Thursday, January 9, 2014 :

Aldo Santin/Winnipeg Free Press requested information "...about the Waterfront Tower project. Specifically, about Sotirios Kotoulas and the fact he is not a licensed architect in Manitoba or New York State and not allowed to practice architecture in Manitoba..."

In consultation with the PP&D Department, the City's Corporate Communications Division provided the following to the reporter:
- Anyone can apply for a variance; applicant need not be a design professional.
- Until such time as building plans are submitted (and stamped by a registered architect and engineer) professional accreditation is not considered (nor scrutinized).
- At the time a building permit application is filed, it must include a design professional of record, licensed to practice in the Province of Manitoba.
- Drawings submitted must bear a current seal for that registered architect and engineer.

In response to the reporter's follow-up questions that same day, the City's Corporate Communications Division then sent the following:

- Yes, the City of Winnipeg is aware that this individual is not a registered architect in Manitoba.
- This is not an issue in a variance process as a design professional is not required for submission of a variance application.
- Until such time as building plans are submitted (and stamped by a registered architect and engineer) to be reviewed for building permits, professional accreditation is not considered (nor scrutinized).
- At the time a building permit application is filed, a design professional of record licensed to practice in the Province of Manitoba would be required to stamp / seal the plans.
- In this case, the City's review of any related building permit applications received would include determining that this requirement had been met.

Pam Sveinson
Manager, Information and Project Management
Planning, Property and Development Department
City of Winnipeg