Institute without Boundaries
Institute without Boundaries
Institute without Boundaries in partnership with LACAP (Latin American Canadian Art Projects)
The Institute without Boundaries (IwB) is a nine-month, post-graduate program offered through the School of Design at George Brown College. Central to this work are real projects of public and global significance that are executed by students, faculty and industry experts as part of academic curricula, research initiatives and creative projects.
From 2003 – 2009, IwB focused on the World House project, an initiative that confronts the issue of shelter for coming generations by developing housing systems that operate on the principles of sustainability, universality, technological responsiveness and ecological balance. The faculty and students seek to create advanced housing solutions that are globally responsible and locally appropriate.
Community Partners
The IwB program centres on real design projects with tangible outcomes. Each year, the Institute partners with external organizations, community groups and other schools. This year, IwB will partner with LACAP to develop a project with the City of Lota.
Lota
In 2010-11, the IwB curriculum will enter the second phase of City Systems by introducing a long-term resilience masterplan for the City of Lota, Chile destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami. We are submitting this proposal in order to implement the specific design of a school for the city of Lota.
History
One of the initial steps established by LACAP was to promote Lota as a City that needed international aid. LACAP’s fundraising efforts to help the city enabled to establish a close relationship with the city of Lota and government representatives. As a result, the local Chilean community decided to lobby towards establishing a twinning proposal between the two cities and has been pressuring City Council to support relief efforts for the city of Lota.
On May 17, 2010, the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee recommended to:
1. City Council request the Government of Canada to significantly increase the $2 million set aside for earthquake relief in Chile, and specifically that the Federal Government match the money of private donations to relief efforts;
2. City Council urge the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to take action as deemed necessary to reach out to counterparts in the Federal Government and Chile to offer technical support for the City of Lota;
3. The City of Toronto consider any formal request from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Chile for technical partnership assistance for the City of Lota;
4. The City of Toronto assess any formal request from the City of Lota for a structured City Twinning arrangement through the International Alliance Program (IAP);
5. City Council endorse George Brown College/LACAP to develop IwB program with Lota, Chile, such endorsement being for the purpose of helping George Brown College/LACAP in raising third party awareness and funding.
2010-11 Team
The interdisciplinary IwB team is made up of 8 to 15 post-graduate students from a wide variety of backgrounds in design, arts, science and business.
In addition to faculty from design, architecture, planning, construction and culture, the Institute will work with LACAP to generate a list of guest speakers that will engage students with Chilean cultural and artistic, architectural, geographical, economical, and historical educational tools broadening student’s knowledge of the region. LACAP will also serve as a liaison between IwB and the City of Lota as we begin to deal with the client interests and design needs towards a regional masterplan. IwB will also bring in other groups to contribute to different phases of this project.
Students, architects and other professionals will go to Lota to both learn about the needs and priorities needed in September/October and then to present a long-term master plan for the City in May/June.