While the School of Architecture at UBC has a very even demographic split this spring's thesis exhibition represented a rare sample of graduating students made up of almost 80% women.

At UBC, similar to many other schools I am sure, advanced placements and co-op and exchange opportunities, among other things, often mean that students are graduating a semester earlier or later than the rest of their class. So it is not strange that this happened.

A more interesting observation, however, was the scale that many of the projects this spring took. While I have only seen three thesis exhibitions at UBC first-hand, those presented this April encompassed much more planning initiatives than I have seen in the best. It was really incredible to see such a broad spectrum of architectural projects all resolved with such high quality.

Among my favorites were those completed by Idette De Boer and Meghan McBride. Idette focused on designing a system and regulating body to promote better architecture within Canada and Meghan designed a building which adhered to the building guidelines in downtown Vancouver indirectly, in order to create a structure that was not the typical platform-with-tower that we see in the city.

Also a special congratulation to Caitlin Harrigan whose project mitigating waste water management won ‘best thesis’ within the landscape faculty.