Please join us for a presentation on Limberlost Place, a project under construction for Toronto’s George Brown College, poised to be one of the first assembly occupancy, tall, exposed mass timber, net-zero carbon emissions buildings in the world. Project lead Carol Phillips will discuss the research and innovation that went into winning the international design competition, and the significant challenges associated with navigating the regulatory and approvals processes thereafter. Carol will discuss the project’s structural design testing and code approvals, funded by both the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Canada, in addition to the ambitious sustainability targets set forth by Waterfront Toronto and the City’s Planning and Development Dept. Already the recipient of 8 awards for innovation and design excellence, Limberlost Place is set to open new doors for mass timber construction in Canada.
Carol Phillips is a Partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects (MTA) and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Her portfolio includes MTA’s most ambitious, low-carbon, mass timber, LEED Platinum, and net-zero targeted projects, including Limberlost Place (a joint venture with Acton Ostry Architects) for George Brown College, and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Multi-Tenant Commercial Building.
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Michael von Hausen presented the key ingredients to developing next-generation public realm design that embraces both the past and the future. Based on his most recent book: Public Realm: The Next Makers Handbook (Tellwell, 2022) and through extensive illustrations and examples, he presented both the theoretical foundation and forward-thinking ideas for the many components of public realm design, from streets and pathways to squares and parks. He talked about a new attitude and process that inspires the design of fun, captivating, and complete places. This advanced public realm can be our common ground for building a renewed and healthier community in post-pandemic times that is inclusive, equitable, and exciting.
Michael is a native of Ottawa and brings 40 years in public and private practice as both a professional planner and landscape architect. His global consulting practice is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia and has won many local, provincial, and international awards for its innovation and sensitivity. Michael combines his practice with university teaching as an adjunct professor at both Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Island University. He directed the award-winning certificate in Urban Design Program at Simon Fraser University for 20 years. Michael is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and a past President of the BC Society of Landscape Architects. He is a Harvard-trained urban designer and development economics specialist. In 2020, he received the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects Award for Research and Innovation. In 2021, Michael co-founded the Great Communities Institute and is the Chief Executive Officer.
His four recent books include: Public Realm: The New Makers Handbook (2022); New Pathways to Approvals: Developing Better Communities Together (2021); Small is Big: Creating the Next Great Small to Mid-Size Downtowns (2019); and Dynamic Urban Design: A Handbook for Creating Sustainable Communities Worldwide (2013). These books are available on his website www.mvhinc.com or www.amazon.ca . See web link for his recent book’s short video: New Pathways to Approvals: Web link: https://youtu.be/Kky7WMdE5qU.
