Capturing light and language: North Bay firm follows its own 'orders' of sustainability.

While Dr. Gilles Larocque was busy putting people back together as a surgeon, his young son Jean was more fascinated in taking his toys apart to see how things worked.

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"It was always engrained in my matrix," says the co-founder of Larocque Elder Architects Inc., a 14-employee design firm in North Bay.

Each project is an opportunity of creating a functional building that is a reflection of the environment their clients live in.

Larocque's original plan was to follow dad's steps into medical school until he was bitten by the design bug in high school drafting class. By the time he enrolled in Carleton University's School of Architecture, he had already designed two homes for local contractors.

"It was fascinating to me to see the end product from something generated from a piece of paper and a pencil," says the Sturgeon Falls native.

Together with fellow Carleton grad Ruth Elder, they opened the firm in 1995. Larocque can't pinpoint any distinctive signature style to their work. Rather it is a conscious effort to blend architecture into the topography of a site, rather than deface it. It's also important to maintain local ecosystems and preserving the natural habitat.

His firm's philosophy favours the First. Nations' concept of the Four Orders of Creation, respecting the mineral, vegetation, animal and human worlds. "It's more fundamental, more rooted to the land."

A good example is the bright and airy feel of the new Mattawa General Hospital, east of North Bay, which is headed toward completion this fall. In a joint venture with ANO Architects, the two-story, split-level facility is built into a hillside on property gently sloping toward the Mattawa River.

Like many of the firm's projects, orienting a building to the site is critical. They took into account how activity would flow in the building, but also natural elements like prevailing winds and the movement of the sun, which has a direct impact on electricity consumption.

Larocque says the rising cost of energy is now influencing the way people think about buildings.

Most of their clientele is repeat business, particularly from school boards, municipal governments, and a few progressively-thinking companies and residential developers. That's the meaning of 'sustainability,' to Larocque: "think environment first, and the economy will take care of itself." .

www.leaainc.com

You're constantly experimenting with forms and materials, light and textures.

Jean Larocque

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business

RELATED ARTICLE: QUICK QUESTIONS

... to Jean Larocque

What's been your biggest challenge?

To predict and control the architectural workload so that design excellence is not compromised.

What's been your biggest surprise?

How people in general are truly ready for change; meaningful change that will better the environment and the wellbeing of humanity.

What have you learned the most?

That the time and attention spent on the small details of life, love and work will definitely payoff at the end.

What's the secret to success?

Be passionate about life and live with passion.

What's the best advice you've been given?

To be patient and to learn not to repeat other people's mistakes.

What's the best advice you have to give?

Hire an architect.