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Permits in Good Hands with Jay Wiwchar

Jay Wiwchar is now Inertia’s Permit Coordinator. He is responsible for the submission and administration of all permits submitted by Gravity, including development permits, building permits, and land use permits.

He brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry to his position at Gravity. 

He began his journey into the construction industry as an electrician in 1998. After obtaining his Red Seal in the electrical trade, he then obtained Master’s certification and introductory training as a safety codes officer. Always looking to gain knowledge, in 2009 Jay returned to school obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary.

Jay’s previous projects in the electrical trade included roles in management and quality control administration and these roles assisted in his sound knowledge of government policy and legislation related to the construction industry. These roles, along with his lifelong fascination with the aesthetics and process of building design ignited Jay’s desire to oversee the administrative function of a project and added to his pursuit of a technology diploma in architecture.

He completed the Architectural Technologist program at SAIT in 2021, fulfilling his childhood aspiration to work in the field of architecture.

Jay has lived in Calgary for the past 20 years and enjoys the company of his wife and cats, renovating his century home, cycling, skiing, and long drives in the countryside.

We welcome Jay to the team at Inertia!

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Open for Business, by Appointment

During these uncertain times, Inertia remains committed to the safety and well-being of our staff and visitors, while continuing to provide responsive solutions to our clients. With Alberta’s new COVID-19 restrictions in place, access to our studios will be by appointment only.⁠

Please touch base with us prior to popping in. ⁠

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Trishuda Jain's Anniversary and Promotion

We're pleased to announce that Trishuda Jain as been on our team for ten years. As well, we’re happy to share that Trishuda has been promoted to the role of Project Manager.

Trishuda completed an Architectural Assistantship program in 2000 from India. She started her career with Kalpakriti Consultants where she gained experience in residential planning and interior design. Later, she got an independent opportunity for designing various oil and gas stations in Northern India. In 2005, she joined the municipal urban planning department where she contributed her experience on city wide projects. During this period of time she worked on AutoCAD, ADT and Revit.

After coming to Canada, Trishuda resumed her career as a technologist with Genesis Builders Group where she gained experience in the residential suburban housing market. Trishuda joined Inertia in 2010 as our second employee and has since been an integral team member of Inertia Residential Design.

Trishuda now is a project manager at Gravity Architecture with responsibilities that include managing the firm’s larger scale projects as well as monitoring project performance across all of our projects.

Congratulations on your work anniversary and promotion, Trishuda!

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Willix Fourplexes

Willix Developments is building a row of eight townhouses on 38th Avenue SW at the north end of Altadore in Calgary. The project is split over two parcels separated by a laneway. The units are three storeys each, and have south-facing rooftop patios and fully developed basements. Every unit has a double master configuration as well as a bedroom in the basement, however, the two end units also have an upper floor den. Separate buildings on the lane provide a private garage for each unit.

The brick cladding, modest front stoops, and repeated facades suggest east coast brownstone architecture, but the tectonic massing and contemporary interior spaces reveal this Inertia design to be thoroughly modern. 

While small multi-residential developments, especially rowhouses, are our speciality, grading issues can always put our expertise to the test. These lots both slope down to the east, but also significantly down to the north. To accommodate this, the units adapt to the slope by all having different main floor elevations. Also, the west fourplex is lowered from the street level so the main floors can have access to their rear yards from the main floor. Creative approaches like this keep our developer and builder clients returning to Inertia for the best solutions to infill design challenges.

At the time of this post, Willix has completed the west building and is continuing to build the east building. Units are still available for sale in both buildings. Find out more at the Willix Development website.

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Tom Jenson's 10th Year Work Anniversary

We're thrilled to announce that Tom Jenson has been with us for ten years!

Tom joined Inertia in 2009 as our first employee. While we were a little nervous about the commitment of a full time hire at the time, Tom was insistent. Early on we facetiously posted a picture of Tom titled “Employee of the Month”, and then there didn’t seem any logic in taking it down (well, until we hired our second employee).

In this last decade with us, Tom has been involved in every stage of the architectural process: from conceptual design, to development permit drawings, through to fully detailed construction plans for building permit and IFC drawings. Tom has learned the Calgary Land Use Bylaw and Alberta Building Code inside and out. He’s also become experienced in navigating the City of Calgary’s development permit application processes and has a proven ability to find design solutions that satisfy client needs within the context of City requirements and community expectations.⁠

As Inertia’s Lead Technologist, Tom is responsible for construction document production and the review of all permit drawings. On top of Tom’s expansive knowledge in everything BIM, he’s also a waffle connoisseur and brings in samples of his weekly creations to share with us all! 🧇

Congratulations on this big work anniversary, and thank you for everything you do Tom!

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Parking at Inertia

One of the reasons we chose our new location is that there are plenty of options for client parking.

At the west doors to our building are nine free two-hour visitors stalls exclusively for our building (shown in orange above). If at any time these are full, street parking is readily available.

On the north side of 10th Avenue, there is 2 hours paid parking from 9:00am to 3:30pm weekdays (marked in green above). However, don’t leave your car on this side of the street past 3:30!

On the south side of 10th Avenue, there is 2 hours paid parking from 9:00am to 6:00pm weekdays (marked in blue above).

Parking is unlimited and free on both sides of the street after 6:00pm.

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Gord Alexander Joins Inertia

Inertia welcomes Gord Alexander to the team!

Upon graduating from SAIT Polytechnic’s Architectural Technologies program in 2003, Gord began his career at Cutforth Technologists where he focused on completing plans for hotels all over rural Alberta as well as custom summer homes at some of our popular lake communities.

Gord then moved into the residential world full time when he started at Albi Homes where he did all aspects of design from custom homes, site construction supervision, and management . As part of the product development team they were the recipients of several local and national SAM awards for design excellence. During his time here, Gord also completed the Lean Construction Program which focuses on customer value, construction and design efficiencies, as well as improved process flow and a minimization of waste. It is these principles that Gord is mindful of when designing any new residential project.

Gord has spent time getting builders like Homes by Dream up and running by helping set up design software and procedures as well as providing several new house models with everything from cozy starter homes to move up models and Estate homes. 

Inertia’s commitment to urbanization through bold and striking architecture is what made Gord most excited about joining the Inertia team.

Welcome Gord!

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Inertia Welcomes Marcella Borelli

We're very happy that Marcella Borrelli has joined our team at Inertia!

Marcella graduated from SAIT Polytechnic in 2011 with a diploma in Architectural Technology. Throughout her education and early career, she has developed many valuable skills including a working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, and best construction practices.

After graduating she worked at a small custom firm PDW Design, gaining knowledge in completing as-builts, and creating construction drawings for both residential and commercial spaces. From there she obtained a position at Excel Homes, where she became a member of the production team. In 2014 she made the move to the custom home world at Phase One Design, where she managed many projects, completing construction drawings, growing her design skills and knowledge of many municipalities Land Use Bylaw in Alberta and BC. In her spare time Marcella enjoys exploring her love of cooking for friends and family as well as indulging in her love for live music by attending many local shows. She enjoys giving back to the community as is actively involved with volunteering and organizing many local charity events.

Welcome Marcella!

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Jenson Advocates Diversity in East Village

While most of us know Tom Jenson as the Lead Technologist here at Inertia and Gravity, as well as being a student of architecture at the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary, Tom is also the director of the planning committee for the East Village Neighbourhood Association (EVNA).

In a recent article in the Calgary Real Estate Board’s blog, Tom discusses how Calgary’s East Village needs, and is achieving, diversity in its population to attract the services the community requires.

Tom says that the “EVNA wants to ensure there are affordable places to live in our community for everyone, from the retail clerks in our local shops and cafes to the oil executives working in our neighbouring office towers.”

We appreciate the work Tom is doing in all of his roles toward making Calgary a better place to live.

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Yvette Perot Earns CCCA Designation

Yvette Perot, our Contract and Construction Administrator, has just earned her designation as Certified Construction Contract Administrator.

As prerequisites of this designation, Yvette is a member of Construction Specifications Canada and has successfully completed the Principles of Construction Documentation and Construction Contract Administration course. Yvette also has well over the minimum of five years experience in the administration of construction contracts.

More information about this designation is available here. Congratulations Yvette!

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Paul Mowat Joins Inertia and Gravity

Paul Mowat has had a well established career in Calgary as an architectural contractor. We’re happy to announce that he has chosen join the team here at Inertia and Gravity.

Paul has over twenty years of experience on a wide range of projects from multi-family, long term care and independent living facilities, low-to-mid rise buildings, commercial, institutional, correctional and custom house design and detailing. His primary focus is on detailing the sequencing of building materials, the building envelope design and barrier membrane continuity and integrity.

In addition, Paul also has extensive contract administration experience having managed building phases 1, 2 & 3 of a long term care and independent living facility in Evanston, Calgary. During the three years on this site he used his expertise in building design to provide guidance to the site supervisor and sub-trades to successfully execute the contract documentation. This was achieved while maintaining quality control and remaining on budget and on time.

In his spare time Paul likes to build rustic custom furniture, barn doors.

Welcome Paul!

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Welcome Aboard Amy Ford

Amy ford has joined the team at Inertia and Gravity!

Amy started her career working for Omega Partnership in the United Kingdom as an RIBA Architectural Assistant, working on residential projects for many different housing developers. Whilst working at this firm, Amy completed her BA(Hons) degree in Architecture from Kingston University in 2014. Throughout her 14 years at Omega, Amy worked on single family house design, multi-family developments, listed building applications and masterplan design. 

Amy left to gain more construction experience and started work for Thames Design and Build as a Design Manager, taking projects from initial conceptual design, development and building permit application through to on-site project and site management. Here she worked on custom home design, interior design and additions. 

Amy’s passion for skiing and winter sports brought her to Canada in 2016. Her first role was with Home by Avi Urban as an Architectural Designer working for Multi-family projects. Amy then took a position at Envision Custom Renovations where she was responsible for interior design, additions, specifications and selections.

Welcome Amy!

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Anthony Pienkos Joins Our Team

We're pleased to inform you that Anthony Pienkos is now on the Inertia and Gravity team.

Anthony Completed his Architectural Technologies diploma in 2016 From SAIT in Calgary. Prior to discovering his love of architecture, Anthony studied Anthropology at MRU and installed modular partitions from suppliers such as DIRTT and Teknion on notable projects including Norman Foster’s Bow Building and the University of Calgary.

Anthony comes to us from DIALOG in Vancouver, where he worked as a contract administrator assistant for the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Westbank and DIALOG Joint Highrise Project known as Vancouver House which was awarded “Future Building of the year 2015” by the World Architecture Festival. During his time at DIALOG, Anthony was also able to become a Canadian BIM Council certified P2 BIM coordinator. 

Not only is Anthony a competent Revit user but he is also well versed in design and visualization Software such as Lumion, Sketchup, Adobe Creative Suite and 3DS Max as well. He also has experience using BIM software such as Navisworks, 360 BIM glue and Revit Live.

Welcome aboard, Anthony!

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Villa Savoye

Inertia's Lead Technologist, Tom Jenson, recently visited Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier. He observed that it “was definitely noteworthy, not because of the hype but because it remains a very unique building, even if it’s dated and missing features of today’s residential expectations.” The residence, is located in a densely treed location just outside of Paris in Poissy, France.

Design

Better known by his pseudonym Le Corbusier, the Swiss born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (1887–1965) used his "Five Points of Architecture" to design Villa Savoye in the late 1920s. The five points are distilled in the design through the elevation of the building on a grid of support columns, thereby decreasing the structural restrictions on of the design and allowing for horizontal windows along the entire wall of an exterior façade and interior walls to be placed freely. Satisfying the fifth point, the flat roof has a garden that serves both the personal enjoyment of the residents as well as protects the building from the elements. It's easy to see this house as a precursor to the 'open concept' designs that would dominate suburban housing eighty years later.

History

Unfortunately, aesthetics trumped practicality and with the lack of downspouts and sills, the owners only lived in their home for a few years before it needed significant repairs. They abandoned it during World War II, after which is was occupied by the Germans and then the Americans, each causing further deterioration. Expropriated by the town of Poissy in 1958, it would have been demolished save for the protest of architects including Le Corbusier himself. Restoration was completed in 1997 and the house is now open to the public.

Layout

The ground level of the house originally housed the chauffeur's and maid's rooms. The main floor also features a rather prominently located pedestal sink! Up the ramp or stairs to the second level reveals the kitchen, terraces and three bedrooms. Up one more level is the rooftop garden which has a view of the entire solarium and ramp. The living space has an impressively sized sliding door out to the terrace, while the ensuite sports a unique tiled tub and chaise longues combination.

Gardener's House

Though the main residence receives most of the historical attention, Tom was quite interested in the lesser known building on the site known as the Gardener's House. Unfortunately, this surprisingly colourful building was not open to the public during his visit, but Tom managed to snap a couple of exterior photos for us. 

All the images in this post are courtesy of Tom Jenson.

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Stanley Drive House Nearing Completion

Last night we had the opportunity to visit our Stanley Drive house as it is nearing completion. This house features a window wall as wide as the house with spectacular downtown views over Stanley Park. The master bath has a very well executed seamless skylight that drenches the shower in sunlight. We can't wait to see it once it's finished!

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R-CG Rowhouse Collaboration with RNDSQR

We've been working with RNDSQR to design a number of townhouse projects that take advantage of Calgary's R-CG district. In collaboration with Turbulentarch, we prepared renderings for most of these projects, and we are pleased to share them here.

KL26

This project in Richmond has two units that face the street and two that face the avenue. It is designed to soften the distinction between the individual units so the composition of the building as whole is what stands out. The orientation of the units offer an intriguing new perspective to the typical Row-House massing, giving interest to each of the street faces. 

AL48

This four-unit project in Altadore, like KL26,  has two units facing the street and two units facing the avenue. The material palette includes Black vertical corrugated metal, white stucco and natural cedar in a chevron pattern. Fitting in nicely with surrounding neighbours by blending contextual massing within the are of old and new.

AL50

Also in Altadore, this four unit project faces 16th Street SW. The vertical cedar screen is flush to the parapet but has a variegated lower edge that gives the facade an organic, playful feel.

CB05

This project is on an unusual site facing 5th Street SW, but rather than having a rear lane, it has a lane along the side of the building. Because this put the garages along one side, we configured the entries along a common walkway along the other. While the walkway is at grade, it isn't on the ground. The lower level of CB05 extends past the main entry walls and under the walkway, giving the residents a large flex space that could be used as a third bedroom or a lower entertaining space. This space is daylit by a long window well that extends almost the entire depth of the property. Privacy from busy 5th Street is achieved in part with brick screens that obscure views but allow light to filter both in and out of the unit.

SC32

In Richmond, a stone's throw away from the Marda Loop commercial district, this four-unit rowhouse building features glazed lofts, and distinct unit facades textured with stone, stucco and cedar. With raked windows and large sliding patio doors, the loft area becomes a large indoor/outdoor space.

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Secondary Suites Become Discretionary in R-1, R-C1, and R-C1L Districts

Calgary has been behind most of the country in streamlining the process for the approval of basement suites and backyard suites in single-family districts. But, as of yesterday, this has changed. City Council voted 9-6 in favour of making suites a discretionary use in the R-1, R-C1 and R-C1L districts. This means that people who own a property with this designation will no longer require a land use redesignation, or the associated public hearing, to apply to build a suite. The process will be an administrative one, meaning that people will simply need to apply for a development permit.

We're particularly excited to be able to help provide laneway houses—another term for backyard suites—to the many Calgarians who want them but were daunted by the previous onerous process.

Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes! Thanks to council for having the courage to stand up for the right of all citizens to have a safe and decent place to live. https://t.co/qhJ3RILEka

— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) March 13, 2018