Lapointe Architects: News

Fifth Town wins "Project of the Year"

2010-01-05T13:39:00.003-05:00

Lapointe Architects' Fifth Town Artisan Cheese has been featured in Building Magazine's December 2009 / January 2010 issue titled "LEEDing the Way in 2009". The article bestowed three awards, Developer of the Year, Project of the Year, and Consultant of the Year based on the criteria that "put simply, they did the most to fulfill the philosophy codified in the LEED rating system." We are pleased to have Fifth Town awarded Project of the Year, along with one of the Key consultants on the project, Enermodal Engineering, being awarded Consultant of the Year.

To view the article refer to http://digital.building.ca/xta-asp/pageview2.asp?pc=bd&tpl=base_v2&mv=2009/12/01&edname=December%202009/January%202010&w=1680&h=1020&redir=yes&sp

Three new LEEDers

2009-12-18T13:57:00.002-05:00

Lapointe Architects are proud to announce that three members of the team have completed their LEED accreditation exams, and are now LEED accredited professionals. Johnny Dang, Kathy Kurtz and Michael del Puerto have all successfully completed the course Building Green with LEED: LEED Canada for New Construction 1.0 offered by Centennial College, as well as their LEED AP exams!

More Cheese Please

2009-12-15T14:22:00.002-05:00

The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese has again enlisted the services of Lapointe Architects to design an expansion to the ever popular Factory. The (re)Source Pavilion was successful in dealing with the need for an enlarged tasting space, and now Lapointe Architects is helping to alleviate the demand for more space in the processing and storage side of the operation. Construction will start in January 2010 with the added capacity helping the factory to gear up for the busy summer season.

Construction Complete on Loyalist Parkway

2009-11-05T14:54:00.000-05:00

Construction wrapped up in November 2009 on a Drive Shed for clients with property on Loyalist Parkway in Prince Edward County. The ground floor on the Drive Shed will be used for the storage of vineyard equipment, while the second floor as the vineyard offices, related administrative functions will double as a great weekend getaway in advance on the client's permanent house construction. The Drive Shed affords a terrific view of Lake Ontario, as well as a sweeping view of the vineyard on the property. The simple two storey volume hints at the character of the home to come: the metal cladding is a contemporary accent to the traditional wood siding and building style in Prince Edward County.

Skiff Cove Residence Begins Construction

2009-09-25T15:03:00.001-05:00

Construction on the 2900 sf Skiff Cove House has begun. The new home overlooks Lake Ontario from atop a 20 ft high limestone cliff that runs the length of Skiff Cove in Prince Edward County. The form was derived from the client's desire to get as near to the edge as possible, while still providing protection from the crashing waves, the wind off the lake, and a private courtyard setting. The house focuses views our to the lake, and provides a second floor vantage point for the office to be used as the clients transition from their Toronto home to retire in the County.

Commitment to Green Education

2009-09-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

Lapointe Architects is pleased to announce the many opportunities to participate in teaching Green Building. Francis continues to teach at Centennial College as a professor of various courses in the Sustainable Architecture Program. He is also slated to teach the new CaGBC LEED Associate Course at the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD). Lastly, the U.S. Green Building Council (the parent corporation of the CaGBC) has asked Francis to be a USGBC Education Reviewer. This means he will be involved in the review and accreditation of new LEED courses offered by third parties across North America.

Teaming up with Plan it Right Homes

2009-08-15T17:59:00.003-05:00

Lapointe Architects has begun working with the Holmes Group on the architectural side of a Holmes Custom Home. We are providing services through the Plan it Right program, which will be paired with the Make it Right program to deliver a high-quality green "Holmes Approved Home". "The mission of The Holmes Foundation is to ensure that residential renovation and construction is done right - the first time!" and we are pleased to team with this group dedicated to excellence. Lapointe Architects are excited by this new collaborative green relationship.

Visit the Holmes website at: makeitright.ca/Holmes_Homes/home/welcome and makeitright.ca

Lapointe Architects' work featured at Harboufront Centre exhibition

2009-07-16T18:30:00.006-05:00

Lapointe Architects' (re)source pavilion has been featured at an exhibition running until mid-September at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. The Exhibition, entitled Building for the Economy, features Breathe Architects, Agathom Co's and Lapointe Architects' interpretation of the building design industry's response to the recession. Admission to the exbition is free. For more information please refer to http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/visualarts/architecture_summer09.cfm

A review of the exhibition can be found at: http://torontoist.com/2009/07/economical_architecture.php

Women Around Noon get Entertained!

2009-07-16T17:05:00.003-05:00

The Prince Edward County group of active and retired business women, Women Around Noon, were treated to a wonderful day of architectural tours and spectacular food yesterday. The 55 women were given a tour of Cressy House by architect Francis Lapointe. The house tour was followed by a wine and cheese tasting and 4 cheese lasagna lunch, prepared by Chef & Sommelier Andrew Laliberte, and held under the newly finished (re)source pavilion. This was followed by a goat cheese ice cream dessert and concluded with a green building tour of the Fifth Town Cheese Factory. The (re)source pavilion fulfilled its role perfectly, providing a cool shaded space for the event.

2008-09 Wood Design Awards Publication

2009-07-01T14:34:00.001-05:00

The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Factory has once again landed Lapointe Architects in a book. Wood WORKS! a publication of the Canadian Wood Council awarded Fifth Town the Green Building Wood Design Award in 2008. (see http://www.lapointe-arch.com/news/2008/10/fifth-town-cheese-wins-wood-works-award.html ) Wood Design & Building Magazine (the US affiliate of Wood WORKS!), has compiled awards from both publications over the last two years into one book filled with award winning porjects. It is an "exciting new awards book that showcases all the stunning award-winning architectural projects across North America from the Wood Design Awards programs. It is a lasting reference book for those seeking inspiration in wood design."

To purchase the book, or subscribe to Wood Design & Building Magazing visit
http://www.cwc.ca/Publications/WDB+Magazine

(re) source pavilion (nearly) finished!

2009-06-19T18:08:00.002-05:00

The majority of the strapping and roofing of the pavilion was completed after three days of extensive work by the volunteers. The installation of the 'leftover' metal roofing and cedar shingles when as planned, except for some minor changes. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough shingles to complete the roofing so the group will return in a few weeks to complete their task. The project will be featured in an exhibition at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre in early June. Stay tuned for more information.

(re)source pavilion structure completed

2009-06-01T17:52:00.003-05:00

The structural elements of the (re) source pavilion have been completed over the past weekend. The pavilion is being built by a group of local and student volunteers who have an interest in sustainable architecture. The mature ash logs were harvested directly on the site and erected using ropes and pulleys then a backhoe. Connections were made using threaded dowels and Band-it, a stainless steel banding system used primarily to fasten equipment to hydro poles.

Log erection begins!

2009-05-11T13:28:00.006-05:00

Construction on the log portion of the (re)source pavilion started this past weekend, despite the often torrential downpours and gale force winds. The secondary columns were all raised and 3 of the 4 beam members installed. The main 'king post' and the main roof joists will be erected next week, and weather permitting, the roof clad. A big thank you to all the volunteers who braved the cold and rain.

Pavilion concrete is poured

2009-05-01T12:47:00.002-05:00

The (re)source pavilion concrete was poured this past weekend. The pavilion is being built by a group of volunteers, primarily architecture students from the GTA area, as well as several local green building enthusiast. The work completed this weekend included the cutting of about a dozen trees, both elm and juniper, as well as the drilling of the post holes for the wood screen fence. The threaded rods were installed in the Durisol wall, the last two courses of block installed and the concrete poured. The erection of the log structure begins next weekend.

(re)source Pavilion Durisol wall rises!

2009-04-27T12:05:00.000-05:00

Shawn and Francis spent about 4 hrs on the weekend raising 3/4 of the Durisol wall for the Pavilion. The lightweight Durisol blocks, manufactured from waste wood chips and concrete, easily stack one over the other in a brick pattern. Steel re-bar were added in every course horizontally and every second core vertically. Next week the walls will be filled with concrete and allowed to cure for a few days before the the start of the major built. Already more than a dozen volunteers have signed up for the project.

(re)source Pavillion Concrete Poured

2009-04-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Staff from Lapointe Architects spent the day yesterday experimenting with bending the wood siding and preparing for the pouring of the concrete for the foundations for the pavilion. Once the concrete had set for an hour or so, steel re-bar dowels were added to anchor the Durisol wall to the foundation system. Next weekend the Durisol wall will be raised.

Fifth Town Wins Premier's Award

2009-04-07T21:22:00.011-05:00

The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company has been awarded the Ontario Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence award, a $2.5 million, five-year program (now in its third year) established to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario's agri-food sector. The top prize, worth $100,000, was awarded to Fifth Town for its "work in using green technology to construct the largest artisan goat and sheep milk cheese manufacturing facility in eastern Ontario." For more information and a video please see http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/infores/releases/2009/040609.htm

Fifth Town Featured on Cover of Construction Canada Magazine

2009-04-01T12:55:00.007-05:00

Construction Canada magazine, a national publication, this month featured the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Factory on their cover. The description for the article written by John Kokko, P.Eng., Enermodal Engineering reads as follows:

"From Plain Jane and County Maple to Bedda Fedda and Operetta, the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co. specializes in fresh, handmade cheese. In addition to churning out these delicious delicacies, the new Picton, Ont., facility is a LEED Platinum candidate. Designed by Lapointe Architects, the 403-m2 (4338-sf) building integrates traditional craftsmanship with sustainable technologies. Proper commissioning played a key role in this multiple-award-winning masterpiece."

To read the whole article refer to http://www.constructioncanada.net/.

Lapointe Architects Featured in International Book

2009-03-31T17:15:00.002-05:00

Lapointe Architects is one of only three North American architects (and the only Canadian architect) featured in an international book focusing on industrial buildings titled Factory Design published by German publisher Braun. The book will be available in your local book store in a few months.

Centennial College Selected to Teach LEED Course

2009-03-30T15:27:00.001-05:00

Centennial College is one of only seven post-secondary institutions across Canada selected by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) to participate in the pilot delivery of the LEED course Building Green with LEED: LEED Canada for New Construction 1.0. Colleges and Universities competing to teach the course had to demonstrate that sustainability was a guiding principal of the institution and that they had the qualified faculty to teach the course. The course will be taught at the sustainable HP Campus by John Romanov and Francis Lapointe, principal at Lapointe Architects.

This will be the first time that the trade marked LEED rating system is officially taught at any post-secondary school in Canada.

Construction Begins on Sustainable Pavilion

2009-03-29T14:59:00.004-05:00

Excavation has begun on Fifth Town's new sustainable pavilion. Work this weekend included assessing the quantity of material available, marking trees on the adjoining woodlot and excavation for the foundation system. Stay tuned for weekly updates.

Fifth Town - Part Two !!

2009-03-20T14:51:00.011-05:00

The owners of the LEED Platinum Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Factory in Picton has asked us to design and build a new pavilion on their property. The Client has confirmed that the popularity of the project and product means that at times, especially on the weekends, the facility is busting at the seams with visitors.

But this time, instead of a high-tech building we are proposing a low tech organic structure, constructed from materials left over from the factory (such as Durisol) and from raw supplies like small diameter timber, stone and straw, all from the immediate site.

The construction will be completed over several weekends with volunteer labour in a an old-fashioned 'barn raising' style of construction. This will give the participants the opportunity to learn firsthand about the materials, their installation and the methods of fastening. The construction will be directed by several skilled trades persons and Francis Lapointe, the principal of Lapointe Architects. Watch this blog for progress on the project.

Fifth Town is a Platinum LEEDer!

2009-03-13T18:38:00.001-05:00

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) today confirmed that after a rigorous audit process, the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Factory has been awarded the difficult to achieve LEED Platinum designation. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a sustainable building rating system who's goal is to promote the construction of buildings that are designed following a series of environmentally-sound design criteria ranging from sustainable site development to water efficiency, to a reduction of energy use and minimizing harm to the atmosphere, while making efficient use of materials and resources and improving indoor air quality. Lapointe Architects congratulates Fifth Town on achieving this important designation and for pursuing their goal of being the most environmentally-friendly industrial building in North America. For more information on LEED see http://www.cagbc.org/.

Three County Projects Receive a Building Permit

2009-03-09T15:17:00.008-05:00

Lapointe Architects is proud to announce that three of our projects have recently been granted a building permit by the Building Department in Prince Edward County. The three residential projects are all situated on ecologically distinct sites, but share one common feature...a view to Lake Ontario.

The first site, located just west of Wellington, is set on an 18 ft high limestone cliff containing fossils and overlooking Sandbanks Provincial Park.

The second site, a 22 acre waterfront lot contains seven distinct ecosystems (including two ponds, a gravel beach, a wetland, a hardwood and a softwood forest, a field and an escapement). Through a series of paths and visual cues, the dwelling is to be linked to the site to encourage interaction with the property’s distinct eco-systems.

The third site, a 77 acre agricultural lot that includes productive agricultural fields, a forest and a working vineyard is the setting for Collection House a collection of volumes designed to house a collection of books for two university profs.

Stay tune for more information on these projects as construction progresses.

Fifth Town wins Elizabeth R. Murray Award

2009-02-21T15:03:00.002-05:00

The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Factory was awarded the Elizabeth R. Murray Award at a ceremony at the Warring House in Prince Edward County last night. The award is granted to the most sustainable P.E.C. building each year. The award was name after a former municipal planner who was a tireless advocate of sustainable architecture and planning issues.