British Columbia's Premiere, Gordon Campbell, plans to erect a giant wooden roof over Vancouver's Robson Square in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The square was designed by Arthur Erickson and is the site of the Provincial Law Courts, UBC Robson Square, government office buildings, and public space connecting the newer development to the Vancouver Art Gallery...


The Royal Architecture Institute of Canada shares the following letter with Archinect's readers:

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January 10, 2008

The Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia
Box 9041
Station PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC
Canada
V8W 9E1


OPEN LETTER

Dear Premier Campbell,

re: Robson Square, Vancouver, British Columbia

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), the voice for the architecture profession in Canada, has learned that you and your government are planning on making a significant physical change to Robson Square, an important architectural landmark and public space in Vancouver and North America.

I describe Robson Square as an architectural landmark because of its uniqueness as an architectural and an urban design solution, the numerous awards it has received worldwide, and because of its architect, Arthur Erickson, FRAIC, who has received the RAIC Gold Medal – the highest honor the profession in Canada can bestow. Landmark buildings, just like designated historic structures, deserve due process to ensure that significant design changes respect and enhance the building.

Mr. Premier, please do not rush into a quick solution to construct a roof structure that may not be reversible, appropriate, or sustainable just to impress the world during the Olympics! I urge you to undertake an appropriate consultation process, involving both the architectural community and the public at large, to ensure that a long term architectural legacy for Vancouver and the world is realized.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Kiyoshi Matsuzaki, FRAIC
President

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