NLAA 2015 Architecture Lecture Series

Free to the Public

LECTURE 1 – Steve McFarlane, omb (office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers), Vancouver, BC

Steve McFarlane is a practicing architect and a principal with the office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers (omb) based in Vancouver, BC. A graduate of the Technical University of Nova Scotia / Dalhousie, Steve practiced architecture in Halifax, Toronto, and Vancouver for 20 years prior to cofounding omb’s predecessor firm in 2003. Steve strives for architecture that endures through the rewards of thoughtfulness and restraint, cultivated by an ethos of honesty and purpose. A strong advocate of simplicity and rigour, Steve engages the omb team in the pursuit of design that deftly manages the responsibilities of the future, responds to the lessons of the past, and resonates meaningfully with its context. His interests extend beyond the boundaries of a single project to the entire urban landscape, and he maintains an active voice in the responsible growth of our communities through advocacy and volunteerism. Steve is the past chairman of the Urban Design Panel for the cities of Vancouver and North Vancouver, and is currently vice-chair of the University of British Columbia Advisory Urban Design Panel. In 2011, he was recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

In 2012, Steve co-founded omb to concentrate on innovative and forward-thinking projects that explore
the intersection of architecture, interiors, urbanism, and sustainability. Through this diversity, omb
stakes out a deliberately panoramic practice in the belief that enduring design addresses the entire
spectrum of the built environment. The studio leverages the creative energy of 30 deeply talented
architects and designers while fusing a dynamic and inquiring design methodology with precision and
experience. The firm’s history includes local, national and international accolades through a multitude of
awards including Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, the Canadian Architect Award of
Excellence, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Innovation Award, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Medals in Architecture, and North American Wood Design Awards.