EKISTICS
1925 Main Street V5T 3C1 Vancouver, BC, Canada

OKANAGAN ENHANCED | EKISTICS is working with McKinley Beach to complete its Community Master Plan with a series of distinct neighbourhoods, supported by a destination waterfront and mixed-use Hilltown, all connected through a network of public parks and trails that link the community with both the lakefront as well as McKinley’s rugged uplands. In fact, 360 acres of new City parkland has been proposed, creating a continuous park network that extends from Knox Mountain in the South through Wilden + Stephen Coyote Ridge to McKinley in the North; establishing an unparalleled experience of Okanagan living. https://www.mckinleybeach.ca/

Great news! EKISTICS Architecture’s rezoning application for the property at 3084 West 4th Avenue and 2010 Balaclava Street was approved by Vancouver City Council in a 10-1 vote! The six-storey rental housing project in Kitsilano calls for 35 secured rental homes under the city’s Moderate Income Rental Pilot Program (MIRHPP).

GET OUT + STAY OUT | For National Walk in the Park Day, maybe try some 'shinrin-yoku' - Japanese forest bathing. A slow, meandering walk through trees, using all of your senses, has been proven to improve physical and mental well being. #NationalWalkInTheParkDay https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/

STAYING CLOSE TO HOME | We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be working with Forefront Communities on the development of our new shared office building at Manitoba and 6th Avenue, in the vibrant Mt. Pleasant Community. The area is the most exciting place to develop new offices in Vancouver, with such a wide range of creative, production and technology companies continuing to move into this part of the city. And with close access to sky train stations at Main Street-Science W...orld and Broadway-City Hall and the new Broadway Subway Line about to begin construction, Mt. Pleasant will remain one of Vancouver’s most accessible and high profile neighbourhoods. Construction is set to start this spring, with completion expected in the summer of 2022. Check out an earlier story and some earlier renderings, and see our progress: https://ekistics.com/new-vancouver-studio-proposed-design/

EARTH HOUR 2020 | Join millions of people around the world making a simple, united stand against climate change on Saturday from 8:30 - 9:30pm by turning off your (non essential ) electric lights for Earth Hour. https://www.earthhour.org/ #earthhour

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY | NEW STAFF PROFILE | As part of our interviews with new EKISTICS members, we're checking in with Sadaf Naji, one of our technologists; but just as importantly, we're recognizing the women who help EKISTICS create great places. We wouldn't be here without you! We asked Sadaf a few questions: IN YOUR MIND, WHAT MAKES A ‘GREAT PLACE’? "A great place is where the air flows, light shines, and people enjoy spending time."... WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT ARCHITECTURE? "My uncle who was an architect inspired me - I became fascinated by the power of creating, and transforming. Turning lines and shapes that were moving in my head into buildings! Wow! " DO YOU THINK IT CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE? "Absolutely, conscious architecture can make the world a better place by promoting sustainability, and creating spaces where people can experience peace, rest, and joy - this makes us all better beings. IS THERE A PROJECT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE? "There was a school project where we turned an old building into a boutique hotel. Not only was it a cozy and warm layout, but we saved a building from getting demolished. It felt like I did something great towards saving the planet. " Proud to have you on the team, Sadaf!

NEW STAFF PROFILE | VICTOR CHEUNG | DESIGN COORDINATOR Although Victor was born and bred in Vancouver, he comes to us after having spent three years in Toronto working as an Urban Planner and Designer, developing a range of urban design guidelines, secondary plans, and development proposal materials in the Greater Toronto Area. Why did he come back? Might have something to do with his love for outdoor adventure his spare time is spent biking, climbing, camping and hiking in... the local mountains or up in Squamish, so we're lucky to keep him indoors long enough to get some work done, and maybe even answer a few questions: WHAT MAKES A GREAT SPACE? "Great places are defined by the people who use them; their attachment and their feelings towards the space." WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT PLANNING? "I have a deep appreciation for how people perceive the public realm. I want to help create positive places for people to enjoy and remember." IS THERE A QUOTE THAT INSPIRES YOU? A good city is like a good party. You know it’s working when people stay for much longer than really necessary, because they're enjoying themselves. - Jan Gehl

CREATING BETTER COMMUNITY | What at first glance appears to be just binders piled on a desk is actually so much more - they represent the culmination of over 2 years of hard work; a collaboration with the District of Mission to create a Master Infrastructure Strategy (MIS) for Southwest Mission. The MIS advances the OCP Vision for Southwest Mission by establishing the technical framework and infrastructure planning needed to advance a sustainable mixed-use community, structur...ed around healthy, walkable neighbourhoods. And this would have not been possible without our talented consulting team - thank you for your dedication and effort: Arrowstone Archaeology: https://arrowstonearchaeology.wordpress.com/ Bunt & Associates: www.bunteng.com Geopacific Consultants: www.geopacific.ca InterCAD Services: www.intercad.bc.ca PGL Environmental Consultants: www.pggroup.com G.P. Rollo & Associates: www.rolloassociates.com You can see the complete MIS here: https://www.mission.ca/wp-c/uploads/MIS-Final-Optimized.pdf

TALENT SEARCH: EKISTICS is looking for a part-time (20- 25 hrs /week) Internal Accountant to join our Vancouver Studio starting January 2021. The position is responsible for performing full-cost accounting and managing a variety of accounting and finance functions. Interested? Apply here: https://ekistics.com/internal-accountant/

TALENT SEARCH: Are you a Junior or Intermediate CAD and GIS Technician? Are you proficient in AutoCAD, InfraWorks, Civil3D, with a great eye for design? EKISTICS is looking for an energetic team player to join our International Planning Team in our Vancouver studio, working within a skilled multi-disciplinary team in a diverse and fast-paced studio environment. Interested? Apply here: https://ekistics.com/junior-intermediate-civil-technologist/

COMMUNITY BUILDING | This Remembrance Day, we’re encouraging you again to join us as we support the HOMES FOR HEROES FOUNDATION, who are building tiny home communities for our homeless veterans. To donate or learn more, go to: https://homesforheroesfoundation.ca/

CREATING A VISION | EKISTICS is proud to be working with KELTIC to re-envision their Sandpiper Golf Resort in Harrison Mills, and build on what is already an endearing and special place on the Harrison River. We’re excited to work with the KELTIC and the Sandpiper Resort development team to create a more consistent structure, building character and a supporting cast of resort land uses.

As part of out Virtual Hallowe'en Party on Friday, we'll be having a Hallowe'en Trivia Contest. Here's a sample of a few of the 'PLACE' questions: According to the Canadian Encyclopedia (http://ow.ly/asqx50C6Cv3), where was North America’s first recorded instance of dressing in disguise on Halloween, in 1898? And what Canadian city had the first recorded instance of ‘trick or treating’ in 1927?... Fill in the places in these classic halloween movie titles: The XXXXX Chainsaw Massacre An American Werewolf in XXXXXX The XXXXXXXXXX Horror A Nightmare on XXX XXXXXX The Creature from XXX XXXXX XXXXXX The XXXXX in the woods