Daniel Pearl will be presenting, side by side, two pivotal projects. The first is a private organic farm/secondary residence House in Four Fields, situated in La Conception, Quebec. The house revisits the regional building culture while benefitting from current technological advancements. A local palette of materials is interwoven with responsive, programmed components. It is this dialectic – between low and high-tech, between the simple, evocative form and the highly performative envelope – that breathes both a tension and a calm into the farmhouse. The second is a new social housing project, Bois Ellen (166 units made up of two wings - a 6 and 13 storey high concrete residence) in Laval, Quebec. Each decision in this building project was carefully considered with respect to one or more of the following four guiding criteria: energy-efficiency, comfort, durability and resilience. Both projects are examples of appropriately applying Passivhaus theory to each scale and context.

Daniel Pearl, along with co-founding partner Mark Poddubiuk, started L’ŒUF (l’Office de l’Éclectisme Urbain et Fonctionnel) in 1992, where he concentrates his work on sustainable architecture, urban housing, residential and commercial renovation as well as in research, criticism and theory. For over 18 years L’ŒUF developed its reputation particularly in sustainable and environmental architecture. The partners' expertise is known for the architectural quality of their projects, their technical and professional skills as well as their active involvement in the academic, professional and community context. This expertise is always founded on a search for balance between the appropriate technique, the economic feasibility, the architectural expression and the environmental impact of the project. L’ŒUF members, as architects, support the fact that they are stewards of a built environment that is dignified, human, pleasant, functional, sustainable and sensitive to the environment.

The Building, Ecology, Science and Technology (B.E.S.T.) lecture series has been made possible since 2009 through the generous sponsorship of Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance.

Each B.E.S.T. lecture qualifies for 2 hours of Ontario Association of Architects Structured Learning Credits. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. If the lecture hall reaches capacity, an overflow space will be provided where the presentations are simulcast. Lectures are followed by an informal reception with complimentary refreshments and snacks.