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 What do you get when you cross two idea wheeling architects with a late night bull session and an opening date in March of ‘08? You get BIOS architecture practice! We sat down with the two brains behind the business – Desmond Burke & Colin Grover – to hear all about their new face, their place and their space, downtown! So, what is BIOS Studio all about? Well, we’re an architecture practice; we’re fully certified meaning that we operate as a full firm as opposed to a studio [like before]. It’s a big deal ‘cause we’re legit! There are so few Architects in Manitoba, like less than 300; we went into [business] because it gives us creative control. We’re a partnership…we were working for another firm together for about 2 years and decided it wasn’t the best fit. Desmond: I shortlisted Colin to work with me and he said yes! Our goal is to be an ideas firm... And does BIOS have a meaning? “Necessity is the mother of invention”…in web searches & dictionaries, BIOS has 2 meanings: 1. it’s an acronym for an input/output system that every computer has and 2. It’s Greek, for the course of human life…stems from the word BIO. Put together, we’re high tech but like the noise of the analog world; it’s a good balance. We want to get into the “noise” of our clients lives while doing their work. Other than being super cool, what makes BIOS unique?! We’re wicked! Any architect can solve your problem by default but the issue is, who can best interpret your problem and expand on your ideas so that it suits you as the user…we can do that. We have a personal touch. Our interface is our asset… we jive with our clients, we have to. What can people look forward to at BIOS? “Doing something different”. It’s important to fit with clients, mesh well with them. So what made you guys “do downtown”? We met up with Richard Walls who is very supportive of the downtown area and culture. Richard saw potential to work together with us and subdivided this space…Richards design firm is above us. We knew we wanted a storefront space and wanted to be downtown; having a community presence was an overt goal of ours. Where do you hope to see BIOS and downtown in the future? The area is still in transition but it’s going in the right direction, new businesses, dealing with street life etc. Business owners down want to relocate but think of positive ways to accommodate street-life and still make the area [North Main] appealing to people as a place to live, work, etc. WE want to maybe take over the rest of the floor and add a few people [to the practice]. We don’t want to leave, we want to hang around…we both live near to where we now work – we’re urbanites through and through. Anything else on your mind?! We’re surprised and encouraged by the level of activism and downtown support given by the business owners in the area. Everyone is so active in wanting to improve the area…it’s good. BIOS Studio is Colin Grover, M. Arch., & Desmond Burke, M. Arch. BIOS Studio 102-201 Alexander Ave 204-415-2634 www.thebios.ca |
 
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