Business Plan for Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan Released
The Business Plan for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan was released March 6th. The Business Plan, to be presented to City Council at its March 12th meeting, is for the Remai Galleries first year of operation, in 2015. The financial model is that more exhibitions and space attract more people, and generate more revenue.
Bruce Kuwabara Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
Bruce Kuwabara, founding partner of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Governor General David Johnston announced 66 new appointments to the Order of Canada on December 30, 2011. These included one Companion (C.C.), 28 Officers (O.C.), and 37 Members (C.M.) The appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.
A media release from the office of the Governor General states that the Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967, Canada’s centennial, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation. More than 5,000 Canadians have been invested into the Order. National honours are presented, on behalf of the Queen, by the Governor General.
Along with Kuwabara, the other recent appointments include former Prime Minister Paul Martin, retired generals Rick Hillier and Maurice Baril, General Charles Bouchard, and broadcasters Stuart McLean and Brian Williams.
Kuwabara’s citation reads: “Bruce Kuwabara, O.C. Toronto, Ontario, Officer of the Order of Canada. For his contributions, as an architect, to our built landscape and for his commitment to professional excellence.”
KPMB, in association with Winnipeg-based Smith Carter Architects and Engineers, is the designer for the new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. The design won a 2011 Award of Excellence from Canadian Architect magazine in December.
Detailed Drawings for the Remai gallery presented at Jan. 12, 2012 Open House
At a public open house January 12 at TCU Place, Matthew Wilson of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) Architects provided an update on the detailed drawings for the new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. There were 65 people at the 5:30 p.m. presentation, and 25 attended the repeat presentation at 7:30 p.m. Samples of the materials to be used for the building were on display, and there was a question period.
The design for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan was recently awarded a 2011 Award of Excellence by Canadian Architect magazine. The Gallery’s design is a creation of KPMB in association with Winnipeg-based Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated.
The Remai gallery will be a centrepiece of River Landing, just west of 2nd Avenue and Spadina Crescent. Construction is expected to begin in early 2013, with an opening in late 2014/early 2015.
Remai Gallery of Saskatchewan Design Receives 2011 Award of Excellence
MEDIA RELEASE DECEMBER 16, 2011
Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan DESIGN RECEIVES 2011 CANADIAN ARCHITECT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Design for Saskatoon’s New Gallery by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects in association with Smith Carter Architects and Engineers wins prestigious national architecture award
TORONTO, ON December 16, 2011 – With the announcement of a 2011 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, the proposed new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan (REMAI) is off to an auspicious start. This striking design, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, is the result of collaboration between Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) as design architects and Smith Carter Architects + Engineers as architects of record. Scheduled to open in 2015, the Remai will be three times the size of the current 47-year-old Gallery it replaces.
“The Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan will be a vibrant cultural centre for an exciting, dynamic city,” said Vincent Varga, Executive Director and CEO of the Mendel Art Gallery. “This award for the stunning design of the facility only reinforces our belief in the project, as we transition from the Mendel Art Gallery, with its own proud history in the community, to the expansive and exciting new landmark at Saskatoon’s River Landing.”
The Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence, one of two major national design award programs, has recognized significant projects – from small-scale installations to complex institutional buildings – on an annual basis since 1968. The jury for the 2011 Canadian Architect Awards comprised Walter Frand Architecture Inc., in Vancouver, Diarmuid Nash, Partner in Moriyama & Teshima Architects in Toronto, and Peter Sampson, Principal of Peter Sampson Architecture Studio in Winnipeg. The Remai was 1 of 8 Awards of Excellence selected from 163 submissions.
In selecting the design of the Remai, juror Peter Sampson commented how the “rational composition of gallery and theatre volumes on the banks of Saskatoon’s river valley will be a compelling addition to the city’s south downtown precinct.”
About the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan
The Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation, which donated $30 million ($15 million towards the building and $15 million for ongoing programming), gained naming rights in recognition of its generous contribution. Under the Building Canada infrastructure program, the three levels of government have committed a total of $51 million to construct the new gallery. The Board of Trustees is committed to raising the remaining $5 million for the project through a private-sector fundraising campaign.
The architecture of the four-storey structure is inspired by the low, flat topography of Saskatchewan’s prairie landscape and its agrarian building traditions. The dramatic exterior will be clad in a glowing copper-coloured metal screen, echoing one of Saskatoon’s historic architectural landmarks, the iconic CNR Bessborough Hotel (1932).
At approximately 125,000 square feet, the $71-million Remai building will vastly increase the space and facilities to present bigger, more diverse exhibitions, gatherings and events. There will be enhanced display opportunities and housing for the permanent collection, the largest public art collection in the province, consisting of more than 7,000 artworks and valued at $15 million. The building will also meet rigorous modern gallery standards, making it possible to host national and international touring exhibitions previously unavailable to the city. It will be an energy-efficient, sustainable building targeted to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification and 50% lower energy consumption compared to international gallery standards. Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2013, with the opening anticipated for 2015.
About Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg in association with Smith Carter Architects + Engineers
The Integrated Design Team approach of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) and Smith Carter Architects + Engineers Incorporated (SCAE) for the new Remai gallery builds on the successful collaboration begun with Manitoba Hydro Place and the Canadian Embassy in Berlin (a joint venture of KPMB, Gagnon, Letellier, Cyr, architectes, and SCAE).
Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, KPMB, one of Canada’s premier architecture practices, has been recognized by the highest honours in the field of architecture, including 11 Governor General’s Awards,.The Remai gallery is KPMB’s 11th Canadian Architect Award of Excellence. KPMB played a leading role in Toronto’s Cultural Renaissance, with six projects including Canada’s National Ballet School, the Royal Conservatory and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). KPMB’s current clients include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the winning scheme in an international design competition.
Smith Carter Architects + Engineers Inc.: Established in 1947, Smith Carter Architects + Engineers incorporated is one of Canada’s leading integrated design practices. Through its offices located in Winnipeg, Calgary, Ottawa, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., Smith Carter works with clients from government, institutions and private sector organizations across Canada and around the world. The firm offers expertise across all types of complex projects with specialties in the design of health care and research environments. SCAE is committed to supporting the vital urban fabric of the communities in which their projects are located, including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Manitoba Hydro Place, University College of the North, and the Remai gallery.
A full profile on the project and list of team credits is available www.kpmbarchitects.com, and
Smith Carter www.smithcarter.com. Remai gallery website www.remai.ca
Bruce Kuwabara: notes from the architect
Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects. July, 2011
Inspiration
The architecture responds to the powerful landscape of the prairies, the Saskatchewan River, and the city of Saskatoon.
At the same time, the design is inspired by the quality of the collection, by the art itself, and by the people who work in many different capacities to make visiting the Gallery a memorable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan — Frequently Asked Questions July, 2011
Recently, the City of Saskatoon and the Mendel Art Gallery conducted public surveys seeking opinions on the new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. The following questions emerged as general themes from the surveys.
