Congratulations to the Architecture Foundation of British Columbia on another successful year! DYS' Kim Barnsley, a Board Member of the AFBC (pictured in thumbnail photo far left), was delighted to participate in the inaugural Architectural Achievement Awards and celebrate the personal contributions made to the profession and our communities.

dys architecture is proud to support the AFBC in raising awareness of the profession and in continuing to advance architecture and design in British Columbia.

Photography: Tracy Armstrong Films
Venue: Informprojects

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At the commencement of our 43rd year, dys architecture is very pleased to announce that Darcy Imada, after 22 years with the firm, is joining our partnership as a Principal.

Darcy's journey with dys architecture started in 2003 when she joined the firm as a graduate of BCIT's Building Technology program. She continued her academic development by enrolling in and completing, the RAIC Syllabus and Passive House programs, while being a full-time contributor at the firm. During her architectural internship, she became an Associate in the firm, and for the past four years has been an instrumental leader, ensuring the firm maintains a high standard of work from design to construction documentation. Her design approach, ability to listen, and capability to produce high-quality projects have earned the respect of both clients and colleagues alike.

Darcy has been instrumental in contributing to the firm's success for the past two decades. She brings a wealth of technical and construction experience having worked on numerous mixed-use and residential projects. More recently she has led projects for several Indigenous groups on Vancouver Island and throughout Northern and Central British Columbia. Her portfolio includes the Nuutsumuut Lelum Passive House affordable housing project in Nanaimo, various facilities for the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George, and housing for the Lax Kw'alaams WAAP Housing Society and the Nisga'a Nation. Darcy also has a long work history on multi-family and institutional projects throughout Metro Vancouver.

Using her expertise in energy-efficient design and her passion for assisting Indigenous Groups with their diverse needs, Darcy will continue to follow her interests in working on mixed-use and residential projects.

Please join us in congratulating Darcy on this well-deserved promotion. We look forward to her continued success at dys architecture.

Photo: Martin Dee Photography

Located in the University Endowment Lands, the 18-storey Regent House will feature ground-level retail spaces, graduate student housing, market, and below-market rental housing and strata homes, serving as a vibrant mixed-use hub. Its strategic placement adjacent to Regent House creates a dynamic public realm, enhancing connectivity between the UBC campus and the surrounding neighbourhood. We are thrilled to work with Polyon Homes and Regent College on this transformative project.

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Moving steadily forward on this project! Excavation phase completed, tower crane erected, and the foundation and footings are in progress. When finished, this 39-storey tower will add 339 strata units, while an additional 6-storey podium will add 118 rental units to the Central Park area of Burnaby. 

Debut is the first residential development at Fraser Mills and features 318 units in a 36-storey residential tower and podium form. The building design emphasizes a strong street wall and podium expression to enhance the public realm along all street edges. The tower is simple in form, symbolic and serves as a gateway into the neighbourhood. The overall design features various historical references to the sawmill with a striking double height amenity space which opens to an expansive landscape podium roof top.

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Replacing two single-storey strip mall and commercial buildings, this 4-storey mixed-use commercial retail and residential building in East Vancouver includes 111 rental units and a common resident amenity space on the roof. There is an extensive commercial storefront along East Hastings and ground-oriented residential units facing the rear lane with the main residential entry off Lakewood Drive. The building facade is articulated with volumetric elements of differing colours and materials which reduce the visual length of the building, complimenting the neighbourhood context.

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Wiikšaḥiquʔił, which loosely translates as a safe place in Nuu-chah-nulth, is a second stage housing project providing homes for women and children who are impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking. The 22 units, ranging in size from studios to three-bedroom units, will fill a gap in women supportive housing in the region. dys architecture facilitated a Collaborative Design process with the Design-Builder team, Sage Haven Society, and BC Housing to ensure the best interests of accessibility, security, liveability, cultural meaning and community were included in every step of the design and construction.  

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Providence Health Care and the BC government have announced their plans to develop a new $207 million care facility on the former St. Vincent's Heather Hospital site, just south of the Children's and Women's Health Centre of BC. It will provide 240 units and offer vital senior services and care when completed. The new facility will be a safe, active, and healthy environment, and will also respond to the cultural needs of the Indigenous community.

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City News
Global News

dys architecture is excited to see this new affordable housing project become a reality. It is a significant project for Qualicum Beach providing new, safe, and sustainable housing that will be a major benefit to the overall community.  

Times Colonist

Vancouver Island News 

DYS was honoured to attend the Coast Mental Health's Courage to Come Back Awards and celebrate the stories of five extraordinary British Columbians who have come back from extreme adversity to give back to their own communities. 

Left to right: Keith Yeung, Craig Rogers, Kim Barnsley, Knut Boeck, Dane Jansen, Laurie Mackintosh, Lloyd Lieu, Emma Lew, Norm Chin

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Left to right: Otto Cheng, Craig Rogers, Jennifer Boyle, Keith Yeung

dys architecture is expanding our Management Team

Having celebrated our 40^th anniversary in 2022, dys architecture is moving into the future with optimism and excitement. We are pleased to announce the promotion of the following talented individuals.

New Senior Associate
Otto Cheng has been a dedicated member of dys architecture since joining us in 2000, and we are pleased to announce his promotion to Senior Associate. Otto will take on greater office management, staff resourcing, and strategic planning roles, helping to influence the future direction of the firm. With his strong leadership and PM skills, Otto will continue to mentor staff as he leads mixed-use and high-rise residential projects, including many high-profile and complex developments. 

New Associates
Keith Yeung, Architect AIBC, joined dys architecture in 2010, after graduating from the University of Manitoba, and has been involved on many complex healthcare and institutional projects. Keith's analytical approach was instrumental in the successful completion of projects including the Willow Chest and Willow Pavilion Mental Health Renovations at VGH, compliance work for the Segal Heath Centre, the Lions Gate Hospital Redevelopment, and Richmond Hospital Redevelopment. As part of the management team, Keith will continue to support and lead our healthcare project teams.

Jennifer Boyle, Architect AIBC, has spent the last 7 years with dys architecture overseeing a number of projects with unique site conditions and programming challenges. Through a multi-disciplinary approach to design and execution, she undertakes these challenges with enthusiasm. Jennifer has been involved in various residential projects in the UBC Wesbrook neighbourhood. She has completed complex healthcare renovations at VGH and is currently a design lead and PM on a residential tower project in Burquitlam. Jennifer's strong leadership skills and ability to tackle challenging projects will ensure her continued growth and success in the firm.

Craig Rogers, an architect with nearly 20 years of experience, joined dys architecture in 2021. With his strong management skills and technical background, Craig will continue to lead numerous multifamily and mixed-use projects. His current projects include affordable housing in Delta, a residential development at UBC, a modular housing project for the Kwantlen Nation, and a mixed-use mid-rise in North Vancouver. Craig's ability to connect with others and his respectful demeanor result in engaged and committed project team members and ensure that he will positively influence the next generation at dys architecture.

These new Associates have helped shape the culture of our workplace, exemplifying strong leadership. They have been integral to the firm's success, ensuring the highest design and technical standards are maintained on all our projects. These well-earned promotions ensure that dys architecture continues to serve all our clients with dedication and commitment.    

BC Housing makes a press release to announce new homes are under construction with support open for Indigenous Peoples in Prince George. Phase 3 pictured left, is a 4-story development in scale with the existing residential developments across 17th Avenue. When complete, the entire master-planned project will include approximately 160 residential units as well as a number of commercial units.

dys architecture in collaboration with Azziza Indigenous Design Group.  

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Congratulations to the entire project team! The exciting ground-breaking event was attended by dys pictured above (left to right: Ismail Karar of Reinbold, Gilbert Raynard of RJC, Norm Chin and Danny So of dys architecture). Slate is a new development that will add 341 residential units in a 45-storey tower next to the Millennium Skytrain Line on the edge of the Brentwood Town Centre neighbourhood of Burnaby. Completion is anticipated in 2025.

dys architecture in association with Rafii Architects Inc.

Client: Beedie Living
Render/Photo: courtesy of Beedie Living

DYS was thrilled to attend the ceremonial ribbon-cutting event for Phase 1 of lelem Village. This project, done by Polygon in partnership with Musqueam Capital Corp is the Village Centre for the mixed-use sustainable community that is to be the Village Centre for the development of the Musqueam Nation lands in the University Endowment Lands. This phase is comprised of three buildings containing 173 rental units, neighbourhood shops, and outdoor gathering spaces for the community. Congratulations to the Musqueam community for this important milestone achievement!

Maitland Street Village has received the 2022 Award of Excellence at the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Awards. The 46-unit affordable rental housing project has received occupancy in January this year and is developed by the Alberni Low Energy Housing Society in partnership with BC Housing and the Catholic Diocese of Victoria. Compliant with Step 4 of the BC Energy Code, it has achieved the highest standard in developing affordable housing in Port Alberni.

The new Langley Lions Birch replacement building is now under construction. It will be a 101-unit, eight-storey structure attached directly to the existing Evergreen Timbers Assisted Living facility.

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The first phase of this Urban Indigenous community project in Prince George has been completed and the first residents are living in the initial phase of 50 townhomes. Two more phases of housing are currently in construction and will provide homes for 35 seniors and 56 families along with new childcare and the Society’s renovated administrative facility. 

Read more in the Prince George Citizen

The ground has been broken for the highly anticipated $310M Acute Care Tower expansion at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The state-of-the-art facility will provide the community and health care professionals in the region with eight operating rooms, pre and post-op care, 108 additional beds, and more. 

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The Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre Passive Housing Project is featured in 2022's first edition of Passive House Accelerator Magazine. Check out the article here.

Read more about Slate in the Daily Hive.