Adaptive Reuse Speaker Series Recap

Monday, Mar 25, 2019

CREW had an inspiring night at cSpace! We all walked away thinking about transformations and reusing things in our lives a bit differently.

Deeter Schurig, cSpace General Manager, explored the history of the King Edward School and how inspiration for cSpace was derived from the original King Edward structure and how his background in theatre helped pave the way for this unique design. Through collaboration with the city’s top architects, artists and innovators along with the surrounding community, cSpace was created to be a flexible and adaptable community space to be enjoyed by all!

McKinley Burkhart’s Diane Cassidy, Director of Interior Design, and Bao Nhan, Director of Architecture, discussed the remarkable transformation of the Simmons Building – transforming an abandoned mattress factory into a buzzing community hub anchoring the Riverwalk and East Village. McKinley Burkhart successfully preserved, responded and highlighted the existing structure to create the home of local business we all know and love: Charbar, Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery.

Iwanski Architecture’s John Iwanski, Principal, and CREW member Elke Goebel, their Design and Project Manager, presented their amazing work.  Two Hamburg, Germany projects: the Burgenhagen Church was re-used to retain the scared space but to also include a café and community theatre; and an old run down pumphouse was brought to life from industrial use to commercial.  For a local Calgary example, the Westmount Charter School was an old vocational school of heavy concrete construction that they transformed it to be a junior and high school for gifted students. 

Members were challenged to view everything through a transformative lens and do more with less, in all aspects of our lives.

Delicious food and drink were catered by Farm and Fork.

Tremendous thanks to our sponsors for their on-going support! Without you, engaging events like this are not possible!