Author Archive
Lecture: “Tubes and Exchanges” – Andrew Blum on the Internet
Tubes and Exchanges: Discovering the Real Places of the Internet
May 2, 7 pm
SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street.
Admission is free, but reservations are required. Reserve at http://www.sfu.ca/reserve
When a squirrel chewed through a cable and knocked him offline, journalist Andrew Blum started wondering what the Internet was really made of. So he set out to go see it — the underwater cables, secret switches and other physical bits that make up the net. Blum’s talk will take you on a journey through this network of networks.
He will explore its evolution over time and how centralized hubs called Internet Exchanges (there are 350 in the world) are making the Internet faster and more affordable for everyone in the cities where they operate. He will highlight Vancouver’s Internet Exchange, operated by BCNET and located at SFU Harbour Centre, and what it means for the city’s businesses, public post-secondary institutions and future economic development.
REGISTRATION and lecture details here.
Andrew Blum is the author of Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet, the first book-length look at the physical heart of the Internet itself. When not immersed in the Internet’s depths, Blum writes about architecture, design, technology, urbanism, art, and travel.
Sponsored by BCNET, British Columbia Internet Exchanges, and SFU Continuing Studies (City Program)
APPLY ONLINE FOR THE URBAN DESIGN OR SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES
The SFU City Program is now accepting applications for the Urban Design and Sustainable Community Development Certificates. Taught by renowned practitioners and industry leaders, these programs will equip mid-career professionals with the right tools to create positive changes in their communities.
Our hands-on programs feature eight two- and three-day intensive courses. Participants work through the courses over 10-18 months with a group of peers – a cohort – sharing experiences, knowledge and ideas in a multidisciplinary context. Application Deadline for the Fall 2013 cohort is July 15, 2013. Take advantage of our May 2 information session learn more about our Certificate Programs.
Info Session for Urban Design and Sustainable Community Development Certificates
Thurs, May 2, 6-7:30pm
Location: Simon Fraser University Vancouver
Admission: Free but reservations required. Reserve at http://www.sfu.ca/reserve
Certificate Information:
Sustainable Community Development Certificate
Urban Design Certificate
URBAN DESIGN COURSES IN OTTAWA
SFU’s Urban Design Program will be returning to Ottawa from May 9-12, for two courses: Economic Fundamentals, and Ecological Planning and Sustainable Design. These courses are ideal for those who live outside of BC as two courses can be completed back-to-back. More information/registration.
UPCOMING CERTIFICATE COURSES
Leading Edge Solutions to House Everyone (SUST905-VA1131)
April 19-20, 2013
9am-5:30pm
$630
Info/Register
Ensuring housing affordability in Metro Vancouver and in communities throughout British Columbia is a major challenge.
In this course, you’ll explore approaches to affordable home ownership and rental. This includes housing for people of low to modest and middle income through non-market and near-market approaches.
You’ll identify the roles that government, non-profit, and the private sector can play in advancing leading-edge solutions to house everyone. You’ll also explore how affordable developments can incorporate green elements.
Instructors/speakers: Tim Wake, affordable housing consultant; Heather Tremain, principal, Urban Fabric Group; Andy Broderick, vice president, Community Investment, Vancity Credit Union; more TBA
Urban Design – Public Realm (URBD789-VA1131)
April 12-13, 2013
9am-5:30pm
$630
Info/Register
Public space and places, especially street space, are essential elements of the public realm in cities, towns, and villages. They are also the most valued spaces from a neighbourhood perspective. The design of urban, suburban, and rural places for meaningful public use and enjoyment is the focus of this urban design course.
The course will be highly interactive, mixing presentations with discussions and exercises, so that you can develop effective ways to approach the design or redesign of the public realm. You’ll develop the fundamental urban design skills of observation, analysis, documentation, idea generation, design development, and effective graphic presentation.
Instructors: Michael von Hausen, president, MVH Urban Planning and Design Inc.; Frank Ducote, Frank Ducote Urban Design Inc.
Is Public Space a Public Good? A synopsis of Mark Kingwell’s public lecture
Katie Stowe has put together a synopsis for the Vancouver Public Space Network blog of what was “an inspired, fascinating, and complex exploration of issues around public space.”
The Skinny
Kingwell kicked of his presentation by delivering a plot-spoiler. The answer is: No. Straight up. Public space is not a public good. Perhaps contrary to popular belief? I’m not sure, but I had the impression that I wasn’t the only surprised attendee, a newbie amidst a sea what seemed to be a sea of urbanism experts. Kingwell’s reasons behind the negative response are multifaceted and complicated – and I’ll do my best to give you my (admittedly) non-philosophers take on them.
“Sex, Neuroscience and Walkable Urbanism” – with Jeff Tumlin
Jeff Tumlin, principal at Nelson Nygaard and author of the book Sustainable Transportation Planning, spoke to a packed house on January 10, 2013.
Introductory Remarks:
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Main Lecture:
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Questions and Answers:
The Next Course: Creating the Future-Friendly Restaurant
An exciting (and affordable) course for those in the food-service industry:
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Details and registration here.
Clouds of Change Report available at SFU City Program online
Now posted on the SFU City Program Resources and Historical Documents site: Clouds of Change, Volumes 1 and 2.
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This document – likely the first attempt by a municipality in North America to address climate change – takes on added signficance. So the SFU City Program thought we’d make it more easily accessible – here.
[Disclosure: Gordon Price, Director of the SFU City Program, was the Council liaison (and mover the originating motion) to the Task Force.)
Also, for a recollection of the Task Force by one of the members, go here.
City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Studio: Waterfront Evolution
The SFU City Program is hosting this presentation produced by the City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Studio on its “Resources” site in order to ensure it gets wider distribution:
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It was originally given at The Waterfront Center’s Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2012 to celebrate their 25 years of recognizing design excellence and advocacy for urban waterfronts.
The presentation was conceived as a “virtual bike tour” of Vancouver’s waterfront achievements as the City has been fortunate to receive numerous awards from the Centre including, most recently, the Southeast False Creek Public Realm.
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It takes you page by page from Kitsilano to the Downtown East Side along the seawall, showing the major urban-design achievements over the last decade or so – clear, comprehensive, beautifully laid out.
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Credit to Scot Hein and Josh Bassett of the City of Vancouver Urban Design Studio.
Professional Development Courses
Free Lecture: Jeff Tumlin on January 10
Sex, Neuroscience, and Walkable Urbanism
How are cities across North America making the most efficient use of their limited transportation resources. How are they achieving larger job creation, resilience, public health, equity and human happiness goals?
Jeff Tumlin has the answers.
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Thursday, January 10, 2013, 7 pm
Location: SFU Segal Building (500 Granville Street), Room 1200-1500. [NOTE: NOT IN SFU HARBOUR CENTRE.]
Admission: Free, but seating is limited, so we require reservations. Register
Speaker
Jeffrey Tumlin is singlehandedly changing the way America thinks about transportation. Instead of measuring success by how many freeways a city has, Tumlin is showing that transportation choices (including design for bikes and pedestrians) can improve public health, happiness, and social vitality—and save city budgets. He is the author of Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Vibrant, Healthy, and Resilient Communities (Wiley, February 2012).
Sponsors
SFU Continuing Studies (City Program)
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