SFU City

Lecture: “Tubes and Exchanges” – Andrew Blum on the Internet

pricetags — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:12:45 +0000

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

pricetags — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:56:15 +0000

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.

Election Update: Transportation Forum – Apr 18

pricetags — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:18:02 +0000

Is Public Space a Public Good? A synopsis of Mark Kingwell’s public lecture

pricetags — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:44:20 +0000

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.

Full article here.

“Sex, Neuroscience and Walkable Urbanism” – with Jeff Tumlin

pricetags — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:13:43 +0000

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

pricetags — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:29:06 +0000

An exciting (and affordable) course for those in the food-service industry:

Details and registration here.

Clouds of Change Report available at SFU City Program online

pricetags — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:11:34 +0000

Now posted on the SFU City Program Resources and Historical Documents site: Clouds of Change, Volumes 1 and 2.

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

pricetags — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:33:35 +0000

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:

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.

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.

Credit to Scot Hein and Josh Bassett of the City of Vancouver Urban Design Studio.

Download from here.

Professional Development Courses

pricetags — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:18:04 +0000

Financing Urban Growth: The Use of Development Cost Charges and Community Amenity Contributions - Feb 22, 2013

$240 + HST = $268.80

SFU Vancouver

Info/Register

This course is a comprehensive, detailed, and practical examination of the economic, legal, planning, and political dimensions of development levies, negotiated community contributions, and density bonusing as means of creating community amenities and infrastructure.

Instructors: Jay Wollenberg, president, Coriolis Consulting Corp; Bill Buholzer, associate, Young Anderson

Real Estate Development from the Inside Out - Mondays Feb 18-March 25, 2013

$445 + HST = $498.40

SFU Vancouver

Info/Register

This course provides insight into the industry for people who deal with real estate developers or want to learn how the development industry is structured, how it functions, who the players are, what motivates them, and how they interact. You’ll benefit from a variety of personal stories from developers with a wealth of experience.

Instructors: Herb Auerbach, development manager consultant; Michael Mortensen, senior development manager, Grosvenor Americas

Guest Speakers: Deana Grinnell, director of Land Development, Parklane; Bob Nicklin, CEO of Affordable Housing Societies; Sandra Cawley, principal, Burgess, Cawley, Sullivan and Associates Ltd.; Keith Burrell, partner, McCarthy Tetrault, Dave Leung, Westbank.

How Photography Can Enhance the Professional Practice of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design - March 22, 2013

$240 + HST = $268.80

SFU Vancouver

Info/Register

Photography can enhance proposals, provide more accurate site and context evaluation, clarify and improve all kinds of communications, reduce time and construction costs, record progress, assist post-occupancy surveys, and help win awards. This course provides a basic understanding of how people visually perceive the environment around them and illustrates how photography can improve your skills and final product.

Instructor: Richard Hulbert, award-winning and published architect, urban designer, and photographer.

Go ahead - look further.

Free Lecture: Jeff Tumlin on January 10

pricetags — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:24:38 +0000

Sex, Neuroscience, and Walkable Urbanism

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 – 7:00 PM

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.

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).

SFU City

Lecture: “Tubes and Exchanges” – Andrew Blum on the Internet

APPLY ONLINE FOR THE URBAN DESIGN OR SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES

Election Update: Transportation Forum – Apr 18

Is Public Space a Public Good? A synopsis of Mark Kingwell’s public lecture

“Sex, Neuroscience and Walkable Urbanism” – with Jeff Tumlin

The Next Course: Creating the Future-Friendly Restaurant

Clouds of Change Report available at SFU City Program online

City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Studio: Waterfront Evolution

Professional Development Courses

Free Lecture: Jeff Tumlin on January 10

Speaker

Sponsors