George Torok, B.Tech.(Arch.Sci.), A.Sc.T., BSSO

OBEC President, 1999 - 2000

The BeckieThe History and Symbolism of the President’s Award of Excellence

The Oscar

The “Award of Merit”, bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to honour the outstanding achievements of members of the motion picture industry.

An Oscar for B.S.?

The building industry did not have a similar award to honour the contribution of its members to the promotion of excellence in the design, construction, and performance of the building envelope.

Why Not?

The award should be available to all members of the industry: researchers, academics, consultants, contractors, manufacturers.

Recipients should be nominated by their peers (OBEC members).

Nominations would be reviewed, debated, and a recipient selected by OBEC Directors.

And a Party, too!

The award would be bestowed at an annual gathering of the profession, to be known as the President’s Award Dinner.

The Beckie

The award would be known formally as thePresident’s Award of Excellence, and informally as The Beckie, a name derived from the OBEC acronym.

A certificate!A sculpture!

A scroll!

An early Beckie

Symbols&

Changes

Pyramid

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Recess

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Recess

Facetted ball

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Recess

Facetted ball

Red base

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Recess

Facetted ball

Red base

Materials

Symbols

Pyramid

Snowflakes

Recess

Facetted ball

Red base

Materials

Methods of Construction

Symbols

Changes

Snowflakes

Changes

Snowflakes

Facetted ball

The Pyramid

Represents one of theoldest of structures,the tent, and of oneof the most durable,the pyramids.

Made of clear plastic,it symbolizes our desire to let light into our buildings.

The Snowflakes

Represents the weatherfrom which we seekshelter in thestructures we build.

Symbolic of exactnessand sophistication to whichwe aspire in our designs and constructionsof the structures we build.

The Recess in the Pyramid

Represents the shelterprovided by thepyramid.

The Facetted Ball

Set into the recess,it represents our needfor shelter from theweather.

When a strong beam oflight is shone upon the ball,the light is refracted by the facetsthrough the recess and into the pyramid,representing our commonality and our diversity.

The Red Base

Represents the solidfoundation neededfor all durableconstruction.

Light reflectingof the base into the pyramidturns it red,symbolizing the warmthprovided by the shelter within the pyramid.

The Materials

Glass, plastic andadhesives representmodern materialsof construction.

The Methods of Construction

Assembled by hand,the construction ofthe Beckieis symbolic of ourreliance on theskilled tradesto turn our plans into reality.

Changes to the Beckie

In 1995, the techniqueof laser inscriptionof the snowflakeswas lost and could not berecovered.It was notuntil 2005 thatan alternative was developed:an embedded, cast glass snowflake.

Changes to the Beckie

The loss of the laserinscription techniqueand change to anembedded castglass objectadded newsymbolism:the loss of oldermethods of construction that occurs over time.

Changes to the Beckie

In 1999, manufactureof the cut glass,facetted balls was stopped. Theywere replacedwith cast glassornaments.This addedfurther symbolism: thechanges in materials that occur over time.

The ‘new’ Beckie

Recipients of The Beckie

John TimuskGus Handegord

Tony WoodsRick Quirouette

Jacques RousseauThe Ontario New Home Warranty Program

Robert DrysdalePaul Sandori

Recipients of The Beckie

Eric BurnettMark Bomberg

Jerry GengeJoe LstiburekRobert Platts

Alan DalglieshDonald Onysko

John Straube

George Torok, B.Tech.(Arch.Sci.), A.Sc.T., BSSO

OBEC President, 1999 - 2000

The BeckieThe History and Symbolism of the President’s Award of Excellence