ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. AMS NEST in Vancouver, Canada by DIALOG and B+H ArchitectsOctober 1st, 2015 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: DIALOG and B+H Architects DIALOG and B+H Architects collaboratively translate student-driven design ideas into AMS Nest, setting the benchmark for publicly engaged design with this new, sustainable center The return of students to UBC coincides with the highly anticipated opening of the AMS Nest – a new 250,000 square foot, LEED Platinum student union building.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter
 Image Courtesy © Ema Peter The five-storey, $107M student union building designed by DIALOG and B+H Architects received 75% of its funding from the students, resulting in a unique design process where the union took on the role of client, and student engagement became the driving factor from proponent selection through to construction. The outcome of this heavily collaborative process is a sustainable, democratic hub and campus centerpiece that serves as a testament to student life and engagement while establishing a new standard for contemporary, institutional design.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter “Students from all over the world attend UBC. It was incredibly important for us that the built space be meaningful and comfortable; a space that would create a sense of place for the students and improve the quality of life on campus through design,” explains Joost Bakker, leader of the joint DIALOG and B+H efforts.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter “We’re incredibly proud of the architectural design. It is a contemporary solution and the students love it. Our hope is that the AMS Nest becomes a benchmark for what can be achieved through innovative collaboration,” adds Kevin Stelzer, principal at B+H Architects.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter Through a student-driven design competition, independent from the university, DIALOG and B+H Architects were selected as the winning team based on their collective experience delivering community-centred designs. Engaging with students via a social-media, YouTube and poster campaign actively exploring the design process was necessary to fully capture student voices.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter In addition, DIALOG and B+H hosted eighteen collaborative workshops to provide an ongoing platform for students to express their goals and collective vision for the site. Fostering a transparent and engaging process, a pop-up glass cubicle, the “Design Cube”, was erected in the old student union building, allowing open communication and student consensus during the 4-year process.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter Sustainable building features include a high-performance cladding system and triple glazing to ensure low energy consumption, resulting in the SUB using a fraction of the energy of a conventional building. A high-performance solar roof produces energy and heat, as well as cooling.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter To nurture economic sustainability, the multi-purpose site houses a myriad of functions from student club rooms, food and beverage, retail, daycare, meeting rooms, a 3-storey indoor climbing wall and a multi-purpose event space. The student-run pub and eatery program, one of the union’s main revenue drivers, even utilizes products grown directly on the building’s green roof.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter Ensuring it would remain future-proof was a priority and many aspects of the design are moveable, reconfigurable, de/reconstructible systems to allow flexibility to respond to short-term changes (hours, days, months, etc). Durable materials and non-prescriptive elements allow for adaptation to occur over longer timescales. The skillful combination of the two provides a robust and nimble capacity to respond to the challenges of designing for unknowable futures.  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter In terms of social sustainability and establishing a distinct sense of place, the AMS Nest’s site is strategically programmed to respond to the campus mater plan, and tailored to integrate the existing and iconic grassy “knoll” on UBC’s campus. Rich woods, and warm materials define the interior palate, while the layout is centered on a classical “agora” as a nod to the building’s democratic design process. Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter  Image Courtesy © Ema Peter About DIALOG DIALOG is the language of collaboration. The name conveys the firm’s uniquely collaborative approach, founded upon engagement of clients and communities by multidisciplinary teams in an interactive planning and design process that encompasses architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, urban design and landscape architecture services. It is an approach that has garnered international recognition for the firm’s outstanding contributions to the public realm and the design of cities. In a world of increasing challenges in the way we live, move and work, DIALOG is a strong voice for innovative thinking and sustainable leadership – a discussion that benefits from the collaboration of people with unique perspectives. We attribute our strength to our multidisciplinary team of over 550 people who collaborate across four studios. www.dialogdesign.ca About B+H Architects With a legacy of over 60 years of achievement in the built environment, B+H Architects is an award-winning full-service architecture and design firm recognized for the delivery of sustainable design, problem-solving and construction administration skills to large-scale, technically complex projects around the world. A global practice with studios in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Dubai and Jeddah, the work of B+H spans all sectors – commercial, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, institutional, mixed-use, residential, retail, sports and transportation. bharchitects.com.
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