Darrel G. Babuk
Architect AAA, NCARB, Principal
Boreas Architecture & Civic Design preserves the stories buildings tell about our heritage and achievements.
| Who and What |
Group of specialists, led by Darrel Babuk. Darrel Babuk has been an active member of Alberta’s heritage: born to a railway family, grew up in prairie train stations, led the American Institute of Architecture Students in Washington, DC, and practiced in Chicago while promoting western Canadian heritage. |
| Why and Where | All of our projects work with existing buildings, be they renovations, additions or repurpose. Most projects have heritage designations and are conservation, preservation or restoration projects. Successor practice to Babuk & Associates (Illinois, 1998), Boreas Architecture & Civic Design Inc is based in Edmonton, serving all of Alberta. |
| Passion for excellence |
To preserve stories of Heritage and Achievement, by applying my personal knowledge and understanding refined from more than 30 years of highly unique and specialized experience. |
Boreas Architecture & Civic Design Inc is led by Darrel Babuk, Architect AAA, NCARB, MRAIC, who has been an active member of Alberta’s heritage: born to a railway family, grew up in prairie train stations, led the American Institute of Architecture Students in Washington, DC, and practiced architectural conservation in Chicago while promoting western Canadian heritage to American audiences.
While Principal in Charge of Boreas Architecture & Civic Design, Inc., his personal experience includes a wide mix of projects from Chicago and throughout Alberta. His experience is a client list that includes the Chicago Public School Board and the Chicago Transit Authority; in addition to many local government and non profit entities in Alberta.
As an Historian, Darrel Babuk has researched and prepared Historic Resource Impact Assessments, which in turn have contributed to Building Condition Assessments used to create very functional frameworks for clients to plan and manage architectural projects.
As an Architect, Darrel Babuk enables and implements successful projects, and is responsible for all projects of Boreas Architecture & Civic Design, Inc.
As a public speaker, Darrel Babuk weaves information into fascinating storylines that captivate audiences.
The offices of Boreas Architecture & Civic Design is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. While the vast majority of our work is in Alberta, our staff is registered as Architects in various North American jurisdictions.
|
Various renovations. Carl Schurz High School, Chicago, Il. |
|
|
|
|
On moving back to Edmonton
During his tenure in Washington, DC, Boreas Architecture & Civic Design Principal Darrel Babuk drove across the Canadian prairies with an odd sensation that the railway stations, trestles and grain elevators weren’t going to be there when he came back.
In Chicago, Darrel Babuk brought his practice to be the largest supplier of Architect of Record services to the Chicago Public School Board, prior to being an embedded Program Management consultant for the Chicago Transit Authority. Mayor Daley’s office caught on to his railway background, requesting Darrel to make a string of public presentations about railway architecture history, from which Darrel promoted western Canadian heritage to American audiences.
Railway architecture of the Canadian prairies was regularly cited by the European modernists of the early 20th century to be living examples of the forefront of the international modernist movement. They not only forged an entire culture of communities, they defined Canadian architectural history on a world stage. Yet, contemporary Canadian architectural historians seem to view these structures as something quaint and old fashioned.
In searching photographic archives for Chicago presentations, Darrel found more and more Canadian prairie architecture being destroyed.
Darrel Babuk returned to Alberta to serve an active role in preserving heritage – our Canadian story – in our towns and cities.
|
|
|
Education & acknowledgements
B. Arch (Professional Degree), Montana State University. M. Arch Montana State University
Graduation Honours:
Alpha Rho Chi Medal, 1983.
Dr. A.L. Strand Award for Citizenship, 1985.
RAIC Certificate of Merit, 2002