Newsletters ─── June 18, 2025
Prime Connection: June
Author: Berry Architecture + Associates
Tracy Wells' 25-year Anniversary!
Tracy Wells celebrated her 25-year anniversary with Berry Architecture on June 2nd! Tracy is a Senior Architectural Technologist and Project Manager who began with our firm after working with us on a joint project with Edmonton architect, Kees Prins. After wrap-up, George invited her to join our team in Red Deer. That was 25 years ago, and the rest is history! We are very grateful for all her years of dedication to the firm—the hard work, expertise, conscientiousness, skill, and unfailing good humour that she brings to every project is invaluable. What an accomplishment! We celebrated with a lunch party, flowers, balloons, and cake at the RD office. Congratulations, Tracy!
New Project: RDP Sonography Space
We are currently working with Red Deer Polytechnic on a renovation to transform an existing Art Class/Studio into a state-of-the-art Sonography Teaching space. The new space will house eight sonography beds in curtained-off teaching booths (with a future expansion of three more booths), a welcoming entrance and reception area, two simulation areas, and a breakout space. The new space will use the latest technology and innovation to provide optimal functionality. The design follows accessible and trauma-informed principles, ensuring an open, welcoming, and inclusive environment that promotes student well-being and achievement. Project is at 50% construction completion, and the space will be ready for classes in September.
Welcome New Team Member
We are excited to be joined by a new team member in our Red Deer office! Brody Klassen is an Architectural Technologist who has recently graduated from SAIT. He started with the firm on June 2nd as a Junior Architectural Tech and is proficient in both Revit and AutoCAD. As an important member of our production team, he works primarily in the production of working drawings using Revit. Other duties include assisting with code reviews, reports, site visits, and administration. He works closely with our team, helping out wherever and whenever he is needed. Welcome, Brody!
New Project: Big Horn Health Centre
Berry Architecture is pleased to be working on another project for the Stoney Nakoda Nation on the Big Horn Reserve 144A—a new health centre for this region. The Big Horn Health Centre will be constructed north of Ta’Otha School and will have a footprint of approximately 1,422m2 (15,306 ft2).
The health center will include: examination and treatment rooms; therapeutic tub room; medical equipment storage; optometry suite; pharmacy; administration suite; counselling rooms; a large cultural room/multi-purpose space, complete with teaching kitchen; Renfrew services (a group of services which includes psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and assistants, physiotherapy, and family support work); and staff facilities.
Here are some things we’ve been up to:
This has been a busy summer for us so far, with BAA involved in several philanthropic ventures in all three of our communities—sponsorships at charitable golf tournaments, a fundraising bike ride, and sponsorship of local kids’ sports teams. Chamber of Commerce events, summer barbecues, and conferences round out the mix. Here are a few highlights from May and early June:
On May 23rd, George attended his graduation ceremony at the University of Cambridge, UK. He received a Master of Studies Degree in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment. This has been a rewarding journey for him, and we are very proud of his accomplishments and in-depth understanding of sustainable architecture!
On May 26th, our new summer student, Tyler Corke, started work in the Kelowna office. He is a student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and has just completed his first year in the Architectural and Engineering Technology Diploma program. He will be with us until July 18th. Welcome, Tyler!
On June 1st - 4th, Isaac and Suman attended the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s conference in Montreal, QC. This is the annual architectural conference for the RAIC and is always an excellent continuing education experience.
On June 9th, we held an Open House celebration to showcase our new office in Kelowna. George, Laura, and Sarah from the Red Deer office joined the Kelowna crew for the event which featured drinks, snacks, and great conversation for invited guests.
Did you know?
Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated and only surviving linteled stone circle in the world.
Stonehenge is an excellent example of post and lintel architecture, a system in which vertical columns or pillars (posts) support a horizontal beam or slab (lintel). This ancient site is celebrated for its purposeful design and advanced engineering.
Sources: Study.com and English-heritage.org.uk
