Previous Meetings
2003 Annual Meeting
Victoria, BC, October 3-5
Theme: "Borders and Boundaries: How These Factors have Shaped the Architecture of Their Areas."
Chapter members met at Victoria, British Columbia on October 3-5. Fifty members and guests attended all or some of the conference events, which were held at several venues around the provincial capital region. The Chapter welcomed registrants from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Delaware.
The organizing theme of the conference was Borders and Boundaries: How These Factors have Shaped the Architecture of Their Areas, and attendees were treated to visits, tours, and lectures illuminating each of the stated subjects. Early Friday evening members gathered at the Parliament Buildings for a behind-the-scenes tour with architect Alan Hodgson and Martin Segger. Alan, who supervised the restoration of the Buildings and has been involved with their maintenance for decades, led the group on an outstanding presentation. As security guards locked-up after we passed through doorways, we learned the history of the building and were able to view rooms that are normally out of bounds for visitors.
After a short break, members assembled at the Union Club of British Columbia for a reception and dinner in the Begbie Lounge. This Beaux-Arts private club at 805 Gordon Street was designed by San Francisco architect Loren P. Rixford in 1912. The facade of this Victoria landmark is finished in glazed brown brick accented with cream-coloured terra cotta trim. Following remarks from President Martin Segger and greetings from Victoria City Councillor Pamela Madoff, members were treated to a chefs choice dinner with seamless service. After dinner, Steve Barber, Heritage Planner for the City of Victoria presented an overview of Victorias historic preservation program. Justin McGrail, a PhD. candidate at the University of Victoria followed with an illustrated lecture entitled: Shaping Social Spaces: Early Victoria and the Careers of Edward Mallandaine. Both speakers entertained questions from the assembled throng.
Saturday mornings session was held in St. Anns Academy Auditorium. Built in three stages between 1871 and 1910 as a convent and school, the building was rehabilitated, and the historic portions restored, between 1995 and 1998. Six scholarly papers were presented during two sessions. Peter Moogks presentation Fur Trade Architecture in the Pacific Northwest outlined the types of structures and methods of construction used by the early European settlers in this area. Marvin J. Andersons paper entitled Architectural Education in Early American Schools of Engineering illustrated the methods used to train early architects - in engineering schools. Nancy Mackins lecture was entitled Houses of Learning in British Columbia: An Architectural/Pedagogical History and focussed on the buildings used to house aboriginal education. Following a short refreshment break, Henry Matthews presented Human Factors in the Mosques of Mimar Sinan, an examination of Islamic architecture and the lack of written guides to mosques. Jill Singleton followed with Comparison of Designed Landscapes of Waterfront Destinations and Estates Near Victoria, BC, the Evolution of Their Boundaries and Sense of Place with Changes in Land Use which traced the development of significant parcels of land in the Victoria area. The last paper was Go Abroad This Year!: Visiting Germany in the United States by Caroline Swope which examined the need of locales to reinvent themselves as Bavarian in order to attract tourists.
Following a box lunch, delegates were given an opportunity to tour the historic 1858 chapel at St. Anns Academy. President Martin Segger presided at the annual general meeting. where reports of various committees were duly tendered and Treasurer Shirley Courtois presented the summary financial statement for 2002. All incumbent officers were re-elected by acclamation. President Segger noted that the 2004 conference and annual general meeting - a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the chapter - would be held in Eugene, Oregon
Delegates then boarded a bus for the journey to the University of Victorias modernist campus. The bus travelled through the historic Rockland district - home to several Samuel Maclure mansions - and passed through more recent subdivisions. On campus, tour leaders Martin Segger, Chris Thomas, and Alan Hodgson led the group on a walking tour across the academic quadrangle pausing to relate the history of the several buildings encountered en route. Alan Hodgson who was the architect for the music building outlined the difficulties of designing a structure which could provide practice spaces while providing quiet office spaces. The tour ended at the Interfaith Chapel in which the design brings the outside gardens into the chapel interior. The bus then returned to downtown by the Empress Hotel. Those who still had energy and enthusiasm - most of the group - went on a walking tour of downtown and Chinatown.
Dinner that evening was held at the University Club. Following a reception and excellent meal, Grant Hildebrand was presented with the Marion Dean Ross Award for his dedication to the chapter. Guest speaker Don Luxton, editor and author of Building the West: The Early Architects of BC (reviewed in the Summer 2003 newsletter) presented an illustrated lecture which discussed the process of producing the book and related several tales of the unusual men and women who had built the west. Alas, the bus came before we heard all the stories, but ... there is an opportunity for a repeat performance!
The Sunday tour was by Harbour Ferry. These little craft dart around Victorias Inner Harbour carrying locals and tourists to destinations around the waterfront. Our first stop was at the Selkirk Development where architect Franc DAmbrosio outlined the process through which this all-encompassing development was designed. He explained that the people places were determined first, then the buildings were placed in appropriate locations. We then re-boarded the ferries for a tour of the Gorge waterway. The ferry captains have a wealth of knowledge about the waterway and provided an informative commentary throughout the entire trip. The tour finished with lunch at the Canoe Club which put the finishing touches on a very successful - and fun - conference.
Grant Hildebrand receives the Marion Dean Ross Award.
Alan Hodgson leads a tour of the Parliament Buildings.
Sunday Harbour Tour by ferry.
Posted September 05, 2004