAI Highlight: 1235 Marine Drive
We are pleased to be moving forward in the design phase with our project at 1235 Marine Drive in North Vancouver! This Mixed-Use project on the vibrant Marine Drive corridor consists of one floor of Commercial Retail and three stories of market residential condos ranging from one to two bedrooms. Some great design features include: A widened pedestrian sidewalk and added seating to encourage
Photographing our New Office
We decided to wait until most of the team was back in office before taking some pictures to show off the space! Thanks to Kori for his photography skills and the Interiors team for their help. Our office is located on the third floor of the MEC Vancouver building (have you heard about its new award?). A bonus of designing this building was envisioning a new
QET and BMO Theatre featured in Construct Connect
We're excited to see two of our favourite theatre projects featured in September's edition of Construct Connect. The issue's main feature is an article on Acoustics called "Perfecting the Sound Experience in Theatres", written by Payam Ashtiani. It's certainly an interesting time for the performing arts community as audiences re-enter theatres following the pandemic. Many organizations are looking for safe ways to accommodate higher numbers
Our Story – Celebrating 25 years of Proscenium
It is with pride that we recognize 25 years of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc! What started in 1996 as a small architecture and interior design firm specializing in theatre design has grown to a mid-sized firm in 2022 working across many project types. We want to take this opportunity to reflect on where we came from and where we are going. Team members
750 SW Marine Drive in for DP
We are excited to start this new mixed-use project in the quickly developing South Marpole area of Vancouver. Proscenium is providing full architectural services for 750 SW Marine Drive, an eight-storey office/industrial building for Chard Development awaiting its Development Permit. This is a much-needed building typology in Vancouver and we have used our recent experience to optimally combine office and industrial use in the
UBC MacLeod: Inside the Envelope
Clothing a building has become infinitely more complex due to new building codes. Building envelope technology, which once may have been akin to throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, is now the equivalent of designing a custom Gore-Tex parka, with a sweat-wicking base layer for good measure. As expectations for buildings’ environmental performance increase to meet new sustainability goals by clients and municipalities, navigating envelope
Meet Natasha, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
A very warm welcome to Natasha Louie, who joined Proscenium in May as a Junior Architectural Graduate! Where were you born? Burnaby, BC. How did you get into architecture? I was inspired by the architecture of my high school. I found that the different spaces and qualities the building provided enhanced my learning experience. I started taking drafting classes there, and continued studying fine art,
We Are Hiring!
*note: Position filled Proscenium is seeking to hire a SENIOR/INTERMEDIATE INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO WE ARE Proscenium Architecture + Interiors is a forward-thinking, mid-sized Architecture and Interior Design firm working in an integrated design team (IDT) environment. We started in 1996 as a firm specializing in arts & cultural design and expanded our scope over time to include residential, commercial, institutional and public projects of
Two Projects Recognized in Recent Awards
We are proud to share that two buildings we worked on for Chard Development won developer awards in the last month! The Urban Design Institute (UDI) Awards 2022 recognized The Royals for best Purpose Built Market High Rise. UDI recognized Vivid at the Yates for best Non-Market Housing. The Georgie Awards also recognized Chard for Vivid at the Yates with the Provincial Award for Excellence
T3 Mount Pleasant receives support from Design Panel
Last week, we received support from the Design Panel for T3 Mount Pleasant, a new 12-storey mass-timber office project designed by DLR Group for which Proscenium is Associate Architect. The project (developed by Houston-based Hines and local developer PC Urban) joins other T3 buildings around the world named for their use of mass timber, technology and close proximity to transit. Renders by Steelblue
Donation Drive for WISH and Working Gear!
Spring is in the air and we have completed our annual donation drive for WISH Drop-in Centre and Working Gear! These are two great organizations that benefit folks in need in our community. Proscenium has been supporting WISH and Working Gear since 2010. We truly believe in the work they are doing and are glad to be able to donate physical items again. Thanks to
MEC Vancouver receives 2022 SABMag Award
We are excited to announce that MEC Vancouver Store has received the 2022 SABMag Canadian Green Building Award for Mixed-Use projects! We are blown away at the recognition this building has had since its completion in 2020, including the 2020 BC Wood Design Award, 2021 Canada Green Building Award, runner-up for the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Award and now the 2022 SAB Mag Award. It's a
Meet Saeedeh, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
We are excited to welcome Saeedeh to our growing team at Proscenium! She joins us with a Masters of Urban Design from UBC and has hit the ground running in a busy spring season at the firm. Where were you born? I was born in Tehran, Capital of Iran How did you get into architecture? When I was 15 I visited an art school. I
Staff Ski Day 2022
For our winter staff day out this year, one half of the team opted for a romp through the snowy woods of Cypress Mountain while the other half took a meander through Vancouver Art Gallery! We were lucky to have a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy the afternoon away from phones and emails. Staff Ski Day came a little late for actual skiing this year,
An ASHRAE Technology Award for the MEC Vancouver Store
We are thrilled to share the news that mechanical/electrical lead on MEC Vancouver, Pageau Morel, has received second-place for MEC Vancouver at the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Awards. During the winter conference of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Pageau Morel received a second-place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) store project in Vancouver.
Mass Timber projects featured on ArchDaily
We're excited to see that two of our MEC projects have been featured in this great new article on biophilia and workplace design on ArchDaily. The article points to the positive effects of wood in built environments, including the sensory experience of users and its timeless aesthetic value as a natural material. The article points out that several new studies, including one from the University of British
Working with a local Performing Arts School
For many years Proscenium has worked with local arts groups, big and small, to realize their vision for performing spaces. We are excited to share that we are designing a new home for Vancouver Performing Stars, a dance and theatre performance school for children and youth. The project includes a black box theatre with approximately 90 seats, 2 secondary studios, offices, front of house including
Four projects are finalists for the Georgie Awards
We are excited to share that four projects we recently completed for Chard Development are named as finalists in the 2022 Georgie Awards, hosted by Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. The Georgie Awards celebrate excellence in home building and renovation in the residential construction industry. Projects are submitted by member companies for consideration by a panel of industry professionals from across Canada and the
PAI Insight: Incorporating Theatres into New Developments
Designing and renovating theatres has been a focus of Proscenium since 1996 when our firm started. In recent years, we have been approached by multiple clients who want to design theatres that are incorporated into new developments. Often this results in having a theatre on ground level (at grade) with a residential or mixed-use building attached. When handled correctly we think this is a great
Designing Ballet BC’s New Home
We are excited to be working with Ballet BC with the design of their future home on Granville Island! Our team is currently working with the dance company to renovate the space at 1286 Cartwright St, formerly occupied by Arts Umbrella. The project includes new administration and dance rehearsal spaces. Over the holidays the company announced the news: Following more than a decade at Scotiabank
Happy Holidays from PAI!
Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season, from all of us here at Proscenium. Our office will be closed from noon on December 24th to Tuesday, January 4th. See you in the New Year!
Supporting Carnegie Community Centre & The Gathering Place
Over the years, Proscenium has held donation drives to support two exceptional organizations we have worked on in the past, Carnegie Community Centre and The Gathering Place in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. This year, we are excited to be collecting physical items from our staff to bundle together and drop off to benefit their programs! A little bit of history: CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Carnegie Centre is
PAI Highlight: 1235 Marine Drive
We are pleased to be moving forward in the design phase with our project at 1235 Marine Drive in North Vancouver! This Mixed-Use project on the vibrant Marine Drive corridor consists of one floor of Commercial Retail and three stories of market residential condos ranging from one to two bedrooms. Some great design features include: A widened pedestrian sidewalk and added seating to encourage
Photographing our New Office
We decided to wait until most of the team was back in office before taking some pictures to show off the space! Thanks to Kori for his photography skills and the Interiors team for their help. Our office is located on the third floor of the MEC Vancouver building (have you heard about its new award?). A bonus of designing this building was envisioning a new
QET and BMO Theatre featured in Construct Connect
We're excited to see two of our favourite theatre projects featured in September's edition of Construct Connect. The issue's main feature is an article on Acoustics called "Perfecting the Sound Experience in Theatres", written by Payam Ashtiani. It's certainly an interesting time for the performing arts community as audiences re-enter theatres following the pandemic. Many organizations are looking for safe ways to accommodate higher numbers
MEC Vancouver wins CaGBC Award for New Construction
We are so pleased to receive the 2021 Canadian Green Building Award for New Construction for MEC Vancouver! Thank you to Canada Green Building Council for recognizing the project. Hugh Cochlin will be giving a presentation on the building's many green features along with Roland Charneux next week, September 28th at 9am PST. CaGBC Awards Lunch ‘n’ Learn: New Construction Tuesday, September 28th; 9-10 am
Lawn Bowling with PAI Staff
For the first time ever, it rained so much we almost didn't get to play! Our staff's annual August lawn bowling tournament at Dunbar Lawn Bowling was a bit colder than usual this year -- but great fun once we got moving! Laughing, heckling and lawn bowling jargon were heard all over the green and PAI staff persisted through the weather with good attitudes and
MEC Head Office Featured in a Japanese Magazine
The MEC Head Office was featured in the Japanese Wood Building Magazine. It looks at our high use of wood throughout the building.
Meet Proscenium’s Employees!
Name? Shereen Chak Where were you born? Toronto, Ontario Where did you go to school? Why? I went to University of British Columbia for Architecture school. I believe that sustainability and awareness of the natural environment is important for design, plus I love how beautiful and culturally diverse Vancouver is! What class in school has proven to be the least useful? Philosophy of Art. it has not proved useful
New West Scavenger Hunt
Last Friday the staff of Proscenium did a scavenger hunt out in New Westminster. We learnt about some New West history and architecture, then had a fabulous time at Steele & Oak where we drank excellent beer, ate some delicious BBQ and enjoyed the sunny weather.
UBC Pool/Gym Renovation
Proscenium recently completed a renovation of one of the pools up at UBC and converted it into a new gym space.
Proscenium collects items for the WISH Charity
Last week Proscenium organized a clothing and item drive for the WISH Charity. The WISH Charity focuses exclusively on aiding female sex workers by providing a non-judgemental place where they can get nutritious hot meals, showers and hygiene items and clothing. They also help by providing an on-site nurse, referrals to detox centres/rehabilitation houses and shelters for upwards of 150 women. Thank you to all
Langara’s Science and Technology building progression
The new Science and Technology building continues to progress towards its June 2016 opening. This week, the temporary shores have been removed and the cantilever is now realized.
Office Food Scraps and Recycling Programs
Get some great ideas on food scraps and recycling programs for the office from this article in Business Vancouver featuring expert advice from Jeff Bohnen, Office Manager at MEC.
Fun Fridays
The unprecedented good weather Vancouver has been enjoying this summer has sparked the imagination of the folks here at Proscenium and has resulted in Fun Fridays. Nearly every Friday this summer saw some kind of treat or fun activity. There was the Crawfish lunch complete with bibs, the Lucky’s donuts that just appeared one morning (Thanks Ben P!) and the blender drinks topped with little
Meet PAI Employee Steve Dixon
Where were you born? Woodlands, New Zealand. It's a tiny rural village of about 150 people at the bottom of the country. How did you get into design? I became interested in design when I was a kid watching my uncle drawing floor plans and construction details at his drafting table. I was fascinated with technical drawing and after taking graphic design in high
Meet PAI Employee Juliette Dubois
s Where were you born? Brussels, Belgium How did you get into design? I’ve always been touched by beautiful things and spaces and I wanted to improve people’s lives through my work, so design seemed like the perfect way to combine both. What class in school has proven to be the least useful? None. Even the classes I thought weren’t useful at the time
Design Week MEC Head Office Tour
MEC Head Office Tour (May 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at 1077 Great Northern Way) Get a behind-the-scenes look at MEC, the grand-daddy of sporting-goods stores in Vancouver, with a free tour of the company’s East Van HQ. Led by the company’s CEO, CFO, and senior director of product design, as well as Hugh Cochlin, principal of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors, the jaunt will walk
Lt. Governor Merit Award: Langara College Science & Technology Building
We are honoured to have received one of three Lt. Governor Merit Awards for The Langara College Science and Technology Building. The $54-million building is a gateway to the college’s main campus that cantilevers out 16 metres over the 49th Avenue entrance. Proscenium Architecture and Interiors Inc in association with Teeple Architects Inc
Western Living Magazine: Kitchen Design Secret #11
http://ow.ly/Jqp830j4kmx 9. Know that a kitchen is more than just a place to cook. When architect Kori Chan of Proscenium Architecture and Interiors began working with his clients on designing their dream home, it was clear that the design of the space itself was far more important to them than flashy appliances or marble counters. So the budget went into creating an airy open-concept design, complete with
MEC Head Office news & award
In November 2017 Canada Green Building Council certified The MEC Head Office LEED Canada Platinum, the highest level of distinction for a sustainable building! In January 2018, ASHRAE awarded Pageau Morel 1st Place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the construction of the Mountain Equipment Co-op Head Office.
Elenore on Fifth in the news
Our Elenore on Fifth project was featured in The Vancouver Sun by Kathleen Freimond: http://vancouversun.com/homes/buying-selling/elenore-on-fifth-set-to-maximize-outlooks “The podium steps down and the tower itself steps down, creating the massing that moves with the slope of the land and allows us to have lovely big terraced decks,” Cochlin says.
Proscenium is Hiring!
We are currently looking for a junior and two intermediate Architectural Graduates, Graduate Technologists or Interior Designers with at least 2 to 3 years of postgraduate experience. This individual must be confident enough to take on projects, develop a work plan and work well both independently and as part of a team. Confidence in decision making and
Langara S&T Building to be certified LEED Gold!
We are proud to announce that the Langara College Science and Technology building has achieved 67 LEED points and will be certified as a GOLD level building!!!
MEC Head Office receives Landscaping Award
15th Annual Design Awards of Excellence Awards Announced Connect Landscaping is excited to announce that two projects will be recognized with the 2017 Green Roof and Wall Award of Excellence. The Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence will be awarded for Mountain Equipment Co-op Head Office and VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre in September at the 15th Annual CitiesAlive in Seattle, WA. https://citiesalive.org/ http://connectla.ca/blog/
Metal Construction News article: Rheinzink
Renovating a Historic Cathedral Marcy Marro, Editor, Posted 07/03/2017 RHEINZINK protects and preserves heritage of 120-year-old church Built in 1894, Christ Church Cathedral was the first church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over the past 22 years, the church underwent a major four-phase renovation, which concluded with the total replacement of its roof. The church's original roof was cedar shake, and over the years, various additions and modifications were undertaken,
Pipe Shop Completed
We are excited to present our freshly completed renovation of the Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Accessible washrooms, a servery, a projector surface, and fresh paint were added to the 1940’s Pipefitter’s Building – a 9,050 square foot community hall at the base of Lonsdale Avenue. Check out the full project description in our WORK section! Photography by Sam
Energia Prize: Letter of Congratulations
Following the Energia Prize we received last May, we’ve received a congratulation letter from the Minister of “Développement Durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatique" of the province of Quebec. We thought we’d share the letter: Gentlemen, I would like to address my most sincere congratulations on winning the “AQME Prize” during the 2017 Energia Contest organized by l’Association québécoise pour la maitrise
The Jericho Tennis Club Pool & Deck Project is complete!
Please see the "Work" page of this site for more photos and details of this project.
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes Pageau Morel!
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes excellence in Quebecois achievements and celebrates local genius in matters of energy efficiency in categories related to building, technological innovations, industrial processes and manufacturing, transportation, integrated design and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Pageau Morel was recognized as the electrical and mechanical engineering firm on the design team of MEC’s Head Office, which was designed using an integrated design process involving
Pipe Shop Venue Renovation – North Vancouver
We are thrilled to see the community embrace our recently completed renovation of The Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Since opening on April 8th, The Pipe Shop has hosted weddings, yoga classes, galas, dinners, pop-up markets, night markets, early learning initiatives, photo shoots, and private events. The Pipe Shop, built in the 1940’s and previously known as the Pipefitter's Building, was
Proscenium wins AIBC Special Jury Award for Christ Church Cathedral!
We are honoured to have received The AIBC Special Jury Award for the long term stewardship of a significant heritage resource and seismic upgrading technology for our work on the Restoration and Renewal of the Christ Church Cathedral. The C.C.C. team included Hugh Cochlin, Matthew Kurnicki, Ron Clay, Ben Nielsen, Sarah Piccinato and Sara Theuerkauf. We couldn't have done it without The Christ Church Cathedral
Progress Report: Jericho Tennis Club hot tub
The tiling for both the JTC hot tub and pool are being filled for testing. Although there is much to be done, one can now envision just how awesome it will be to relax in the tub, jets firing and take in the spectacular mountain view from this beach-front project site.
Canadian Architect article on climate change
"Proscenium Architecture + Interiors designed Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Vancouver headquarters to underscore the company’s sustainability agenda, using daylighting and advanced air control systems that allow it to be 70 percent more energy efficient than a conventional office building." -Canadian Architect Magazine Photo by Ed White Photographics https://www.canadianarchitect.com/features/the-heat-is-on/
CCC Bell Tower on the Daily Hive
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/christ-church-cathedral-vancouver-november-2016
MEC Stores-Edmonton
We are very excited about the completion of the newest MEC store in Edmonton! The MEC South Edmonton Common store received final occupancy on Thursday and it's looking great. Meanwhile, the store in the Brewery District (relocation of the downtown store), is moving along quickly and is starting to really take shape.
Bell Tower Lighting
It’s getting darker and darker earlier and earlier. That meant we didn’t have to be up too late on a school night for PAI to be on-site for the focusing and commissioning of the Christ Church Cathedral bell tower lighting. Silver linings.
Bells will be ringing…
Christ Church Cathedral – bell ringing test Monday August 22, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B97luRQcy-M
Christ Church Cathedral Bell-Spire
A crowning feature of the current project is the addition of the highly anticipated bell-spire at the north-east corner of the Cathedral, set atop the existing elevator core. This open glass and steel structure housing four electronically controlled and custom cast bronze bells will be one of the last Architectural additions to this project. This weekend was an exciting milestone, as the bells were lifted
Langara S&T Building to be certified LEED Gold!
We are proud to announce that the Langara College Science and Technology building has achieved 67 LEED points and will be certified as a GOLD level building!!!
Metal Construction News article: Rheinzink
Renovating a Historic Cathedral Marcy Marro, Editor, Posted 07/03/2017 RHEINZINK protects and preserves heritage of 120-year-old church Built in 1894, Christ Church Cathedral was the first church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over the past 22 years, the church underwent a major four-phase renovation, which concluded with the total replacement of its roof. The church's original roof was cedar shake, and over the years, various additions and modifications were undertaken,
Pipe Shop Completed
We are excited to present our freshly completed renovation of the Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Accessible washrooms, a servery, a projector surface, and fresh paint were added to the 1940’s Pipefitter’s Building – a 9,050 square foot community hall at the base of Lonsdale Avenue. Check out the full project description in our WORK section! Photography by Sam
Energia Prize: Letter of Congratulations
Following the Energia Prize we received last May, we’ve received a congratulation letter from the Minister of “Développement Durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatique" of the province of Quebec. We thought we’d share the letter: Gentlemen, I would like to address my most sincere congratulations on winning the “AQME Prize” during the 2017 Energia Contest organized by l’Association québécoise pour la maitrise
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes Pageau Morel!
The 27th Energia Contest recognizes excellence in Quebecois achievements and celebrates local genius in matters of energy efficiency in categories related to building, technological innovations, industrial processes and manufacturing, transportation, integrated design and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Pageau Morel was recognized as the electrical and mechanical engineering firm on the design team of MEC’s Head Office, which was designed using an integrated design process involving
Pipe Shop Venue Renovation – North Vancouver
We are thrilled to see the community embrace our recently completed renovation of The Pipe Shop Venue at the Shipyards, in North Vancouver. Since opening on April 8th, The Pipe Shop has hosted weddings, yoga classes, galas, dinners, pop-up markets, night markets, early learning initiatives, photo shoots, and private events. The Pipe Shop, built in the 1940’s and previously known as the Pipefitter's Building, was
Progress Report: Jericho Tennis Club hot tub
The tiling for both the JTC hot tub and pool are being filled for testing. Although there is much to be done, one can now envision just how awesome it will be to relax in the tub, jets firing and take in the spectacular mountain view from this beach-front project site.
Canadian Architect article on climate change
"Proscenium Architecture + Interiors designed Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Vancouver headquarters to underscore the company’s sustainability agenda, using daylighting and advanced air control systems that allow it to be 70 percent more energy efficient than a conventional office building." -Canadian Architect Magazine Photo by Ed White Photographics https://www.canadianarchitect.com/features/the-heat-is-on/
CCC Bell Tower on the Daily Hive
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/christ-church-cathedral-vancouver-november-2016
Christ Church Cathedral Bell-Spire
A crowning feature of the current project is the addition of the highly anticipated bell-spire at the north-east corner of the Cathedral, set atop the existing elevator core. This open glass and steel structure housing four electronically controlled and custom cast bronze bells will be one of the last Architectural additions to this project. This weekend was an exciting milestone, as the bells were lifted
Christ Church Cathedral Bell Tower
On Friday July 8th, 2016, crews lifted into place the two halves of the new Christ Church Cathedral Bell Tower. The tower was constructed and painted offsite to take advantage of the precision assembly and coating possible in a controlled shop environment. It was constructed in two halves because the transmission of gravity loads generated by lifting the entire tower would have blown in the
MEC’s Head Office graces cover of Interior Designers of Canada’s D Magazine
Our own Kerri Shinkewski was interviewed for the brand new Spring 2016 edition of D magazine! The article explores the use of sustainability practices in the design of the MEC Head Office.
Langara’s Science and Technology Building’s Steel Structure
The Langara Science and Technology continues to make good progress. Below you can find some of the work that has been done on the steel structure. Photos by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural Photography Photo by Latreille Architectural
UBC Pool/Gym Renovation
Proscenium recently completed a renovation of one of the pools up at UBC and converted it into a new gym space.
Artist Selected for Christ Church Bell Spire
Proscenium has been working with Christ Church Cathedral on restoring their heritage cathedral over the last decade. The current phase of work sees the restoration of the roof along with the construction of a 1oo foot tall bell spire clad in stained glass. The bell spire is one step closer to reality with the selection of Canadian artist, Sarah Hall and her stained glass design,
Patagonia’s Vancouver Flagship Coming Soon
Proscenium is hard at work with Patagonia on their new Vancouver store, the first in city and only the second in Canada. The West 4th flagship location in Kitsilano is targeted to open at the end of November just in time for the Christmas shopping season. This adaptive re-use project retains much of the existing building, salvaging as much material as possible for the new store.
Guest Blogger: Jeff Bohnen, MEC
We are so excited to have Jeff Bohnen, Office Services Manager at MEC back as a guest blogger. Please read on for some insight into the process of bringing the new MEC head office to life. After years of continued expansion, MEC has simply outgrown our existing Head Office space. Creative solutions to increase our capacity – increasing density by removing separation panels to create open,
Office Field Trip
It was a rainy Friday when the office trekked out to see our latest completed project; 17,000 square feet of office space for Austeville Properties in Vancouver. As the Final touches were being completed we had the opportunity to tour the space, appreciate the workmanship and a job well done.
Duet
Proscenium had the good fortune to work once again with Chard Development on their new residential project in Victoria. Now under construction, the Duet is 90 condos nestled in the prime Victoria neighbourhood of James Bay. You can read more about our design process with Chard Development on the Duet Blog.
Meet Maria, our new Interior Designer!
We would like to welcome Maria Volk, who joined Proscenium this summer as a Senior Interior Designer! We are thrilled to have her as part of the team. Where were you born? Victoria, BC. How did you get into interior design? My best friend encouraged me. What class in school has proven to be the least useful? Lighting…but only because it wasn’t about design it
Setting up Royal Bay Presentation Centre
After three recent successful residential projects in Victoria, BC in the last few years, Proscenium is excited to be continuing our work on Vancouver Island in Colwood, BC! We are providing full interior design services for Royal Bay Ryder Village, a new multi-family residential development located in the Royal Bay neighbourhood of Colwood, at the edge of an urban seaside. Our interior design team
Our Story – Celebrating 25 years of Proscenium
It is with pride that we recognize 25 years of Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc! What started in 1996 as a small architecture and interior design firm specializing in theatre design has grown to a mid-sized firm in 2022 working across many project types. We want to take this opportunity to reflect on where we came from and where we are going. Team members
750 SW Marine Drive in for DP
We are excited to start this new mixed-use project in the quickly developing South Marpole area of Vancouver. Proscenium is providing full architectural services for 750 SW Marine Drive, an eight-storey office/industrial building for Chard Development awaiting its Development Permit. This is a much-needed building typology in Vancouver and we have used our recent experience to optimally combine office and industrial use in the
UBC MacLeod: Inside the Envelope
Clothing a building has become infinitely more complex due to new building codes. Building envelope technology, which once may have been akin to throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, is now the equivalent of designing a custom Gore-Tex parka, with a sweat-wicking base layer for good measure. As expectations for buildings’ environmental performance increase to meet new sustainability goals by clients and municipalities, navigating envelope
Meet Natasha, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
A very warm welcome to Natasha Louie, who joined Proscenium in May as a Junior Architectural Graduate! Where were you born? Burnaby, BC. How did you get into architecture? I was inspired by the architecture of my high school. I found that the different spaces and qualities the building provided enhanced my learning experience. I started taking drafting classes there, and continued studying fine art,
We Are Hiring!
*note: Position filled Proscenium is seeking to hire a SENIOR/INTERMEDIATE INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO WE ARE Proscenium Architecture + Interiors is a forward-thinking, mid-sized Architecture and Interior Design firm working in an integrated design team (IDT) environment. We started in 1996 as a firm specializing in arts & cultural design and expanded our scope over time to include residential, commercial, institutional and public projects of
Two Projects Recognized in Recent Awards
We are proud to share that two buildings we worked on for Chard Development won developer awards in the last month! The Urban Design Institute (UDI) Awards 2022 recognized The Royals for best Purpose Built Market High Rise. UDI recognized Vivid at the Yates for best Non-Market Housing. The Georgie Awards also recognized Chard for Vivid at the Yates with the Provincial Award for Excellence
T3 Mount Pleasant receives support from Design Panel
Last week, we received support from the Design Panel for T3 Mount Pleasant, a new 12-storey mass-timber office project designed by DLR Group for which Proscenium is Associate Architect. The project (developed by Houston-based Hines and local developer PC Urban) joins other T3 buildings around the world named for their use of mass timber, technology and close proximity to transit. Renders by Steelblue
Donation Drive for WISH and Working Gear!
Spring is in the air and we have completed our annual donation drive for WISH Drop-in Centre and Working Gear! These are two great organizations that benefit folks in need in our community. Proscenium has been supporting WISH and Working Gear since 2010. We truly believe in the work they are doing and are glad to be able to donate physical items again. Thanks to
MEC Vancouver receives 2022 SABMag Award
We are excited to announce that MEC Vancouver Store has received the 2022 SABMag Canadian Green Building Award for Mixed-Use projects! We are blown away at the recognition this building has had since its completion in 2020, including the 2020 BC Wood Design Award, 2021 Canada Green Building Award, runner-up for the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Award and now the 2022 SAB Mag Award. It's a
Meet Saeedeh, our new Junior Architectural Graduate!
We are excited to welcome Saeedeh to our growing team at Proscenium! She joins us with a Masters of Urban Design from UBC and has hit the ground running in a busy spring season at the firm. Where were you born? I was born in Tehran, Capital of Iran How did you get into architecture? When I was 15 I visited an art school. I
Staff Ski Day 2022
For our winter staff day out this year, one half of the team opted for a romp through the snowy woods of Cypress Mountain while the other half took a meander through Vancouver Art Gallery! We were lucky to have a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy the afternoon away from phones and emails. Staff Ski Day came a little late for actual skiing this year,
An ASHRAE Technology Award for the MEC Vancouver Store
We are thrilled to share the news that mechanical/electrical lead on MEC Vancouver, Pageau Morel, has received second-place for MEC Vancouver at the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Awards. During the winter conference of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Pageau Morel received a second-place Technology Award in the New Commercial Buildings category for the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) store project in Vancouver.
Mass Timber projects featured on ArchDaily
We're excited to see that two of our MEC projects have been featured in this great new article on biophilia and workplace design on ArchDaily. The article points to the positive effects of wood in built environments, including the sensory experience of users and its timeless aesthetic value as a natural material. The article points out that several new studies, including one from the University of British
Working with a local Performing Arts School
For many years Proscenium has worked with local arts groups, big and small, to realize their vision for performing spaces. We are excited to share that we are designing a new home for Vancouver Performing Stars, a dance and theatre performance school for children and youth. The project includes a black box theatre with approximately 90 seats, 2 secondary studios, offices, front of house including
Four projects are finalists for the Georgie Awards
We are excited to share that four projects we recently completed for Chard Development are named as finalists in the 2022 Georgie Awards, hosted by Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. The Georgie Awards celebrate excellence in home building and renovation in the residential construction industry. Projects are submitted by member companies for consideration by a panel of industry professionals from across Canada and the
PAI Insight: Incorporating Theatres into New Developments
Designing and renovating theatres has been a focus of Proscenium since 1996 when our firm started. In recent years, we have been approached by multiple clients who want to design theatres that are incorporated into new developments. Often this results in having a theatre on ground level (at grade) with a residential or mixed-use building attached. When handled correctly we think this is a great
Designing Ballet BC’s New Home
We are excited to be working with Ballet BC with the design of their future home on Granville Island! Our team is currently working with the dance company to renovate the space at 1286 Cartwright St, formerly occupied by Arts Umbrella. The project includes new administration and dance rehearsal spaces. Over the holidays the company announced the news: Following more than a decade at Scotiabank
Happy Holidays from PAI!
Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season, from all of us here at Proscenium. Our office will be closed from noon on December 24th to Tuesday, January 4th. See you in the New Year!
Supporting Carnegie Community Centre & The Gathering Place
Over the years, Proscenium has held donation drives to support two exceptional organizations we have worked on in the past, Carnegie Community Centre and The Gathering Place in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. This year, we are excited to be collecting physical items from our staff to bundle together and drop off to benefit their programs! A little bit of history: CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Carnegie Centre is
PAI Highlight: 1235 Marine Drive
We are pleased to be moving forward in the design phase with our project at 1235 Marine Drive in North Vancouver! This Mixed-Use project on the vibrant Marine Drive corridor consists of one floor of Commercial Retail and three stories of market residential condos ranging from one to two bedrooms. Some great design features include: A widened pedestrian sidewalk and added seating to encourage
Photographing our New Office
We decided to wait until most of the team was back in office before taking some pictures to show off the space! Thanks to Kori for his photography skills and the Interiors team for their help. Our office is located on the third floor of the MEC Vancouver building (have you heard about its new award?). A bonus of designing this building was envisioning a new
QET and BMO Theatre featured in Construct Connect
We're excited to see two of our favourite theatre projects featured in September's edition of Construct Connect. The issue's main feature is an article on Acoustics called "Perfecting the Sound Experience in Theatres", written by Payam Ashtiani. It's certainly an interesting time for the performing arts community as audiences re-enter theatres following the pandemic. Many organizations are looking for safe ways to accommodate higher numbers
