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.

¿Quál es la organización patronisadora?
Who is the sponsoring organization?

Institute without Boundaries in partnership with LACAP (Latin American Canadian Art Projects).

The Institute without Boundaries (IwB) was founded in 2003 by the School of Design at George Brown College, in consultation with Bruce Mau. It is a unique academic and research and development program focused on collaborative design practice with the objectives of social, ecological and economic innovation through design research and strategy. 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 curriculum, research initiatives and creative projects.

LACAP is a Toronto-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the implementation of various cultural art projects, which promote the unity of the Latin American population in Canada. LACAP fosters economic development and the well being of artists and the community at large. LACAP’s vision is to support artists in their careers, contribute by strengthening the local arts industry and helping build a sense of community.

Projects under LACAP’s umbrella include:
Art of the Americas Project: held in April during Hispanic Heritage Month. Educational workshops at various high schools promote Latin American art and culture.
Allende Arts Festival: a two-week multidisciplinary festival held at various venues in Toronto in September showcasing socially and politically engaged work of Latin American and Canadian artists.
Solidaridad Museum Project: a design project which aims to integrate both the community with the design process of recapturing and retelling the immigrant experience of coming to Canada.
Victor Jara Lane Project: the naming of the laneway and future artistic collaborations with the community.
Youth Scholarship Program: two scholarships awarded to students who will pursue post-secondary studies in visual arts and literary arts.

¿Dónde es el lugar del proyecto?
Where will the project be located?

City of Lota. Lota is located 43 Km south of the city of Concepción, the capital of the VIII region of Chile. The town is in two parts: Lota Alto, on the hill, is the original mining town, while Lota Bajo, below, is a recent development. Today, Lota is one of the poorest cities in Chile and is trying to turn its economy towards tourism.

¿Es que los edificios se necesitan construir o renovar?
Do facilities at the location need to be constructed or upgraded?

Sí/Yes. The scarce aid the Chilean government has granted to Lota has been in the form of temporary shelters not addressing any long term solutions. As our proposal develops we aim to work on a viable and resilient design which will enable the city to not only recuperate after a devastating earthquake but to also attain an environmentally sustainable solution to all levels of society.

¿Se requiere más servicios arquitectural o de desegno para este proyecto?
Are any further architectural or design services required?

Sí/Yes. The IwB will offer viable design solutions which will be implemented by engineers, architects and designers.

¿Sería beneficial tener asistencia de profesionales de contrucción?
Would this project benefit from the assistance of construction professionals?

Sí/Yes. This stage is dependent on funds, the Institute without Boundaries will work on the architectural design process. We are applying for funds from Architecture for Humanity to implement the construction of a school.