The following is a description of the promotional program, the spaces that help the profession reach out to the public, educating about architecture. This aspect of the program is the more extroverted component, to be located in a very public site. It is in this building where the practice of architecture will be celebrated and encouraged. This building needs to open itself up to the city and invite the public in to learn and eventually hire an architect.

Promotional Spaces

This would be the heart and driving force of the centre where a small staff would be working to promote the profession through many forms of media and government lobbying.

• Head office for both buildings: small office to manage the activities of the entire institution
  
• The Promotional body office: This body similar to the OAQ would work for the promotion of architecture. This body has yet to be named but I have started to identify some of its functions. These include: promotion and education of architecture, lobbying for higher fees, award programs that would recognize buildings for merits other than design such as functionality, success after 5 years, or budget conforming (similar to the Design Effectiveness Awards at the Design Exchange). This body would require separate offices for each of these divisions.
  
  • Media center: where promotional material would be generated print and web departments
    
  • Award department
    
  • Administrative office
    
  • Lobbying office
    
• Atelier for new firm: This space would be awarded as a prize to a young firm for a limited period of time. This small architectural office would be located in a vacant part of the building for the public to wander into. This office would serve two purposes: it would encourage the practice by helping out a new firm and it would educate about the profession.
  
• Café: This small eatery would help bring people in to the center. This other type of user would create a larger flow of traffic into the building and might spark an interest for someone who had not intended to visit the center at all.
  
• New location for the OAQ? (If the site is large enough) To refit the existing conditions and group together similar architecturally minded individuals within one building might encourage growth and use of the OAQ.
  
  

Educational center

For the public:

Facilities for people of all ages to learn about architecture and what architects do, including adults who would learn reasons for hiring an architect as well as children and students who could learn about architecture and related subjects.

• Public educational-conference rooms, offices, classrooms: spaces where public can learn about architecture from architects and other construction related professionals
  
• Educational facilities for children: spaces where design and architecture could be taught.
  
• Program to meet an architect: An office to match potential clients to an appropriate architect. spaces provided to help potential clients select an architect that will suit their needs
  
  

For the architect:

Facilities where architects could come to learn professional skills like accounting, law, marketing, construction contract administration or project management techniques.

• Professional educational: conference rooms and classrooms where architects could learn about professional practice, laws, code, contract administration, marketing, etc.
  
• Home for various architecturally related organizations: offices, conference room. These spaces would help occupy the building with architecturally related activities and create opportunities for the professionals to meet.
  
• Material and Building Innovation center: An experimental zone where new building materials and methods could be explored. This center would be useful for both the public and professionals.