Notice Board

Architecture & Design NOW: Andrew Tankard & alumnus David Minke of GEC Architecture
The Process of Architecture
February 9 | 6 p.m. | Room L1060
Free admission, everyone welcome

Why do architects sometimes think a building looks its best while under construction? When you’re deeply involved in bringing a design to life, the exposed structure, raw materials, and work‑in‑progress can feel like the most honest expression of what the building is meant to be.

In today’s construction industry, finding the beauty in the materials and the techniques used to assemble them has become a key part of an architect’s craft. The journey from a first idea, through sketches, models, detailed drawings, and finally the work happening on site, allows for diverse influences and the exploration of different outcomes.

In this talk, Andrew Tankard and David Minke will share what they learned while designing and building the Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge in Calgary. Through stories from the studio and the construction site, they’ll offer an inside look at the decisions, challenges, and creative collaborations that shaped this unique project.

About the speakers

A passionate designer and practicing artist, David Minke values the essential connection between conceptual vision and built reality, using design as a tool to balance function, experience, and expression. He thrives in collaborative environments, bringing thoughtful, creative problem-solving to complex challenges. Known for his ability to bridge artistic intent with technical performance, David’s work consistently delivers spaces that support community wellbeing, movement, and shared experience while meeting the rigorous demands of contemporary design.

David is an associate at GEC Architecture. He has a bachelor of arts degree (urban and regional studies) from the University of Lethbridge and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Toronto. He is a registered architect in Alberta and a representative of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Andrew Tankard’s work is grounded in curiosity, creativity, and a deep interest in how communities come together through shared spaces. With more than two decades of experience shaping sports and community facilities across western Canada, Andrew approaches each project as an opportunity to explore the relationship between program, place, and experience. His design process blends research, observation, and collaboration, using early planning and concept development as creative tools to imagine spaces that are welcoming, adaptable, and meaningful. His work reflects a commitment to creating facilities that support movement, play, and social connection—spaces that evolve with their communities and enrich everyday life.

Andrew is a partner at GEC Architecture. He has degrees in architecture from the University of Waterloo and is a registered architect in Alberta and all provinces from Ontario westwards. In addition to using his architecture practise to better his community, he is a director at the Parks Foundation Calgary and just stepped down as a director at Sport Calgary.

Image courtesy of GEC Architecture.