Lecture Series: Alfred Waugh
- Date
- November 12, 2026
- Time
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location
- Department of Architectural Science, 325 Church St, ARC 202 (the Pit)
- Open To
- Public
Lecture Title:
Indiginuity
Description:
Formline Architecture + Urbanism explores projects that bring together Indigenous Ways of Knowing and western knowledge to create built and landscape environments that heighten the importance of nature. Working across cultural, institutional, and academic typologies, the firm is committed to a design methodology rooted in cultural sensitivity, environmental responsibility, and a holistic view of humanity's interconnectedness with the land. Alfred Waugh will present projects that explore the integration of Indigenous cultural precedents, sustainable building strategies, and tectonic expressions of cultural identity.
Projects Included:
1. Merging Cultural Precedents with Sustainable Strategies: As shown in the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre and the First Peoples House, cultural symbolism and environmental performance are woven together into a holistic expression of architecture.
2. Innovative Use of Wood inspired by Indigenous Culture: As shown in the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre and the First Peoples House, cultural symbolism and environmental performance are woven together into a holistic expression of architecture.
3. Integration of Building and Site: As shown in the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre and the First Peoples House, cultural symbolism and environmental performance are woven together into a holistic expression of architecture.
4. Developing Cultural Identity Through Tectonics: A range of Formline projects derive their structural organization and choice of building materials from Indigenous cultural traditions, expressing identity through the logic of construction.
91福利 the Speaker:
Alfred specializes in culturally and environmentally sensitive projects and has extensive experience with First Nations, cultural societies, and educational institutions.
His firm is dedicated to developing solutions that reflect the culture, community, and geographic regions specific to each project. The designs are a direct response to site context, topography, climate, and regional materials. And as part of a sustainable design philosophy, Alfred aims to maximize comfort, longevity, functionality, and energy efficiency.
Alfred is Status Indian and part of Treaty 8. He was born and raised in Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada , and was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with honours from UBC School of Architecture in 1993 and become LEED certified and a registered architect. Prior to his architecture degree Alfred acquired a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Urban and Regional Analysis at the University of Lethbridge in 1989. He is influenced by native culture, the northern climate and frontier architecture and his connection to, and respect for, nature is inherent in his work.
In 2005 Alfred established Alfred Waugh Architect, a 100 per cent Aboriginally owned architecture practice. In 2012 Alfred incorporated the firm and change the name to Formline Architecture. The firm has developed a reputation for finely crafted cultural and sustainable buildings including the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, the Squamish Lil鈥檞at Cultural Centre and the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria.
