Global Trends in Hospitality and Entertainment Interiors
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By Number Ten Architectural Group
In October of 2015 Heather Anderson, Number TEN’s Hospitality/Entertainment studio lead and senior Professional Interior Designer, was one of 25 professionals selected by the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) to attend the HOST 2015, the 39th International Hospitality Exhibition in Milan, Italy.
The Throne is King: The Impact of the Prison Toilet
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By Kerry Feeney, Architect
It isn’t glamorous, and maybe architects don’t want to admit it, but we talk about toilets a lot. Whether it is the actual plumbing, occupancy issues, or barrier-free design, the toilet figures prominently in an architect’s life. But in a correctional environment, the throne is king. The decisions we make as designers and operators about where the toilets are located, how they are controlled, how many there will be, and even what they are made of, will have bearing on those living and working in these facilities in ways that are more complicated and profound that just providing a device to accept waste.
Pikangikum First Nation School Breaks Ground
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Number TEN has completed the design for a brand new, 100,000 sq. ft. early years to Grade 12 school in Pikangikum First Nation, Ontario. Construction of the design-build school project, led by contractor Penn-Co Construction, is progressing rapidly and the new facility is on-track to open in time for the 2017 school year.
The new school will be a focal point for the community, serving as its education centre, community gathering space, and hub for a wide range of educational activities. It will be the largest building in the community, designed to be a safe and secure place that reflects and celebrates Pikangikum First Nation’s traditional values, cultures and traditions, while incorporating the latest in modern technology and school design.
The design theme centers around a visual representation of the journey of learning students will take as they progress from childhood to adolescence into adulthood. This journey is expressed throughout the school using thoughtful symbolism, colour, and a well-designed layout that serves to break up the space into distinct learning zones grouped by age level.
Master of What?
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By Nadine Pearson, Architectural Intern
You have just received your master’s degree, and now you are headed to your first interview with confidence levels through the roof. After all, that piece of paper claims that you are a master… right?
Have you ever spent hours or days preparing for an interview, with parchment papers still hot off the press, only to listen to your interviewer rant for 30 minutes about how, in their opinion, your school didn’t provide you with the skills or knowledge that they expect from a graduate? I have.
Over the last several months, I have been grappling with the joys and struggles of making the transition from a university education to a professional career. It truly is a roller coaster of experience and emotion, successes and failures. I recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Architecture, and managed to land an internship here at Number TEN. My time here so far has been filled with excitement, but also moments of anxiety. What do my employers expect me to know? Granted, this profession, like most others I’m sure, contains an infinite amount of knowledge to be learned over the course of a career. Even the most experienced architect probably doesn’t have all the answers. However, I assume that there is a base set of knowledge that a graduate should have when setting out to transition from their education into their career – but what does this base set of knowledge consist of? Does it depend on the type of school I went to? Do the expectations differ from employer to employer? I haven’t found a handbook of answers yet.
Why I became a place maker
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I have always enjoyed buildings. When I was a kid my family traveled on long summer vacations in our Ford Country Squire station wagon. We pulled our camper trailer around North America, through cities, towns and wilderness. I have vivid memories of peering through the backseat window (no seat belt on of course) and admiring the tall buildings, construction cranes and shimmering glass. Wherever we went, we toured every museum, landmark and tourist trap. I remember wondering who made these special places and enjoying the stories that they told through the environments they had created.
Whether it’s spiraling up the Guggenheim, gazing out from the Empire State, navigating the streets of Tijuana or pulsing through the Luxor in Las Vegas, the variety of experiences boggles the mind. I also remember the wonder of natural places; organic places that have been grown, carved out, or molded over time. Sometimes, the natural and the man-made come together. I can remember the calculated drama of approaching the base of Mount Rushmore. The approach starts with a winding drive through the Black Hills, continues by walking through a series of interpretive buildings and climaxes with a meandering path to the viewing platform.
These experiences have stayed with me and have influenced my career as an architect. We have the privilege of creating experiences for people. Those experiences range from the everyday mundane to the once in a lifetime. My admiration of place making continues to this day. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to create experiences. Places that hopefully make people’s lives enjoyable. As an architect, that is my joy.
Number TEN Blog
Number TEN Inspired! captures the knowledge, passion and ideas of our award winning architects, interior designers and supporting staff, as they navigate through the complexities of the modern design landscape. We are creative problem solvers, advocates for better ways of doing things, and observers of all that is interesting and noteworthy in our field. This blog is our effort to share our knowledge and ideas in a way that resonates with everyone. Whether you work in the industry as an architect, interior designer, building manager, property developer, or are just someone with an interest in creativity and new ways of doing things, this blog has something for you.
