Profile
Urban Arts Architecture Inc. (UAA) is an award winning Vancouver based architectural firm specializing in community and cultural projects across BC and the Yukon.
UAA was formed in 2006 by an amalgamation of Urban Forum Architecture and Marshall Arts Architecture by founding partners Shelley Craig and Jennifer Marshall –each bring over twenty-five years experience as principals in providing architectural planning, design, and consultation services. Since then UAA expanded their leadership team to include three new principals –Jordan Edmonds, Ouri Scott and Meghan Froehlich– contributing to an ongoing commitment to create resilient, sustainable, meaningful spaces for all.
We are 26 people strong and work across a wide range of practise sectors from education facilities to cultural projects like museums, galleries and libraries to high rise housing projects. All these projects have a common focus on building community.
Our projects bring our clients’ vision to life, honouring and respecting their unique values and voices.
UAA is a full-service architectural firm that takes a creative, collaborative, team-based approach to our projects. Our work is defined by our compassion and our commitment to equity and community-building. We achieve this by:
· deep listening and responsive consultation;
· a design-driven process founded in learning, sharing and research; and
· innovative and sustainable architecture rooted in the land.
UAA has established a reputation for innovation and exceptional service, and have been recognized many times for design excellence in buildings that achieve a high level of public appreciation.
UAA's creativity and innovation delivers exceptional projects for our clients. Our design and construction solutions strive to be local, practical, buildable, cost effective and stand the test of time. We strive for solutions that increase building performance and optimize operational sustainability.
Our firm is currently working on several institutional projects with construction budgets ranging up to $62 million. Our relevant projects include Advanced Education facilities, Cultural Centres, Multi-use Facilities, Libraries, Museums, and First Nations projects.
Services
UAA offers full prime consultant and architectural services and is dedicated to providing consultant services that are responsive to our clients' needs in an integrated team approach. Our approach is defined by our commitment to building community. We achieve this by:
• Stakeholder engagement throughout the project process
• Sustainable design + innovation
• Being responsible to the funds available
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Ownership through participation
Our design philosophy is rooted in the belief that true architecture reflects the vision of its users. We work closely with our clients to realize their vision, creating sustainable facilities that ensure positive community growth. Our design process is rooted in stakeholder consultation through a participatory design process to ensure solid understanding of issues and to maximize the project's potential.
We have the skills and experience to work with key stakeholders within a tradition of consensus building. Building consensus enables client involvement and establishes trust within the client group and ensures that our clients are being heard. Involvement and trust enhances cooperation, understanding and the quality of the design and construction. We utilize a variety of participatory design techniques from exploring precedents, to brainstorming opportunities and constraints, to gaming the organization and layout of the facility.
Many of our projects provide partnership opportunities that embed community involvement, aiming to strengthen community fabric through collaborative partnerships. Opportunities may include creating space for community support agencies, providing sponsorship opportunities, and enabling community members to participate in the construction of the project.
Process
Urban Arts Architecture Inc. offers years of experience and a broad range of expertise with all stages of the project. From the initial idea to designing success, our team will help you realise your vision.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We at UAA respectfully acknowledge the Coast Salish Nations, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations on whose traditional, ancestral and unceded lands we live and work.
We are part of the growing list of responsible Living Wage Employers across BC and Canada who care about their employees and community.