Project Update: Fernie Elementary School

The Berry Architecture team has been working closely with School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay), Turner + Townsend, and the BC Ministry on the design of the new Fernie Elementary School and Child Care, which we featured in the December 2024 newsletter. The new facility will be a single-storey elementary school consisting of 11 classrooms, support classroom, media tech (library), music room, large gym, three child care rooms, and a commercial kitchen. Included in the design is a Neighbourhood Learning Centre which will be used for community functions and also provides elders’ rooms. The design team met with Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi‘it First Nation’s Chief and Council to assist with incorporating cultural elements into the design. The exterior design of the school features wood accents to connect to the local environment, as well as colourful metal siding to provide fun and playful elements for elementary school-aged children. The project has been awarded and will soon be under construction. We are excited to have this project underway!

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Project Update: Hope Village 

Here’s an update on one of the projects that we featured in the June newsletter as a project BAA inherited from the Edmonton firm purchase. Pakoshayimoohk (Hope) Village is an affordable supportive housing development that consists of 55 apartments, plus 10 commercial spaces on the ground floor that will be geared at providing services for residents. There are 36 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom suites, as well as an underground parkade. Unique features are a post-secondary-sized gym for residents and a Metis-themed coffee shop serving the surrounding community. This is a project undertaken with Metis Capital Housing Corporation—we are excited to be beginning a new business relationship with MCHC! The project has received a Foundation permit and groundwork is now underway.

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Welcome to the Team, Kristine Bugayong

We are excited to welcome new team member, Kristine Bugayong. Kristine is our new Business Development and Client Relationship Director. She has almost 20 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector and is translating her relationship-building, partnership development, and stewardship and government relations skills into the corporate world. She is excited to support the firm in its growth, explore new partnerships, and amplify the firm’s value proposition of sustainability through the built environment to clients, both potential and existing, within the industry and in our communities. Kristine brings the added bonus of having experience working in both Kelowna and Red Deer. She is based in the Red Deer office but will be making connections in all our locations. Welcome, Kristine!

What we’ve been up to this month:

Some of our team members have recently received new titles with the firm: Angela Flinn, Principal; Carlos Gamez Ruiz, Senior Associate; Tracy Wells, Senior Associate; Dustin Lendvay, Associate; and Tyleena Robertson, Associate. Congratulations to you all! We really appreciate your hard work, expertise, and dedication to the firm. Pictured L-R: Dustin, Tyleena, Angela, Tracy. Not pictured: Carlos.

Saeed Abdollahi is now an Intern Architect registered with the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA)! Saeed has a B. Arch earned in Iran and an M.F.A. (Visual Arts) earned at the U of C. He works remotely from Calgary and in our Red Deer office. He has worked hard to receive his registration, and we are so proud of this achievement. Congratulations, Saeed!

The Red Deer Chamber Chase took place on September 3rd. This year, we had some new faces on the team and were able to field two teams, with Shylia, Sarah, and Kristina on one team and Tracey, Kirsten, and Mica on the other. It was a great time as always! Thanks to the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce for putting on this event once again! Pictured L-R: Sarah, Shylia, Kirsten, Kristine, Tracey, and Mica.

Berry Architecture was the title sponsor for the Canadian Mental Health Association (Kootenays)’s World Suicide Awareness Day. The event took place on September 10th, with George and Carolyne attending from BAA. As title sponsor, George spoke briefly about the importance of mental health treatment and our ongoing commitment to supporting mental health initiatives.

On September 15th, Angela and Kristine attended “Women Leading Change 2026” put on by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce. The theme was The Resilient Woman—Business, Mind, & Body and featured keynote speakers and a variety of interactive workshops. It was a good day of learning, connections, and fun!

The week of September 12-18th, George was in the UK taking a course at the University of Oxford through the Saïd Business School—the Sustainable Business Program. Next stop, September 19-26th, he is in London for business meetings for our UK venture. Pictured at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.

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