University Development in Vancouver, BC, Canada

COLOURIZED BARCODE SPELLS SUCCESS FOR REVITALIZED BUSINESS SCHOOL Sauder School of Business Unveils Facility Facelift at Grand Opening Celebration UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC (14 January 2010) - After many years of intensive planning and design - and two years of disruptive construction - students, faculty, staff and guests celebrated the opening of the new state-of-the-art expansion and renovation of the Sauder School of Business and the Robert H. Lee Graduate School located on the UBC Point Grey Campus. To achieve a new, bold, identity for the Sauder School of Business, Acton Ostry Architects wrapped the old impassive concrete building with a new glazed facade that references the rhythm and pattern language associated with the universal transfer of digital commerce and business information - a barcode. To enliven the expression, an oscillating pattern of stained blue and green wood panels and coloured glass - the colours of which were inspired from the paintings of BC artists such as B.C. Binning, Gordon Smith and Emily Carr - have been applied to the exterior of the original building. "The rhythm of the existing building structure reminded us of a barcode," explained Russell Acton, Principal, Acton Ostry Architects. "We used code 39, a common barcode standard, to spell out 'Sauder School of Business' as a base from which to create a new identity for the face of the School." The new 5,430 sq m expansion includes a five level addition and sky-lit atrium. The dramatic, soaring space links the addition to the existing building by creating a focal circulation spine at the heart of the School. The new floor-to-ceiling glazed addition houses a variety of high tech lecture theatres, breakout rooms, classrooms, an undergraduate centre, and student social space. The lobed roof form of the upper level Leadership Centre expresses the twinned, tiered lecture theatres contained within. The refurbished and revitalized main level incorporates new graduate and business career centres linked with lounge areas, informal study spaces, a café and store. "We wanted the design to be commensurate with and reflect the reputation of the Sauder School of Business as an innovative, research-based business school," stated Mark Ostry, Principal, Acton Ostry Architects. "The incorporation of current digital and videoconferencing technology for both on-campus and long-distance teaching and learning is an integral part of the project." The new facility is animated by means of an inspiring way-finding and donor recognition program that has been seamlessly integrated within the interior. Images of international stock exchanges, forest scenes, and large-scale portraits of local business magnates Robert H. Lee, Jim Pattison, Bruce Birmingham, Hari Varshney, and Peter Brown - all made significant financial contributions to the project - have been embedded on large, glass walls throughout the building. The various images blend and merge people, places, business and commerce by means of international currency symbols that are used as pixels to delineate the images. "By using currency symbols to create original art that is integrated within the architecture, we link and fuse the symbiotic relationship that exists between the School, business, commerce, people and places," explains Russell Acton. While the celebration marks an important milestone in the transformation of the School, the respite from construction will be brief as phase two of the project is scheduled to commence in April. Existing classrooms will be upgraded and a new 600 sq m conference centre penthouse, funded by the 'Big Four' accounting firms; Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, will be added to the top of the School's existing administrative tower. A new learning commons will be introduced. The new central atrium will also be further transformed when a towering, 12 metre high, illuminated portrait of Bill Sauder, for whom the School is named, is installed. In addition, an array of portraits of past and present faculty leaders and innovators will be fixed to the original classroom block facade in the atrium to recognize important School achievements, since its inception. "We are incredibly proud of the Sauder community - our alumni, students and the extended business community -- for having transformed this collective vision into reality," said Daniel F. Muzyka, Dean of the Sauder School of Business at UBC. "Thanks to their support, we now have a facility that represents the excellence of the business school and the community associated with it." Phase two of the $85 million project is scheduled to be completed for September 2011 and will mark the culmination of several years of investment and engagement involving students, faculty, staff, alumni, the business community, the University and the Government of BC. Over $25 million was raised for the project from alumni and the business community. The project was constructed by the Scott Construction Group with UBC Properties Trust serving as Project Manager. The Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia is Canada's leading academic business school, recognized globally for its contributions to the transformation of business practices through innovative research and teaching. The school has over 31,000 alumni in 74 countries around the world. Acton Ostry Architects is one of Canada's leading design firms. The practice has received over thirty significant civic, provincial and national design awards. Current projects at UBC include the $45 million Biological Sciences Complex Renew project and the $8 million Hillel House Student Centre. The $16 million Friedman Building Renew project at UBC was completed in 2008. In 2009, Acton Ostry Architects completed the Killarney Community Centre Ice Rink and Lobby replacement project and the restoration of the historic Salt Building located in the centre of the Athletes Village at South East False Creek. Both projects will be used during the upcoming 2010 Olympic Winter Games - Killarney as a training venue for short track speed skating and the Salt Building as an athletes lounge. Sauder School of Business Vancouver images / information received 140110