Students travelled north for a site visit to Stewart, BC as part of the "All That is Solid..." studio led by James Huemoeller and Beryl Allen.

This spring, James Huemoeller will be teaching a graduate comprehensive studio at UBC SALA titled “Conceptualizing the Technical: Dene Nahjo Cultural and Social Innovation Centre”. This studio will focus on conceptualizing technical material in the design process. In this current project, that program describes a new building for the Dene Nahjo Cultural and Social Innovation Centre, in Yellowknife.

We are aging. Not just us, but everyone, together. It is no secret that, for lack of a better term “developed” nations are aging at a potentially unsustainable rate. Canada, while not necessarily leading the way, is still expected to see its over 65 population constitute over half the population. Where does architecture live within this context?

Just three months ago a wildfire swept through the Alberta town of Fort McMurray destroying homes and businesses in its path.  It brought to the forefront of international news an entity many thought long was gone: the boomtown. This studio taught by James Huemoeller at UBC SALA explores that phenomenon.