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The Franklin Flats: Strategies for Affordable Housing

April 2024

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This month, ABA's President, Andrew Bousfield, was a featured speaker in the OAA webinar titled "The Franklin Flats Story: Innovative, Low-Carbon Strategies for Affordable Housing". Join us for a panel discussion where experts, including the developer, architect, engineer, and supplier, will share insights on structural innovation, best practices, and strategies used in constructing low-carbon affordable housing in Kitchener.

KidsAbility Plasma Car Races!

April 2024

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ABA participated in another successful year of Plasma Car Races, in support of KidsAbility, and came home with second place! Thank you to everyone who came out and donated to support the cause!

Congratulations Matt!

December 2023

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Please join us in congratulating Matt Halladay, who has recently completed his Passive House Design Certification! This is a big accomplishment, requiring a great deal of coursework and study time. Matt is looking forward to improving energy efficiency and building resiliency in his designs and throughout our projects at ABA.

Passive House Canada is a national non-profit professional association that advocates for and educates on the Passive House high-performance building standard that sharply reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides resilient structures that can withstand extreme weather related to climate change. Their mission is to make the International Passive House standard of building performance understood, achievable, and adopted by government, industry, professionals, and the public across Canada through education, advocacy, events, and building projects. Congratulations again, Matt!

 

Ontario Concrete Award Winners!

December 2023

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This month, Josh and Brent attended the Ontario Concrete Awards event in Woodbridge. We are excited to announce we won the 2023 Architectural Merit Award for Outstanding Work on Civic 66! We want to recognize the project team for this great accomplishment Killam Apartments, MTE Consultants, Melloul Blamey, Stubbe's Precast and Rizz Engineering.

CPCI Roy Willwerth Precast Concrete Architectural Recognition Award Recipients!

November 2023

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Last week, on behalf of ABA, Andrew attended a reception where he received the Roy Willwerth Precast Concrete Architectural Recognition Award for Outstanding Architectural Design from the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

A big thank you to CPCI for the recognition and wonderful evening, and congratulations to Killam Apartments, MTE Consultants and Rizz Engineering for taking home awards as well! We are very proud to continue to serve our community and push the envelope on innovative design!

City of Kitchener Great Places 2023 Winners!

November 2023

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We are proud to announce that two ABA projects received awards at the City of Kitchener Great Places Awards 2023!

Charlie West was awarded the Urban Design Excellence Award for High Rise Residential, and 87 Scott was awarded the Mike and Pat Wagner Heritage Award for Preservation/Restoration.

The evening was both inspiring and celebratory, with a keynote speech about placemaking by Michael Ormston-Holloway from Planning Partnership and a showcase of some of the many innovative projects within the City of Kitchener. A big congratulations to all of the award winners!

AWARD Magazine Feature!

September 2023

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Civic 66 is featured in this month's issue of Award magazine! Go grab yourself a physical copy or check out the digital edition here!

An excerpt from the article: "With the restoration of one historic building and the preservation of another, plus a new 11-storey building that pushes the creative boundaries of precast construction, the Civic 66 project in Kitchener is an outstanding addition to that city's mixed-use residential portfolio and provides a much-needed transition between its residential neighbourhood and downtown core." - Robin Brunet

Foodbank Fundraiser Success!

October - November 2022

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During the month of October and November, ABA's Community Outreach Committee coordinated a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. ABA staff teamed-up, designed team logos, and competed to raise donations. Each week, donations were tallied and we consistently exceeded our donation goals!

Matched by an organizational donation, ABA collectively raised $2252 and 283lbs of high-need non-perishable food items! We're proud to support those in need within the Region during the holiday season!

ABA Fall Social

October 2022

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Last evening ABA families came together for our Fall Social at Benjamin Tree Farm! Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving weekend from our families to yours!

ABA Team Takes A Stroll Through Kitchener

September 2022

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This week we put on our walking shoes and took part in the ‘From Busy Berlin to Tech Corridor’ guided tour with @strollwalkingtours. We covered 14 buildings in a 90 min tour of The Innovation District in Downtown Kitchener, observing our surroundings and learning about our local history. A beautiful and insightful evening, enjoyed by all! Thank you @strollwalkingtours!

Congrats Ashleigh and Kyle on their GVCA BOLD Awards Nominations!

July 2022

Congrats Ashleigh & Kyle!

Congratulations Ashleigh Crofts and Kyle Shiry for their nomination in the GVCA BOLD Awards. Ashleigh was recognized in the “Spirit” category and Kyle in the “Leadership” Category. We are beyond proud for their recognition and acknowledgement from their peers and judges. Go team!

Congratulations Ashleigh!

July 2022

Congrats Ashleigh! July 2022

Congratulations Ashleigh Crofts on attaining her OAA designation as a registered Architect! Ashleigh is a talented and multi-disciplinary member on our team who has contributed to many projects such as Civic 66 in Kitchener, the reimagined Kraus Lands in Waterloo, and the Westmount Place master plan including The Carrick. She is an active and enthusiastic member of the Waterloo Region Community.  Please join us in congratulating her!

ABA Competes in Scotland's Yard Road Hockey Classic

July 2022

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On July 8th, ABA hit the rink and participated in the Scotland's Yard Road Hockey Classic in support of fundraising towards a pediatric cancer center at Grand River Hospital. The event raised over $315,000 and continues to accept donations here. Both the weather and competition were great, leaving smiles all around!

ABA Summer Social

May 2022

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We finally reunited in person, to celebrate the start of summer at the Waterloo Brewing event space we designed! We enjoyed some local refreshments, went head-to-head in a trivia bracket competition, celebrated staff milestones and welcomed new members to the ABA team.

South Hill Condominiums Wins at 2021 Ontario Concrete Awards

December 2021

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At the 2021 Ontario Concrete Awards, Thomasfield Homes' South Hill Condominiums took home the award for Architectural Merit: Precast. ABA would like to thank everyone that made this project a success and Thomasfield Homes for this opportunity!

Circa 1877 Wins at 2021 Ontario Concrete Awards

December 2021

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At the 2021 Ontario Concrete Awards, HIP Development's Circa 1877 took home the award for Mid to High Rise Residential: Precast. We're beyond thrilled to have received this award and would like to acknowledge Melloul Blamey, MTE Consultants, and Stubbes Precast (amongst many others) for their involvement on the project.

ABA Fall Social

October 2021

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ABA's Team Building Committee hosted a Fall Social that brought staff together for our first in-person gathering in the past year and a half! We put our creativity to the test in a pumpkin carving competition accompanied by tasty treats and warm drinks!

Congratulations Sara and Dobrina!

September 2021

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Both Sara and Dobrina are now fully licensed architects through the Ontario Association of Architects! These two talented members of our Design Team have contributed to many projects including 55 Franklin in Kitchener, 101 Victoria in Whitby, as well as Angstrom Engineering and Gaslight District Condos in Cambridge. Please join us in congratulating them on this milestone!

Princess Street Placemaking

August 2021

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The placemaking project at Princess Street is the outcome of the coming together of engaged creatives and change-makers in our community, including Uptown Waterloo, City of Waterloo, Shared Places Inc. and ABA volunteers! This pedestrian destination is a place to connect, loosen up, and decompress. Come meander through or stay a while!

ABA Research Collective shares Design Solutions in Response to COVID-19

January 2021

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This past year has inspired us to reassess how we design. During the initial days of the pandemic, ABA’s president motivated our research with an email to staff in which he remarked:

“What the world is experiencing now is profound and its ultimate story has yet to be told. . . We must come out the better for having gone through this ordeal. . . Now is the time for us to think about what “better” is.”

– Andrew Bousfield

For some months now we’ve been working on a collection of design research which we’re happy to share. What started out as precautionary measures in response to COVID evolved into better design strategies. Happy Watching! Research Collective Video

Ground-Breaking Ceremony for Civic 66

December 2020

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A small but mighty group gathered for the official Ground Breaking Ceremony for Civic 66! Killam Apartment REIT has started construction of a 169-unit apartment building located at the corner of Weber Street East and Scott Street in Downtown Kitchener. The building incorporates architectural elements inspired by the neighbouring heritage building, and green features including geothermal heating and cooling. Big thanks to Mayor Berry Vrbanovic for coming out in the cold and mud in the midst of a pandemic to share in the celebration!

Waterloo Brewing featured in Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region

September 2020

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Did you know that Waterloo Brewing was the first craft brewery in Ontario? Take a virtual tour of The Taphouse as part of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region! We are proud to have our interior design work featured in episode 15 of the series.

Canstruction 2020

March 2020

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This year we're excited to be working in collaboration with the Zehr Group in The Food Bank of Waterloo Region's annual Canstruction event! Watch out for our sugar thief!

Pam recieves the Leadership Award!

Jan 24, 2020

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Our very own Pam Tolton received the prestigious Leadership Award at the GVCA Leader in Construction BOLD AWARDS. Pam has become and remains the Region's preeminent Site Planner, is a devoted wife, a mother of two, and is the Vice-President and General Manager of our firm. Her humble attitude, calm demeanor and commitment to excellence inspire our team on a daily basis. Congratulations on this accolade Pam! All of us at ABA are extremely proud of you and happy that you have been recognized for the exceptional leadership skills you display daily.

City of Kitchener Great Places Awards

Nov 20, 2019

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We are proud to announce that three ABA projects received awards at last night's City of Kitchener Great Places Awards: One Victoria won the High-Rise Urban Design Excellence Award, KW Habilitation Services Residential Building won the Mid-Rise Urban Design Excellence Award, 8 Queen & Goudies Lane won the Placemaking Award!

Cooking at The Culinary Studio

Nov 8, 2019

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With the guidance of the incredible team at The Culinary Studio, ABA prepared an Appetizer Bonanza, including spanakopita, vietnamese spring rolls, and lentil soup! We had a lot of fun and our tummies especially enjoyed the experience!

KidsAbility Plasma Car Champions

October 2019

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In support of KidsAbility, we had a great time participating in the Plasma Car race and are proud to announce that we placed first this year! Congratulations to all the participants and a big thank you to all who came out to support the cause.

ABA Open House

Sep 13, 2019

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It was wonderful to have so many good friends, colleagues, and valued clients celebrating with us at our Open House!

WinC Golf Tournament

Aug 24, 2019

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On August 23, ABA participated in the Women in Construction Golf Tournament, hosted by the Grand Valley Construction Association at the Conestoga Golf Club.

LinC Golf Tournament

Jul 24, 2019

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On July 24th, ABA participated in the Leaders in Construction Golf Tournament, hosted by the Grand Valley Construction Association at the Conestoga Golf Club.

Canstruction 2019

Mar 8, 2019

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A little birdy might have told you the great news already, but in case you missed it the Canstruction build on Friday was a success!

ABA’s Canstruction team participated in this incredible event and worked very hard to make the Mama and Baby bird design scheme become a reality. Without the great effort and teamwork everyone put in throughout this process, none of this would’ve been possible!

Feature in Canadian Interiors Magazine

December 2018

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Turn to page 38 for a feature of our GHD property in the November/December issue of Canadian Interiors!

Habitat for Humanity 2018

Nov 15, 2018

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The ABA team got to work this past week with Habitat for Humanity! This is the 3rd time ABA has participated in this event.

Feast of St Jerome 2018

Sep 29, 2018

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ABA was invited to the University of Waterloo’s very own Feast of St Jerome, held at the University College, in recognition of their contribution to this amazing community! Thanks again to St Jerome’s for hosting, we had a blast.

Kidsability Plasma Car Races 2018

May 4, 2018

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On May 4th, ABA participated in the KidsAbility Plasma Car races for the 5th year and were narrowly defeated in the finals! The team had a great time and supported a great cause. KidsAbility helps to empower children and youth with a wide range of complex special needs to realize their full potential.

We're Moving

Sept 29, 2017

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ABA is moving to 101 Randall Drive, Unit B, Waterloo on September 29th! It is just up the road from our current location but offers a large collaborative open space we are really looking forward to!

Day in the District

Sept 16, 2017

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Day in the District was a fabulous event on a beautiful Saturday! The condos nearly all sold out in just three days...wonderful news for downtown Galt! The vibe at night was amazing as Serena Ryder rocked the Gaslight District and brought out nearly all of Cambridge...this community is transforming and they know it!

Congratulations to HIP Developments and Melloul Blamey Construction for making it all happen!

SG Cunningham Charity Golf Tournament

Jul 28, 2016

On July 28th, ABA took part in SG Cunningham’s Charity Golf Tournament at Grey Silo. Proceeds of the tournament went to St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Centre. The tournament had a great turnout, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Thank you for allowing us to contribute to such a wonderful cause.

LinC Golf Tournament

Jul 21, 2016

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On July 21st, ABA participated in the Leaders in Construction Golf Tournament, hosted by the Grand Valley Construction Association at the Conestoga Golf Club. Although our foursome did not win a prize, our team had a fantastic time at this networking event, where they had the opportunity to meet some great people from the industry. Thank you, GVCA, for hosting such a fun event.

Kidsability Plasma Car Champions!

April 21, 2016

ABA participated in the KidsAbility Plasma Car races for the third year and this time brought home the big prize! The team finished first place and supported a great cause. KidsAbility helps to empower children and youth with a wide range of complex special needs to realize their full potential.

Women's Build Day with Habitat for Humanity

June 20, 2014

ABA gave back at our 2nd Annual Community Service Team Building Event.

ABA is Growing!

June 13, 2014

Pamela Tolton is now Vice-President and General Manager of the Firm. Pam has been with ABA for nine years and, in that time, has been the singular force responsible for the establishment and growth of our site planning department and she has also designed and completed many significant Projects such as Wildcraft restaurant and Red Condominium; both in Waterloo.

Since her graduation from Conestoga College in 2005 with an Advanced Diploma in Architecture – Construction Engineering Technology, Pam has added to her credentials LEED Professional Accreditation in 2008, a Project Management Certification from Conestoga College in 2010, added a C.E.T. Designation in 2012, and recently completed an accounting course from her alma mater.

Winner of Award of Excellence

Dec 17, 2013

The Bowler's Journal (a North American bowling trade magazine) has awarded Kingpin Bowlounge at Bingemans designed by ABA the Award of Excellence for Best New Centre!

ABA Does the Bad Ass Dash!

Sept 16, 2013

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ABA participated in the 7km/30 obstacle race!
We conquered extreme challenges and raised money for Charity Partner Autism Speaks!