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The Fifth + Bank apartment building by Minto Apartments is a seven-storey urban infill project connected to a two-storey heritage building located at 99 Fifth Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Avenue in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood.

Wishing you the gift of health and happiness this holiday. May the true spirit of the season fill your hearts and homes with joy.

Chmiel Architects is a high profile medium-sized Architectural firm, located in downtown Ottawa.

Although women and men now enroll in architecture school in roughly equal numbers, it’s still a vastly male-dominated profession, with women representing only about one in five licensed professionals.

Adding a new residential landmark to a well-established neighbourhood is not something to be done in a slapdash manner. It requires thoughtful design that takes into account everything from the building’s relationship to the street and residents’ various modes of transportation, to complimenting the surrounding area and providing the right amenities for the people who will be living there.

Just a few blocks from Parliament Hill, National Arts Centre, and the Ottawa ByWard Market, The Alt Hotel and The Slater (199 Slater) are fresh and bright, a spectacular example of contemporary design by Chmiel Architects and Lemay Michaud Architecture Design. This 23-storey infill project combines two separate occupancies in one high rise configuration: a condominium and a boutique hotel.

On July 5th, we celebrate a female pioneer of architecture, Ethel Mary Charles – the first woman architect to join the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1898. Because of her trailblazing the way, today we recognize and highlight the achievements of women in architecture worldwide, and within our own organization.

What makes for the best work environment? Seems to be forever evolving, however, more and more companies are starting to tear down their cubicles and share their workspace – which in turn is changing the way we as architects think about office design of the future. Research has shown that conversation, noise, and (just a touch of) chaos can actually be good for sparking up creativity and co-worker collaboration. Researchers also believe that physical space is the key to forming friendships and positive work relationships, as people who pass each other often or work within close quarters have adopted similar attitudes and styles – resulting in an exchange of knowledge, thoughts, ideas and surprising combinations.

Joule is a new company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. Branched from the Canadian Medical Association, it was created to foster connections and healthcare changes through physician-led innovations, including grants and labs, health hacking events, and delivery of trusted products and services. When we launched the project, we immediately recognized two major challenges that required addressing.

The Forum Lecture series, organized through Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism, introduces students, faculty and the Ottawa community to a host of leading practitioners and architectural critics. Through the generous support of local sponsors, the series is free and open to the public, and invites the city to engage in emerging ideas and celebrate the architectural profession. Upcoming Forum Lectures are taking place on January 23rd, February 6th and March 20th, 2017.

On September 22nd, 84 golfers gathered for the 4th Annual Keltic Cup Charity Golf Classic at the Marshes Golf Club. More than $8,500 was raised in support of cancer coaching and survivorship programs offered through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation’s Maplesoft Centre.

Before planning any new build, architects and builders should always consider the importance of social space within a building. Social architecture is the conscious design of an environment that encourages a desired range of social behaviours. Social psychologist Kurt Lewin (1936) designated this equation as: B = f (p,e) which stands for “Behavior is the function of a person within their environment.”