Construction is progressing at Belmont Secondary School in Langford, B.C. We are working with Yellowridge Construction to meet the planned schedule to open the school in September of 2015. The project is ramping up to 150 men on site to ensure this timely completion. Currently, the structure is nearing completion, classroom blocks have studding and drywall is starting to go up.
The south elevation shows the gymnasium, which is oversize to allow for 3 smaller “break-out” gyms in the 1 space, and the atrium roof.
The Learning Commons includes Glulam and Wood Decking. The school will feature multi-use project areas to enable 21st Century Learning.
The Atrium Space will be bright and light-filled with clerestory lighting.
With great excitement we are happy to announce Renaissance-GHM Architects, Kelowna branch, has moved!
Our new address is: 206, 1470 St. Paul StreetKelowna, BC V1Y 2E6 Our telephone and fax number remain unchanged.
GHMA is pleased to announce that Robert Parlane and Leonard Rodrigues have joined the firm to help strengthen our work in the post-secondary sector.
Robert Parlane, Architect AIBC, MRAIC, ARCUK, LEED AP BD+C, has been a qualified architect for over 22 years, with considerable experience in both post-secondary institutions and private sector research facilities. His strong passion for sustainability, simple design and love of detail also have major roles in his architectural work.
Robert combined his experience in the post-secondary sector and his passion for sustainability, becoming the Project Architect responsible for the Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies for Okanagan College, one of the largest projects in Canada targeting the Living Building Challenge, which includes net-zero energy and water use. Robert places strong emphasis on the need for genuine team work within the design process to find holistic solutions to the complex problems such building types present.
Leonard Rodrigues, Architect AIBC, AAA, RPP, MCIP, FRAIC is both an architect and a planner. Len’s professional life has focused on City Design, Master Planning and Facilities for Education. He has been involved with large scale city and campus planning projects including the City of Calgary Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and the planning for the 880 acres of the Currie Barracks lands developed by Canada Lands Corporation in partnership with the City of Calgary – a highly successful and paradigm shifting project for the City of Calgary. He served as head of Urban Design for the City of Calgary as well as an urban design consultant.
With over 30 years of experience, Len has been involved with Higher Education exclusively over the last two decades. He has an extensive knowledge of Post Secondary Educational planning both from a consultant’s perspective as well as an owner’s. In both capacities he has been responsible for educational building design, institutional governance, procurement and delivery methodologies, master planning, programming, campus sustainability, and the development of a high quality campus experience for a number of institutions.
The experience and passion both Robert and Len bring to their work is exemplary and we look forward to their contributions to the success of GHMA.
GHMA is very pleased to introduce Umur Olcay, REFP, RPP, as Associate Director of Community and Education Planning.
Umur is an experienced education planner and community planner with 33 years of experience in local governments and school districts. For the past 14 years Umur has worked as Manager of Facilities and Demographics Planning for Surrey School District, where he has advanced facility and education planning as part of the project management team for the largest and most rapidly growing school district in BC. He has also provided leadership in developing and managing capital and facility planning shared service projects for eight school districts in BC.
Umur’s varied professional expertise includes education facility planning, community planning, parks planning, demographic projections, social and economic profiles, location analysis, improvement of system wide space utilization, site acquisition and development, community partnership development, and stakeholder and community consultation.
Umur is a graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. He is a Recognized Education Facility Planner and a Registered Professional Planner. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Planning Institute of B.C., and is a member of the Council of Facility Planners International.
Umur will be taking over GHMA K-12 education planning responsibilities from Hugh Skinner, who is retiring from GHMA as of June 30, 2014. Hugh will continue to be available post-retirement to assist GHMA with the successful transition and completion of current project commitments.
GHMA is pleased to announce that Todd Dust and Henk Kampman have been promoted to Associates in recognition of their contributions to the firm.
Todd Dust is based out of GHMA’s Kelowna office, where he acts as a Senior Architect and the Manager of Health Care projects for GHMA. Todd received his undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba and his graduate degree from the University of Melbourne. Immediately upon graduation, Todd returned to Canada where he developed his experience in both public and private sectors. Todd has been a registered Architect since 2004. Throughout his professional career, Todd has specialized in the design and implementation of acute health care projects. Todd is currently pursuing a diploma in Lean Design through Washington State University.
Todd’s most recent experience includes involvement in the Facility Renewal Plan for Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace and Mar Jok Elementary School in West Kelowna. Todd has a proven track record managing complex renovations within operational facilities and facilitating the collaboration which results in a project’s successful outcome.
Henk Kampman, also based out of the Kelowna office, is a foreign trained Architect who has worked as an Architect and an Urban Planner in the Netherlands and Canada. Henk has over 25 years of experience in Architecture, Urban Planning and Project Management, while working for private and public organizations. Henk studied Architecture and Building engineering at the Technical University in Delft where Architectural icons like Herman Hertzberger, Aldo van Eijck and Rem Koolhaas helped him form as an Architect and Planner. Currently Henk is following an Advanced Certificate in Educational Facility Planning at the San Diego State University.
His most recent work experience involves Educational, Health Care and Civic projects, including the Nicola Canford Elementary School in Merritt, Facility Renewal and Master Plans for Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, Tumbler Ridge Health Centre and the Fort St. John General Hospital and the Upgrade of the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Lake Country.
Todd and Henk successfully managed the Kelowna office the last two years, doubling the office in size. The skills and passion Todd and Henk bring to their projects is exemplary and we look forward to their ongoing contributions to the success of GHMA.
With great excitement we are happy to announce Renaissance-GHM Architects, Kelowna branch, has moved!
Our new address is: 
