Reflecting on years past as a Member of OAA Council during the years 1971-73, 1976-79 and 2001-03 as well as participation on various Committees and OAA Initiatives, such as initiating the “CAUSE” (Community Assist Urban Study Effort), I’ve come to appreciate the value of Our Profession to the multiple facets of community and beneficial social development. While engaged in High School academic development, I also partook of the offerings of the technical aspects of architectural learning during night school at Our local facility charged with that responsibility. The instructor took note of My potential and engaged Me to work in their Architect office that went under the name Sheppard & Masson. In Windsor, ON. During My student tenure @ UofT, I worked with a number of firms in Windsor,Detroit and Toronto in which both architects and engineers were principals as related to their operations. Still Licensed and holding a Certificate of Practice with the OAA, @ 88 years of age, My firm has been engaged in the multiple facets of architecture from functional programming to design development into commissioning the project for use. The mainstay was predominantly Government work relative to Federal, Provincial and Municipal projects.

Muskoka Steamship Berthing Facility

Muskoka Steamship Berthing Facility, William Kachmaryk 

Architecture UofT had a prerequisite 2nd, 3rd, & 4th year 2 week field initiative at the Dorset Fire Ranger School related to creating field art capped off by a public exhibit at Our Facility at former curling rink in the Spadina neighborhood. As chance would have it a certain party was interested in my work and asked if I would be interested in public service. A site review ensued with particulars required to capture a public relations concept for 2 recommissioned Muskoka Steamers in Gravenhurst. The effort was captured on the referenced attachment which also was accompanied by a token of appreciation $ stipend and sincere “Thank You” uttered by both the requesting party and the artistic production.

Superior & Metro Toronto Court House

Superior & Metro Toronto Court House, William Kachmaryk 

During the course of My Study at UofT and gainful summer employment, I gained a fascination for the complexities associated with Government buildings. A Courthouse adjacent to Osgoode Hall was on the way via the office of Marani Morris & Dick, Toronto. A counterpart facility was envisioned by Myself as my 5th Year Grad Thesis per the 2 Term Session design Studio. Dedication to the effort on My Part surpassed what was required in functional programming, design philosophy and execution with a rapidograph on 14 sheets of 30” x 40” Hi-Art card with Eric Arthur as My Mentor and Ron Dick as the Expert Adjudicator to assess the merits of the effort. I Received an “A” for “Outstanding Effort and Execution as applied to My submission and presentation.

OAA Headquarters, 1989 Competition

OAA Headquarters, 1989 Competition, William Kachmaryk

My creative mantra as expressed by a sacred utterance is the ability to create as defined to possess mystical or spiritual efficacy. Success comes at a price and is assessed by the effort extended to succeed in conveying the message in a 3 dimensional art form that functions for the intended purpose as extended and exudes some degree of visual and adaptable stimuli to the beholder. Winnipeg Art gallery, Mississauga City Hall and other submissions impart a high degree of stimuli as part of the creative patient search as to resolution within other options that are presented by counterpart efforts for peer review. Recalling the Parkin Firm’s, Park Road, bordering Rosedale resolution, Membership and Staff demand required more spacious accommodation to suit the operational demands required. Parking was an issue as well.

Urban Design Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Revamp

Urban Design Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Revamp, William Kachmaryk

By association in current consideration of the new Gordie Howe StayedCable Bridge and International Border Crossings, Windsor stands unique as relates to volume of traffic that is processed for international travel. Our tunnel opened November 3, 1930 and for years has been along with the Ambassador Bridge the primary regional link to points south of the border. Backups on Municipal Streets adjacent to and connecting with an arterial road network posed issues when associated with urban population growth and conflicting traffic on both sides of the border. The effort extended on My part a number of years past was in response to a hypothetical resetting the design parameters to ameliorate vehicle pedestrian conflicts within the commercial, governmental components of Our Neighbouring City Hall. OAA Summer Sketches is more than graphics delivered manually, mechanically, digitally and the presently pertinent matter of artificial intelligence to correct and create viable value in the manner in
which it is delivered. Function, aesthetics, sustainability, cost, climatic change abatement in the creative process are the derivatives for consideration to future architectural practice. Architecture as a design parameter as theory is more than line, shape, form, colour, value.

This blOAAg post is an entry in the popular annual series, Summer Sketches. To see other items from this year, click here. To see all Summer Sketches, click here.