40 - Sunday, February 4, 1990 - North Shore News = INFLUENCE GS AFFLUENCE¢ On a human scale People come before monument - making for architect Allan Waisman here’s only one thing West Vancouver's Allan Waisman likes better than buildings: people. “Everything we do starts with the absolute fact that we're designing for human beings — for people,’’ says Waisman, senior partner of Waisman, Dewar, Grout and Carter, B.C.’s largest anc most successful architectural and pl.n- ning firm. “Nf there’s anything to what we try to do it’s our sensitivity to that aspect. In the end ali you're trying to do is satisfy those things that we are as human beings. There isn’t anything else.” For Waisman, people come be- fore monument-making. Every project is designed with the user or resident in mind — from the way the light strikes a building to the use of color and space. “We're concerned with the people who are going to live in the building, visit it, look at it and live in the building next door to it,”” says Waisman, whose eyes never stay still and whose seat rarely stays on his chair. One of his favorite projects, the sprawling student housing at the University of B.C. campus, was designed with humans in mind, not sardines. instead of matchbox rooms with barely enough room tor bed and desk, Waisman dreamed up a plan for luxury townhouse-style units with all the comforts of home: pub, grocery shop, laundry room, study and play areas for children. j ; NEWS photo Nei/ Lucente Al Waisman’s home overlooks Eagle Harbour and one of the most beautiful views in the Lower Mainland. “We try to break every rule in the book,” says the West Van- couver resident, “it was impor- tant for us to create a totally dif- ferent environment that was unique, alive, fresh — with a sense of humanity. “Basically, for the people who have to live there, the last thing they want is a prison cell. What we did was design them so there are 10 different ways of setting up furniture. Everyone can create their own warld in their own en- vironment.” Students aren‘t the only ones to benefit from Waisman’s vision of Mainland is dotted with his work — from shopping centres to the McBarge — and many of them are major landmarks. Take, for example, the new biomedical processing centre at UBC; Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital; the Whistler Resort Town Centre: Victoria's Eaton Centre and Burnaby’s Metratown, The firm recently completed a design for NASA‘s $50 million Space Centre in Houston, Texas and, last month, they unveiled plans for a major development in Whalley. Carter were also responsible for some of the well-remembered structures at Expo ‘86, including the $54 million B.C. Pavilion complex, the wedge-shaped Gen- eral Motors building and the con- troversial Washington State Pavil- ion — the list goes on and on. A Winnipeg native, Waisman has been building his empire since his twenties: just two years after graduating with a degree in ar- chitecture from the University of Manitoba, he established his own company. In 1971 he moved to Vancouver a staff of 90 — occupies two entire floors overlooking the waterfront on Granville Island as the largest architectural firm in B.C. A self-proctaimed “workaholic,” Waisman credits EST training with his success. “Of all the things [ve ever done it (EST) gave me the single greatest insight into the way I'd been doing things. | was always pretry solid, contident in the sense of where | was going, but EST allowed me to create a focus. which is why I’ve done what [ do. It taught me how to deal with Fastened to a wall near his office is a framed copy of the company work ethic, which stresses working as a close team or “‘family’’ — an important. point of Waisman’s work philosophy. “These projects I've been talk- ing about,’ he says, “are enor- mous. And they're not done by one person. So what you do is build teams of people, and the relationship between your people is really what makes the dif- ference. It's when you think you have all the answers when one winds up in real. deep (trouble).”” livable structures. The Lower Waisman, Dewar, Grout and | and today his domain — irctuding | people as people.’ — Evelyn Jacob Make a date with your future. Be sold on real estate! think it's a worthwhile and rewardiny career for the right people. If you think you could be sold on real estate, make a date with us and attend this no-cost informative real estate career evening. Date: February 8th, 1990 Time: 7:30 to 9:30 pm Place: NRS Training Academy 3121 Kingsway Vancouve;, B.C. 435-4174 to register BLOCK BROS. REALTY LTD. Fe a Re Join us any Sunday through Thurs- day for a fabulous offer. For only $16.95 you and your guest may choose any two entrees up to a requ- lar price of $13.95 That could mean a saving of up to $10.95. Every en- tree is served with new potatoes, fresh vegetables and sourdough bread. Clip this ad and presen: it to your server. Offer good through March 1, 90 at all locations. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or Valentine's Day. Maximum two cou- pons per party. No separate checks. RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED ~~ ebruary 8th could be the oO first day of the rest of your life! Because that evening, NRS Block Bros. Realty Ltd. will be presenting a Real Estate Career Evening. We won't be pulling any punches either. We'll tell you up front what a career in real estate can do for your future and what it takes to be a success. Real Estate is no different from any other career choice. It takes people who are definitely interested, are willing to learn and work hard to reach the top. But take if from us, we DINNER FOR TWO JUST *16-°%% "It's a Fresh Adventure!" 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