FAUM Winter Goose Chase: Find the Goose, Win the Goods!

Get ready to unleash your inner detective—because a very mischievous goose has officially taken over the Faculty of Architecture website.

From December 15-19, 2025, our feathered friend will hide in a new spot somewhere on our site (umanitoba.ca/architecture). Your mission? Find the goose and enter to win.

Here’s how it works:

1. Check our Instagram daily (@faumanitoba): We’ll drop a fresh clue every morning at 9am, pointing you toward the goose’s new hiding spot.
2. Search the site:  Follow the clue, explore the page, and keep your eyes peeled for that sneaky bird.
3. Find the goose:  When you spot it, celebrate appropriately (honking encouraged).
4. Enter to win: Click on the goose and enter our daily prize draw.

The goose moves. The prizes change. The fun is daily. Are you ready to track down our wandering web-goose?

Let the hunt begin!

Read the full article here.

Image credit: A picture of the mid-construction documentation of “The Wall,” capturing the evolving geometry and surface treatment in 1977. (Oliver Botar and Jason Shields)

“It was on a hill that I realized I did not want to be 35 and still a ski instructor,” Dunn recalls with a grin. “I applied to the Bachelor of Environmental Studies program at UM; on my submission form, I wrote that I wanted to design ski hills.”

Scott Dunn portrait, Image credit: AECOM

Fast forward 45 years. Dunn has made Asia his home since the early 2000s. After marrying fellow UM alumnus Laurie Bielun MArch 1996, the couple relocated to Asia via New York City where she worked for Richard Bloch and Edwin Schlossberg—“the latter’s marriage to Caroline Kennedy made for interesting Halloween parties,” quips Dunn.  While in New York, Dunn secured an interview with EDAW: “I was the seventh employee with its New York office.” The firm merged with AECOM in 2005 and the couple relocated to Hong Kong. Today, the global urban and masterplanning firm employs 6,500 people in Asia, and Hong Kong is its regional headquarters with a staff count of 4,000. In 2007, Dunn relocated to Singapore—the same year that AECOM became a publicly listed company.

These days, the couple spends holidays with their son Jack in Vancouver where he is studying film. He drops in regularly to see his folks in Saskatchewan. “I stand and look around my sister and brother-in-law’s farm outside Saskatoon and cannot see another living soul,” he shares. “I don’t think I’ve worked on any projects in Asia where this is the case.”

It may be an understatement to say that Dunn has come a long way armed with a couple of UM degrees. Yet at the same time, he is still that kid from Swift Current: he still loves pushing his body to its limits, though now he participates in triathlons instead of volleyball, basketball or ditchball.

“Ditchball was always a fun time,” he smiles. “What I remember most about the game was trying to remain upright! And not getting hurt too badly so that I can keep doing other sports.” A more sobering memory was when first year professor Gord Adaskin discovered that Dunn suffered from red-green colour blindness: “He told me that I would never make it as an architect.”

Ignoring those words, he persevered and became one of the first in his class to use CAD and laptops; his computer literacy caught the attention of professor William Thompson. “A few of us did poorly on an assignment and Bill roped us into doing extra work including library research for his projects,” Dunn rolls his eyes. “We even helped him move house! Back then, I felt the Dewey Decimal System was a waste of time; I learned to appreciate it in later years. A library’s organizational structure is similar to how we index, archive and retrieve digital twins at AECOM, for example.”

Given Swift Current’s population of 17,000, Dunn considered Winnipeg a big city move though he admits that the choice to go to UM was based on its connection to Chicago schools. “Being surrounded by multi-storied buildings downtown helped my understanding of how a city functions,” says Dunn. “Living in Winnipeg was a good foundation for the work that I do now. I had always been interested in landscape architecture from a placemaking point of view. That was why I switched from architecture to landscape architecture for my master degree. My thesis was on golf course architecture and how to make it more environmentally friendly.”

AECOM gave Dunn the opportunity to work on urban and rural environments, and he initially spent equal amounts of time on master planning and landscapes. He embraced living in Asia as he can witness first hand how cities can evolve sustainably. “In as little as three or four years, I can see our plans take shape,” he explains. “In the west, there is not this same drive for change.”

Case in point is his work on the master plan for Marina Bay and the adjacent Greater Southern Waterfront in Singapore. “I led the project and it helped establish me in the city,” Dunn says. “The 890 acre site was designed to seamlessly extend the downtown district and is a key development area. By using the Sustainable Systems Integration Model, we implemented a systematic method to assess the sustainability performance of the whole area. Based on those findings, our team was able to provide solutions relating to specific aspects of urban design, urban microclimates, landscape engineering, water management and sustainable transportation.”

In 2013, Dunn oversaw the expansion of AECOM with the opening of its Kuala Lumpur office, where he lived with his family for two years. “We grew that office from 80 to 800 people,” he notes. “We worked closely with the Malaysian government on a transformation program for the capital through metro and urban rail lines, as well as revitalized the Klang River.”

In the past decade as Dunn moved up AECOM corporate ladder, he has taken on a senior leadership role. “I deal with the overall business across our sub-regions, helping to integrate multiple disciplines such as engineers and scientists,” he explains. “Our team is very entrepreneurial and we work on projects in Southeast Asia just as much as ones in the Middle East.”

Dunn was part of the LA28 bid team that developed a concept to transform multiple clusters and venue sites across Los Angeles in the run up to the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. “LA28 will be the first privately financed games since 1984, which also took place in L.A.,” Dunn states. “Our concept fully utilizes the massive ongoing investment in transportation by the region; it will not require construction of any additional transportation infrastructure beyond what is already planned.” With AECOM’s reputation for sports stadium design, the main LA28 stadium is well underway and on track to be completed for the next Games.

Reflecting upon his years in Winnipeg, Dunn credits UM for his ability to drive positive outcomes for millions of people: “The school teaches purpose and reasoning.”

This year’s celebration honoured 10 exemplary individuals, including a Chancellor Emeritus and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Congratulations to all the 2025 honourees.

Chancellor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Anne Mahon with certificate for Chancellor Emeritus.

Ms. Anne Mahon served with distinction as the University’s 14th Chancellor from 2019 to 2025, where she brought compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to community to her role. A bridge-builder and philanthropist, Ms. Mahon is known for connecting people and inspiring positive change. Her work at the intersection of storytelling, community-building, and education has amplified the voices of those marginalized and often unheard.

Ms. Mahon has dedicated herself to volunteerism and advocacy, including working closely with United Way Winnipeg, founding and facilitating the Bookmates Book Club at the Women’s Correctional Centre, and volunteering with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Humankind International, and Palliative Manitoba. Her leadership and compassion have left an enduring mark on the University of Manitoba, thereby earning the title of Chancellor Emeritus.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Leslie Roos with certificate for Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

The University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Leslie Roos the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. An influential scholar and innovative leader in population health and health policy research, Dr. Roos joined the University of Manitoba in 1973. Over the course of his distinguished career in the Faculties of Administrative Studies (now the Asper School of Business) and Medicine, he helped establish the university as an international centre of excellence in health services research and data-informed policy.

As a founder of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Dr. Roos led the creation of its internationally respected population health database, enabling groundbreaking studies on the health and well-being of Manitobans. He has played a central role in training and inspiring a generation of researchers whose work continues to shape Canadian health systems and stands among the most influential contributors to health policy research globally.

Professor Emeriti:

• Dr. Harold Aukema
• Dr. Ying Chen
• Dr. Kevin Coombs
• Prof. Herbert Enns
• Dr. Elissavet Kardami
• Dr. Eberhard Renner
• Dr. Wayne Simpson
• Dr. Qiang Zhang

To learn more about the 2025 honourees, please visit the Emeritus/Emerita Titles webpage to read their individual citations.

Emeriti titles are one of several awards given annually by the university in celebrating and recognizing the success of colleagues and other distinguished individuals. Learn about the university awards nomination process.

This special gift comes from our longstanding supporter, Barkman Concrete Ltd., whose generosity and connection to the department and faculty have endured over time, much like the new chessboard itself will endure! The thoughtful contribution embodies both strength and strategy, qualities we highly value in our students and community.

Students are warmly invited to take a break, challenge a friend, and put their best moves forward. Whether you are a grandmaster in training or just learning how the knight moves, the board is open for all to enjoy during your leisure time.

So next time you are between classes, reach out to the president of the Landscape Architecture Student Association, Sari Halldorson Haines, at halldors@myumanitoba.ca, who manages the free rental service. See if you can outsmart your classmates.

Many thanks again to Barkman Concrete Ltd. for helping to make our program a fun and friendly place for challenges.

To read the entire article, please visit CBC News.

To read the full article, please visit Winnipeg Free Press.

In spring 2017, Professors Dietmar Straub and Anna Thurmayr from the Department of Landscape Architecture were approached by faculty and students from the Faculty of Science about collaborating on a campus project. It quickly became clear that everyone involved was eager to challenge conventional design and construction standards. Together, they embraced creative experimentation and integrated research, seizing a rare opportunity to shape a space with both strong presence and distinctive character.

Over the past few years, a once-ordinary campus lawn has transformed into a biodiversity hotspot, attracting insects, birds, and other wildlife. The courtyard invites lively discussions about nature and prompts reflection on life in the Anthropocene. Generating buzz across campus, the project raises awareness of the impact landscape architecture can have. Today, the Science Courtyard is a place where students and faculty gather, celebrate, and find a peaceful retreat from the busy academic environment. Though it won’t rescue the world, this project is a small pioneer, showing how creative design can transform space and inspire the community.

In March 2025, the Science Courtyard was nominated for the German Landscape Architecture Prize, a biennial competition organized by the Federation of German Landscape Architects (Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekten, BDLA). On May 1, 2025, it was awarded the Prairie Design Award of Merit in the Landscape Architecture category, with the celebration held at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon.

Dietmar Straub

For more information:
https://landezine-award.com/science-courtyard/
https://homes.winnipegfreepress.com/winnipeg-real-estate-articles/renovation-design/U-of-M-courtyard-receives-prestigious-award/id-8625

Project Collaborators
PROJECT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS
Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects and Urban Designers

Dietmar Straub, Anna Thurmayr
Professors, Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture,
University of Manitoba

CONTRACTOR
Johannes Zinn, Konrad Zinn
J&K Zinn Landscape Contractors
Box 45, Starbuck, MB

CLIENT
Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba
Krystyna Koczanski
Associate Dean, Administration
Trevor Schultz, Business Manager
Seema Goel, Program Outreach and STEAM Coordinator

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Javier Uribe, Vanessa Jukes
Architectural & Engineering Services
Physical Plant, Fort Garry Campus, University of Manitoba

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT OF RECORD
David Wagner Associates Inc.
317 Laidlaw Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB

Hong Kong is recovering from one of its most severe typhoon in years, and Glory Wang BED 1998 is spending a quiet day in the head office of Atelier Pacific in North Point district. In her role as its managing director, the architect shuttles between Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore to oversee 73 designers, architects and support staff. Unlike most firms, Atelier Pacific expanded rapidly during the pandemic, opening its Shanghai office in April 2021 followed by Singapore in 2023. Wang takes it all in stride as clients including Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Salvatore Ferragamo keep coming back for more.

Unlike a stereotypical luxury brand designer, Wang is far from dripping head to toe in European labels. Instead, she opens the door to Atelier Pacific comfortably attired in running shoes, jeans and t-shirts. She is always ready for a good laugh, often at herself or to join in the fun. It is no wonder that she has fond memories of fierce ditchball games in the mid-90s when she was working towards her Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) at UM.

“Ditchball was a big thing,” she recalls, settling into her chair in the studio’s boardroom overlooking Victoria Harbour. “Everyone had to participate. What I remember more was Sketch Camp at Gimli—a real eye opener. I had always been self-conscious about my hand drawing skills. At Sketch Camp, I learned that it was not about doing nice drawings; it was about the approach. Drawing was a means towards expression. So was photography, which I got into while at Gimli. And we stayed in a Viking settlement population 500. The mayor was also the high school principal. I had a really good time.”

Born in Hong Kong, Wang’s family emigrated to Vancouver when she was 11 years old. “I originally wanted to go to culinary school,” she confesses. “Although fairly liberal, my parents balked at what traditional Chinese families assumed would be a tough job in a greasy kitchen slinging out chow mein. They encouraged me to consider something else. I was pretty ignorant and thought that architecture would be easy: drawing and model making without any need to study. Since at the time, UBC only had a master program for architecture, the next closest university was UM. It was crazy! I applied with my portfolio, got accepted and moved to Winnipeg without knowing anything about it. After staying with family friends for a few nights when I first arrived, I moved into Mary Speechly Hall.”

Being from milder climes, Wang was unprepared for snow in October. Yet being part of the Mary Speechly community for her entire stay in Winnipeg gave her a sense of grounding and yen for pierogi. History lessons with Robert Madill gave her a fresh look at dusty days of yore. “Bob always walked in with Ray Bans,” she laughs. “He had them on the entire time we looked at slides in a dark room! I don’t know why he always wore shades—maybe he was trying too hard to look cool. Let’s face it: history is boring. But the way he shared his knowledge made it very memorable. He was a good teacher.”

Another professor she remembers fondly is Leon Feduniw, though she is much less enamoured at being pried out of bed for his 8:30 am tech class three days per week. “My friends and I were always late and we would always get stuck sitting in the front row where Leon could see we slept through most of his lectures,” she grins. Feduniw suggested that she enter an American student housing competition; Wang and her team won second prize and a trip ensued to accept the award in San Francisco. “It was my first time to San Francisco,” she recalls. “It was fun. Along with visiting one of the competition judges’ studios—my dream work place—we went sightseeing.”

After graduating in 1998, Wang worked for a couple of years in Hong Kong before returning to Canada to study in Ottawa. “UM gave me a good foundation for my master at Carleton,” she says, noting that she immediately returned to Hong Kong following graduation in 2004. “My brother was working here and we’re close,” Wang notes. “And frankly, Hong Kong salaries are better than Canadian ones.” She started at Wong Ouyang, one of the biggest architectural firms in the city at the time. Although she gained enough experience for her Hong Kong Institute of Architects license, she found herself oscillating between gratitude for being employed during the 2008 financial crisis and frustration at the government-like culture of working for a practice with hundreds of staff members.

“I messaged Nic one particularly annoying day and asked if he was hiring,” Wang remembers. She had previously interned for Nic Banks, a transplanted Brit who founded Atelier Pacific in 1996. By then, she knew she preferred working within a more intimate studio that espoused an architectural approach to interiors. “I think that’s the difference between education in Canada versus Hong Kong,” she posits. “In Canada, interior design is part of architecture and architects see interiors as part of their job—everything we do is about solving a client’s needs.”

One of her first and favourite projects was the extensive adaptive re-use of Hong Kong Fringe Club; she worked closely with clients Benny Chia and Catherine Lau to get the listed heritage building structurally sound and up to contemporary building codes. “It is an iconic building,” Wang states. “At the time, it was a hub for the local arts scene. I learned a lot about its history as Dairy Farm’s storage when it was first opened in 1845. The painful part was our very tight budget and dealing with a lot of changes as the project progressed. It was like helping a patient recover from cancer with the minimal amount of financial support. There was a lot of reinstatement to its original glory. A nice surprise was the discovery of floor tiles from the 1960s in the Fringe Dairy part of the building that were in good enough condition for us to leave in situ after some cleaning.”

Atelier Pacific is the preferred interior architect for luxury brands in greater China, and Wang particularly appreciates the firm’s longstanding relationship with Hermes. “Its attention to detail is hats off,” she shares. “It likes to explore materials and push boundaries.” Another niche area for the studio is signage and wayfinding, with Hong Kong Museum of Art a stand out project: “The museum today compared to prior its 2019 intervention is like night and day. It’s a fresh idea executed well, and our signage design complements the building.”

Wang was promoted to managing director four years ago after Banks relocated part-time to Europe. She admits that she designs much less these days, though she still gets excited about new projects. “I was the last man standing,” she smiles, referring to the constant poaching of colleagues by fashion houses for them to work in-house. “I am the designer remaining with the longest history,” she reveals. “As both a manager and the front person for our studio, I give clients faith and trust in what we do to return for their next project.”

She helped steer the firm’s expansion from a studio with 20 people in Hong Kong to almost quadruple in size with three studios across the region. “We are intentionally getting more architects on board to work on a wider range of projects. When I first joined, we did exhibitions, proposals for houses and smaller scaled projects. Now people know us for much more. For our 25th anniversary—which we couldn’t properly celebrate as it was the height of the pandemic closures—we wrapped a tram in colourful graphic renderings of our best projects. Everyone loved it.”

Looking back at her time in Winnipeg, Wang feels she owes UM a big thank you: “My architectural education helps me think outside the box. I encourage anyone and everyone who wants to make a difference to consider studying architecture at UM.”

www.atelierpacific.com.hk

Involving students from all disciplinary streams across the Faculty’s Bachelor of Environmental Design Program, the URA projects encompassed diverse research areas, including: Indigenous storytelling spaces; LiDAR scanning; defining “quality” in built environments; sustainable materials; urban greenspace; mapping the urban tree canopy; and digital archiving of historic materials.

This research is advancing knowledge and fabricating a dynamic shift in design strategies; exemplifying the power of collaborative efforts and practices; and creating more inclusive and sustainable societies.  

Short interviews with each student reflecting on their summer research project and experience are featured below.

The URA is supported by the Office of the Vice-President (Research & International) and the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), along with the University’s faculties. Applications for summer 2025 will open early 2025. More information on the program is available here.

_____________________________

Dilumi Rajamanthri, ED3 Landscape Architecture + Urbanism
with Assistant Prof. Raphael Ayambire

The focus of the research I conducted this summer was on access to urban greenspace (UGS) in Winnipeg. We utilized the Integrated Evaluation of Ecosystem and Trade-off (inVEST) tool, specifically the Urban Nature Access (UNA) model, to evaluate urban nature based on spatial distribution, naturalness of UGS, population density, and per capita demand. The model requires spatial data and census information to map both the supply and demand of urban nature. This informs us whether the supply of UGS meets the population demand. Urban nature supply is defined by size, type, quality, and proximity of green space, while policy targets of population preference are determined by demand. Our research evaluated demand on the total area of accessible UGS required to meet policy targets.

The City of Winnipeg’s 2021 Park Strategy targets are: (1) all residents should have access to UGS within 600 m walking distance from their residence; (2) each resident should have access to an average of 50 m2 of UGS. To compare the effectiveness of the various urban greening strategies, we tested a total of three future UGS scenarios. Scenario 1: enhance existing UGS by increasing the naturalness score. The naturalness score of UGS is an essential parameter in UNA. For our study, the UGS naturalness was determined by two metrics: average height and standard deviation of trees of a given UGS. This classification allowed for a standardized interpretation of UGS quality across Winnipeg. Scenario 2: implement new UGS in accordance with Winnipeg’s planning policy, and Scenario 3: increase the existing UGS by 30%. The baseline results concluded that Winnipeg does not meet the current targets set by the city. The scenarios yielded positive outcomes, but these results were very marginal.

Although the entirety of Winnipeg does not meet the demand for accessible UGS, some neighbourhoods have better access compared to others. This research was helpful in addressing social equity, as larger, mature UGS are often located in affluent areas and perpetuate inequalities with lower-income neighbourhoods. Another factor to consider is the rise in climate change, with marginalized communities usually at a higher risk for exposure to environmental hazards. To address these disparities, future scenarios could target these areas by converting vacant lots/ vacant parking lots into greenspaces or enhancing streets with the planting of trees.

This research intrigued my interest in future studies that can explore the relationship between human health and urban design, particularly how city planning can influence human behaviour and address disparities in social equity.

_____________________________

Ileah Valverde-Nelson, Environmental Design Year 2
with Prof. Marcella Eaton

Early Years | Institutional Memory | Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design | FAUM

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

My summer research project involved working through a variety of historical material from the Department of Landscape Architecture’s storage. This included notes, lectures, drawings, and national design boards from competition work. My tasks included organizing and digitizing these documents, and working with Professor Thomsen and Eaton to determine suitable locations for long-term archives.

What have you found the most intriguing?

History has always been an area of interest to me, and it is essential to learn about it to understand the present and navigate the future. The most interesting part was viewing old slides and seeing the way the world looked 30-60 years ago. Photography, in its own way, is a form of history preservation. The thing I found most interesting about these old photos was the sense of warmth that emanated from each one, as there is a certain quality in old photos that we lack now with the HD quality you can achieve with cameras and even your phone, the quality being a certain human touch. Photographs were composed and considered much more than now, as the delayed ‘output’ and cost associated required a studied way of looking and recording than now. This unique human touch in old photos allows us to feel a connection with the past. I also learned a great deal about the individuals and students who have gone through the program.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies or career goals?

In terms of this particular research, there is still a significant amount of cataloguing and analysis to be done; I have just begun to delve into the depths of this topic. In terms of the future, I want to continue pursuing this historical knowledge and incorporating it into areas such as my studio work, as well as my life.

How can we find out more about the research you’ve been working on?

There is still a great deal of history and work that needs to be organized. This is long-term archival work that may take years to reach a point where it is fully accessible to a broad audience. This is an open discussion, and if anyone has any questions or would like to know more, I am always happy to chat.

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Natalie Fournier, ED3 Architecture
with Dr. Mercedes Garcia-Holguera

3D Printing with Bacterial Cellulose

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

This summer, I have been testing bacterial cellulose (BC)-based pastes as a sustainable material for large-scale 3D printing in architecture. Our work focused on experimenting with different paste formulations (dry and wet trials) and testing their extrusion stability, drying performance, and resistance to shrinkage or mould. Using different nozzle sizes, we created shapes such as domes, walls, bowls, and flat patterns to observe how the material behaves when scaled up.

What have you found the most intriguing?

I found it fascinating how small changes in water content or extrusion method made a huge difference in the material’s performance. For example, the smallest nozzle created fragile structures alone, but when reinforced with fresh BC, it became surprisingly flexible and durable. It was also intriguing to see how some shapes, like domes, bonded together strongly, while others, like mini bricks, collapsed after drying.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies or career goals?

This project showed me the potential for bio-based, renewable materials in the future of sustainable construction. It also highlighted the challenges, like shrinkage and mould, that need solving before this material can be scaled up for architectural applications. For future research, we would like to test BC pastes with robotic extrusion tools and explore how this material could be used for functional building components. It has definitely sparked my interest in pursuing work at the intersection of architecture, biomaterials, and digital fabrication.

How can we find out more about the research you’ve been working on?

You can learn more by visiting our website at https://www.biomlab.ca/ and following us on Instagram at @biom_lab.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

BC is a material that can be grown, shaped, and recycled, which makes it an exciting alternative to conventional construction materials. This research is still in its early stages, but it demonstrates that biological materials can play a real role in how we design and build the spaces of the future.

_____________________________

Hanan Alahmad, Environmental Design Year 2
with Dean Mira (Mimi) Locher

Exploring a Vision: Indigenous Storytelling Space at Brandon University

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

This summer, I had the privilege of working on a community design project: the early-stage research for a proposed Indigenous Storytelling Space at Brandon University’s Faculty of Education. The vision for the project is to create a cozy, welcoming, and inclusive environment that supports drumming, storytelling, and gatherings, while strengthening connections to nature and community traditions.

My research combined cultural and historical learning with design exploration. I studied Brandon’s local history, the university’s background, and storytelling traditions, and I created sketches, AutoCAD and Rhino drawings, and a color/materials catalog to explore different design directions. I also participated in site visits and feedback sessions. I feel very fortunate to have been part of this process. It gave me the chance to grow as both a learner and a designer.

What have you found the most intriguing?

The most intriguing part of the project was discovering how cultural traditions can directly shape design. I realized that storytelling is not just about language it’s about space, rhythm, gathering, and connection. Translating those traditions into design concepts, such as circular gathering areas or fire spaces, was both challenging and inspiring.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies, or career goals?

This experience showed me that architecture is about much more than creating buildings, it’s about shaping environments that support people, culture, and community. Over the past four months, I discovered how research, history, and collaboration can transform design into something deeply meaningful.

It also inspired me to begin working on my dream project: designing a community café. I want to bring everything I’ve learned about creating warm, inclusive, and flexible spaces into that design. This project showed me how design can be a tool for connection whether in a storytelling space or a café, and it gave me greater confidence in the path I want to pursue as an architecture student

How can we find out more about the research you’ve been working on?

The project is still in its early stages and has not yet been shared publicly. However, I will be presenting my poster about the Indigenous Storytelling Space at the Research Showcase on October 16 at the University of Manitoba. Feel free to stop by and learn much more about my project!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

What I value most about this experience is the growth I achieved as a designer. It wasn’t just about practicing drawing or modeling, it was about learning to think differently. I discovered that good design begins with respect, curiosity, and collaboration.

I also realized how much design is about atmosphere and feeling how a space can make people feel safe, connected, and inspired. This experience taught me the importance of listening, asking thoughtful questions, and letting research guide design decisions.

These lessons will continue to shape my work, whether in my community café project or future designs. More than anything, this experience reaffirmed why I chose architecture in the first place: because it has the power to support communities, honor stories, and create spaces where people can truly flourish.

And as I carry these lessons forward, I’m reminded that design is not just about what we build it’s about how we make people feel: seen, connected, and heard.

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Bayan Furutan Shaeri, Environmental Design Year 2
with Dr. Yuhao Lu

Scalable Urban Tree Canopy Data for Canadian Cities

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

We have been creating machine learning models to map Urban Tree Canopy (UTC), defined as the share of land covered by tree crowns in cities that serve as a proxy for ecological benefits such as air filtration, carbon storage, cooling, and habitat. Using open, globally available satellite imagery, GIS programs, and statistical software, we estimated UTC for 19 Canadian cities across eight ecozones and identified which environmental variables are most influential in each city, including moisture, building form, and surface temperature. Previous approaches to estimating UTC relied on the manual tracing of aerial photographs or field surveys, which are time and labour-intensive. Our methodology introduces a scalable, reproducible, and cost-effective workflow. The resulting workflow and data are valuable for planners and researchers assessing municipal canopy distributions, assisting in tracking progress toward canopy targets, and monitoring change over time.

What have you found the most intriguing?

It was very interesting to see what open data and observations about our planet currently exist, with great spatial coverage at a relatively fine resolution. Additionally, the ability of researchers to use this spectral imagery to capture and measure environmental conditions, such as the health of vegetation through measures of plant quality, dryness, and moisture content, is expanding rapidly and reveals meaningful environmental patterns. Not only are the technological advances significant, but consultations with other researchers have been collaborative and informative. Their perspectives enrich the process, always leaving us with greater and clearer next steps.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies or career goals?

Reading about current scientific advancements through literature reviews and assessing possible directions for our work, many opportunities for further research open up as we plan to increase spatial coverage. UTC distribution also has socio-demographic implications for the quality of and access to nature, and the Canadian Census provides consistent boundaries and time intervals to examine these equity questions. Once spatial coverage is complete, we hope to extend the work temporally to investigate change over time.

I entered the faculty of Architecture, seeing design as a means to serve others. This research experience has revealed a new area of endeavour, allowing me to further contribute to the challenges I seek to address. Although less visibly declarative in its form, the contributions of scientific research resonate with the ethos of design to better the well-being of individuals and communities. The multi-disciplinary nature of prevalent socio-ecological issues allows me to contribute in a multitude of ways, perhaps simultaneously.

How can we find out more about the research you have been working on?

A web interface is available to view canopy distributions for the 19 Canadian cities included in the study. A forthcoming pre-publication manuscript, “Scalable Urban Tree Canopy Model for Canadian Cities,” will be made available. Within the manuscript are the methodology, data sources, processing tools, and code for those interested in reproducing and expanding this research.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank Dr. Lu for his support, and all of the collaborators behind this research: Alexander Martin, Lukas Olson, Raphael Ayambire, Txomin Hermosilla, Lucila Corro, Jay Diffendorfer, Peter Ibsen, Sophie Nitoslawski, and the URA program for providing this opportunity to learn from and along these researchers.

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Elena Dobrowney, Environmental Design Year 2
with Dr. Shauna Mallory-Hill

Community-Led Pathways to sustainable and affordable First Nation Housing

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

This summer I continued working with Dr. Shauna Mallory-Hill, an internationally recognized expert in building performance evaluation, on research exploring pathways to affordable and sustainable housing for First Nation communities. Her work is part of a five-year, pan-Canadian research partnership funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through 2027. The project brings together universities, researchers, and organizations across the country to reimagine how “quality” is defined and applied in the design of Canada’s built environments, with particular emphasis on equity, social value, and environmental sustainability.

What have you found the most intriguing?

The most intriguing aspect for me was the opportunity to assist in preparing for conferences and to participate in both online and in-person events. Attending the Toronto conference in May was especially meaningful, as it allowed me to hear firsthand the perspectives of researchers and community partners from across Canada. I also found it exciting to contribute to preparations for the final conference, which will be hosted in Winnipeg in May 2026.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies or career goals?

This experience strengthened my commitment to pursuing architecture and deepened my interest in creating meaningful, socially valuable, and efficient design solutions. Through Dr. Mallory-Hill’s research, which emphasizes close collaboration with One House Many Nations and the collection of community feedback, I learned the importance of engaging directly with occupants and communities in both research and design. Attending the Toronto conference in person further exposed me to the diverse ways in which designers, architects, and professionals define “quality” in architecture.

How can we find out more about the research you’ve been working on?

Information about this project can be found on the SSHRC website Living Atlas of Quality. The site showcases research collected over the past five years by 14 universities across Canada, including the University of Manitoba, and provides further details about Dr. Mallory-Hill’s work: http://livingatlasofquality.ca/.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Working with Dr. Mallory-Hill was a privilege, as her research resonated with me both personally and professionally. As an immigrant from Ukraine, I understand the importance of having a safe and secure home and admire her dedication to creating positive change. Professionally, this experience allowed me to gain valuable skills in data collection and analysis, transcription, post-occupancy reporting, and assisting with and attending both online and in-person conferences.

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Reanne Caldit, ED3 Architecture
with Prof. Jason Shields

Immersive Heritage: Digitally Preserving Cultural and Historic Spaces Through Virtual Reality

Tell us about the research you have been doing this summer:

This summer, I continued my work on the Bruce Head Wall project. The project began with the LiDAR scanning of culturally and historically significant spaces in Manitoba, where researchers captured highly detailed 3D models and processed them into digital replicas.

My task was to take the completed scan of the Bruce Head Wall and turn it into an explorable environment in Unreal Engine. I focused on creating an immersive VR environment around the scan so that the site can be experienced virtually. The overarching goal of the project is to preserve important spaces that may be at risk of wear or demolition, while also making them accessible to people across the world.

What have you found the most intriguing?

What I’ve found most intriguing is how much of an emotional connection VR can convey. When standing inside a virtual construction of a historic space, it doesn’t feel like looking at an assembly of photos on a screen – it feels like you’re there. Seeing how technology can capture the intricate details and overall impact of a space has been eye opening. I was also fascinated by the interdisciplinary reach of this work, bridging architecture, history, archaeology, and computer science.

How has the experience opened up ideas for future research, studies or career goals?

This experience expanded my perspective on how digital tools can be applied in preservation and public engagement. It has encouraged me to think about future research which blends immersive media with community-based storytelling and has also opened potential pathways toward careers in VR development and interactive design. Learning a software like Unreal Engine has given me skills that are not only useful in academia but also in creative industries. It’s amazing to see what new technology can do, and I can easily imagine it shaping the future of architecture.

How can we find out more about the research you’ve been working on?

The research conducted on the Bruce Head Wall will be available publicly following the completion of VR testing. Access will be provided through both a web-based platform and a downloadable application. Scholarly publications outlining the methodology and significance of this work are forthcoming in academic journals. In addition, the project is scheduled to be exhibited at the A2G Gallery in Architecture II.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would add that one of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been the mentorship and collaborative support I’ve received. Learning alongside faculty, lab members, and professionals at StudioLab xR has not only built up my technical skills but also given me the confidence to present my work publicly. I’m excited that this research doesn’t just preserve places but also allows more people to engage with Manitoba’s cultural heritage. This work has opened my eyes to how collaborative research can be. It’s been wonderful to work with others, as it allows me to see multiple perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the work.

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URA recipients from the Faculty of Architecture in 2025 also included Madhav Arora, Hannah Maksimovich, A.V. Ronquillo, and Jenelle Schellenberg.