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Public is a new, multi-disciplinary design firm—a partnership between architects, branding specialists and exhibit designers. Our partners came from Canada's leading consulting firms to offer clients a combination of experience, expertise and small-practice service. Public's reason for being is our conviction that good design is born of teamwork, rather than from the genius of a single author. The outdated notion of “star-chitecture” diminishes the collaboration inherent in all celebrated architecture and design. Our process guides collaboration rather than imposes solutions.

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Visit PUBLIC's communication design sister firm, Metaform.

Alex McCumber

IA AIBC, LEED AP
Intern Architect
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Alex brings six years of professional experience from award-winning institutional, mixed use, civic, and transportation projects. He followed Brian from Busby Perkins + Will (BP +W) 3 years ago. Alex’s recent institutional facility design experience includes the Energy Environment and Experiential Learning (EEEL) facility at the University of Calgary, Centre For Comparative Medicine (CCM) at the University of British Columbia and Kwantlen University Renovations in Surrey, BC. Both the EEEL and CCM projects involved intense user group consultation and design review in order to satisfy a complex array of constituent interests. He balanced project requirements and complex existing conditions while managing renovations for buildings which remained operational during PUBLIC’s recent Kwantlen University campus renovations. Alex has one of the most varied pre-Architecture résumés in the office having worked across North America as a web developer, sailing instructor and tree planter.

Brian Wakelin

MAIBC, MRAIC, LEED AP
Principal, Architect
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Brian has worked in the architectural field for twenty years and holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of British Columbia. He was with Busby Perkins + Will for ten years before co-founding PUBLIC in 2008 to focus on platforms for education and civic engagement. As the youngest of three boys, he learned his negotiation skills early at the dinner table and his strength lies in his ability to build consensus among stakeholders while leading a creative and clear design process. He is responsible for directing the activities of the firm, and jointly with John and Susan, for providing design leadership throughout each project from inception to completion.

Chris Forrest

IA AIBC, B.ARCH.SCI, LEED AP
Intern Architect
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Chris brings both design knowledge and technical expertise to the PUBLIC team. He began his post secondary education studying Engineering at the University of Washington prior to completing his Architectural Science Degree at BCIT and Masters of Architecture at UBC. Over the past 8 years he has worked on a diverse array of projects including institutional, residential, and commercial typologies with a variety of architectural firms including: Busby Perkins+Will and Larry McFarland Architects. His experience base as both an architectural designer and technologist has enabled him to lead innovative higher education projects through complex design and construction phases, including the UBC Buchanan Courtyard Renew and the award-winning Xthum Gathering Place at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Chris has been with PUBLIC for three years and his passionate ideas about design, culture and life in general keep the office dialogue lively.

Christopher Sklar

IA AIBC M.ARCH, LEED AP
Intern Architect
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Christopher joined the PUBLIC team a year ago after working as a designer at Vancouver’s MCMP and Bing Thom Architects on several prominent large-scale projects. Before that he gained a range of experience working at internationally renowned offices abroad. At Barkow Leibinger in Berlin his work was concerned with emerging digital processes of production and their application to several high profile competitions. In Rotterdam Christopher worked for Studio Sputnik, an experimental architecture/urban design practice, contributing to such wide ranging projects as a complete waterfront redevelopment masterplan for the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan and a new art park pavilion for the city of Rotterdam. His international experience brings a fresh view to the office, calibrated by an understanding of digital design and fabrication. Chris is a serious music aficionado who’s interests run the gamut from Baroque to experimental sound poetry.

David Zeibin

IA AIBC, MRAIC, B.SC, LEED AP
Intern Architect
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Since joining PUBLIC 3 years ago, David has been working on a number of higher education and municipal projects including the Centennial Beach Park Day Use Facility, Goodwin Centre for Dialogue and Pacific Coliseum Plaza. His day to day tasks involve every aspect of the project from concept to contract administration. Originally from Edmonton, David brings a unique and highly analytical approach to his design work, drawing from his education as an engineer in Engineering Physics, which complements his background in architectural design. He is also an accomplished interactive programmer, having expertise in the development of interactive materials in a variety of systems ranging from PHP to HTML 5, Flash, ActionScript and CMS-based sites. In fact, David's highly developed skills in everything from IT to time management make him the office go-to person for an exceedingly wide range of tasks. We understand he also composes music in his spare time.

Jessica Hum

BURPL
Community Engagement Strategist
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Jessica Hum is a community development and communications professional with background in Urban and Regional Planning. She brings over eight years of direct experience interacting in recreation settings with seniors, children, youth and adults with disabilities.
Jessica uses a wide range of online media and personal communications; she has been responsible for designing an online registration portal for Toronto’s Queen West Art Crawl, Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation and print communications for Toronto Artscape. She is a Canada World Youth alumni and former member of the Toronto Youth Cabinet and Youth Engagement Program, Laidlaw Foundation. As a former lifeguard, youth worker and recreation instructor, she can engage with families and seniors, community members of all ages and abilities.

John Wall

MAIBC, OAA, LEED AP
Principal, Architect
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John contributes 19 years of professional experience to the team. Born in Vancouver and educated at the UBC School of Architecture, where he was awarded the AIBC Medal in 1994, he is a member of the AIBC and a LEED-accredited professional. John spent three years in Toronto working at the award-winning firm of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects on the new Richmond City Hall, which received a Governor General’s Medal for Excellence in Architecture. Active in Vancouver’s design community; John served as chair of the City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel for three years and is a regular guest critic at the UBC School of Architecture where he was recently an adjunct professor. Due to his professional experience, John’s projects have received strong support from design panels—translating into timely project approvals. John's ability to cut a rug is legendary, although the funk is more elusive now that he is the busy dad of little Zoe.

Mark Stokoe

B.DES, CFVA
Designer
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With a background in the fine arts and communication design, Mark joined PUBLIC three years ago. Having studied fine art and craft at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, as well as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, he graduated of the Bachelors of Design program at Emily Carr University. Mark has a wide experience working in print and web-based work combined with a passion for in-depth projects integrating self-curated content, photography, information graphics, book design and social media. Projects at PUBLIC include a two-year long identity design project for First Peoples’ Cultural Council, season promotional campaign design for “The Cultch,” and the execution of multiple applications for UBC Faculty of Arts ID and Farm Folk City Folk. A keen kitchen activist, Mark has recently combined his interest in pastry and colour space by creating Vancouver's first 9-colour PMS-matched rainbow cake.

Russel Pistun

B. DES.
Designer
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Russel has worked to develop and implement numerous graphic projects for PUBLIC. Having University degrees in both Graphic Design and Fine Art Photography gives Russel a unique skill set that enables him to develop and articulate complex visual solutions. His expertise has been instrumental on numerous contracts including work for the Vancouver Police Museum, BC Transit, Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Global Voices 2009, and the non-profit association, Critical Link. Russel is PUBLIC’s resident type nerd, having both the eye and expertise to create highly detailed typographic treatments. Because of the pace of Russel's brain and his enthusiasm we try to limit his access to caffeine.

Sarah English

B.A.
Designer
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Sarah joined the firm earlier this year with a broad design training for 2D and 3D applications including exhibit, graphic and retail design. At PUBLIC, her keen eye for detail and passion for diving into complex and sometimes tedious tasks have been applied to signage for Centre for Comparative Medicine, exhibits for New West Museum and wayfinding for Hastings Park. Sarah brings a thoughtful and practical approach to getting all the little tasks checked off, keeping the bigger ones on track and sourcing anything from a fur wall to details on settlement of the Red River valley. A native of Texas and Boston with a previous degree in philosophy, her steady focus on getting the work done create valuable momentum on a variety of projects.

Scot Geib

M.ARCH, SEGD
Interior Architecture, Graphic Designer
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Trained as an architect and practiced in graphic and exhibit design, Scot's hybrid expertise includes the design of environments, 3D messaging and branding, strategic planning, two and three-dimensional media, and traditional graphic applications. Knowing that every aspect of a space communicates—Scot’s experience positions him to offer consistent and multi-dimensional expression of a message, story, or identity. Scot is a founding member of the PUBLIC team, having worked with Susan for over 11 years. Projects while at PUBLIC include exhibit design, retail display systems, and signage, many of which he has seen from conception through to prototype and final install. He has also taught design at Emily Carr University, Western Washington University, and Langara College where he currently teaches in the Design Formation Program. In his spare time, Scot somehow enjoys howling winds on a 12 metre kite strapped to a small board.

Susan Mavor

MGDC
Principal, Communication Designer
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Originally trained as a theatre designer, Susan is an expert in communication design, whose work includes brand identity, public information campaigns and graphic design in the built environment. For over 16 years, as the principal of Metaform Communication Design, she led her small, carefully chosen team in a broad range of award-winning communication projects from websites to signage to marketing materials. Her listening skills and ability to identify with people means she is a flexible and creative designer who has earned significant word-of-mouth reputation. From First Nations community projects to Olympic stamps, collectible books and outreach for number of west coast museums, she is passionate about creating compelling cultural experiences. Although Ontario born and bred, she feels she can fairly say she's "from here now," having been living the West Coast dream since way before there was even such thing as the internet.