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Vancouver Art Gallery Starts Process To Find Architect For New Building

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This morning, the Vancouver Art Gallery put forward an open Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) to launch the process of choosing the architect who will design its new building…

“After years of research and planning for a new Gallery, we are thrilled to be at the stage where we can move forward with our vision to create an innovative and inspiring visual art museum.” says Gallery director Kathleen S. Bartels. “It will enrich lives and play a pivotal role in enhancing Vancouver and British Columbia’s reputation as a vibrant, creative, and desirable place to live, work and visit.”

Responses are invited from all interested architects who meet the qualifications outlined in the RFQ. Submissions from architects will be received by the Gallery from September 5 through October 4, 2013.

“The Vancouver Art Gallery now stands at the threshold of one of the most exciting moments in our 82-year history,” says Gallery Chair Bruce Munro Wright. “Our search now begins for a visionary design that will influence the artistic landscape of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada and attract the attention of the world.”

In April 2013, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to designate two-thirds of a city-owned site at West Georgia and Cambie Streets for the new Vancouver Art Gallery. Artists, community leaders and representatives from arts organizations lauded the historic decision.

The new Vancouver Art Gallery will create and strengthen links between artists, contemporary and historical art, and diverse communities throughout the city, province and around the world. The Gallery will tie the past to the present, make visible Vancouver’s connections to other places in the world, and enhance Vancouver’s reputation as one of the most important international centres for contemporary art production. It will also expand services to the community by dramatically increasing the number and breadth of education and public programs for children, families and adults throughout the region.

Founded in 1931, the Vancouver Art Gallery is recognized as one of Canada’s most respected and exciting visual arts institutions. In the past two decades alone, the Gallery has welcomed nearly 4.5 million visitors. Beyond the borders of British Columbia, the Gallery draws significant tourist audiences from across North America, Europe and Asia.”

You can learn more about the future of the VAG here and get the Fact Sheet and Architect Selection Committee details after the jump…

FACT SHEET

Notice of Request for Qualifications | The Vancouver Art Gallery requests that Architects submit written statements of interest and qualifications to provide architectural services as Design Architect for a new Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Responses are invited from all interested Architects – local, national and international – who meet the outlined qualifications. Architects must complete the Response Requirements of the Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) and must demonstrate, among other qualifications, the following:

• Experience providing design leadership on comparable projects, including an ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with an extensive team of professionals and stakeholders;
• Experience with master planning complex sites with multiple users, including the sensitive integration of buildings with the public;
• Demonstrated ability to design to budget and to meet schedule commitments such that the project is on time and on budget;
• Experience with planning, design, and construction of museums or cultural/exhibition facilities and/or comparable public buildings;
• Experience creating dynamic and innovative spaces, particularly those enhancing visitor experience and engagement;
• Experience and commitment to sustainable design; and
• Experience and capability to produce thorough design and construction documents.

RFQ Available – September 5, 2013
Interested architects must contact the Gallery at [email protected] to express interest and to receive a copy of the full RFQ.

Pre-Submittal Site Visit – September 25, 2013
The Gallery will hold an optional site visit, including a presentation on the Gallery’s project objectives, RFQ Response Requirements, and a tour of the existing museum and new site. The site visit will be held on September 26, 2013.

Responses – Due October 4, 2013
RFQ Responses will be due no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on October 4, 2013. Responses that are not received by the Gallery by this time will be excluded from consideration. Any clarification of, interpretation of, or changes to the RFQ will be made by written communication to all Architects.

Architect Selection Committee

Bruce Munro Wright
Chair, Vancouver Art Gallery Board of Trustees, Architect Selection Committee Chair, and Managing Partner, Goodman’s, LLP

David Aisenstat
Past Chair, Board of Trustees, and CEO, Keg Steakhouse + Bar

Michael Audain
Gallery Board Trustee, Chair, Vancouver Art Gallery Foundation, and Founder and Chairman, Polygon Homes Ltd.

George Baird
Founding Principal, Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, and Emeritus Professor of Architecture, and former Dean of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto

Kathleen Bartels
Director, Vancouver Art Gallery

Andrew Gruft
Professor Emeritus, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, The University of British
Columbia

Terry Hui
Board Trustee, and President and CEO of Concord Pacific Developments Inc.

Sherry Killam
Board Trustee, practicing artist, and Co-Founder, French Country Antiques

George Killy
Chair Emeritus, Board of Trustees, and President of Harley Street Holdings Inc.

Phil Lind
Board Trustee, Vice Chairman, Rogers Communications

Jeff Wall
Artist

Peeter Wesik
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Gallery Building Committee Chair, and Chairman, Wesgroup Properties

Mirko Zardini
Director, Canadian Centre for Architecture

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