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Residential (Large) Award – Foxglove Supportive Housing and Shelter, Surrey, BC

Jury Comment: “This complex program of shelter, supportive housing and health services, so important to social sustainability, is appropriately contained in a simple form with a calming character. Material choice and detailing are thoughtful, with horizontal and vertical solar shading balancing the overall expression.”

Since 1982, RainCity Housing and Support Society has addressed the needs of individuals living with homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. To address these needs in the City of Surrey, RainCity has developed this facility in Green Timbers Park, in partnership with BC Housing, the City of Surrey and Fraser Health.

The project encompasses three major components:

• The Shelter, which offers emergency housing and care to those navigating homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.

• Supportive Housing, which provides a caring residential environment for those who have attained stability and are transitioning to permanent housing.

• Enhanced Health Supported Housing, in which Fraser Health and RainCity work together to address both homelessness and complex health needs.

All three programs provide 24-hour/7-day staff with access to medication, overdose prevention services, and indigenous cultural and peer support. The design response reflects RainCity’s and BC Housing’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and implements strategies established through integrated workshops, extensive energy modelling, and costing exercises.

By using simple forms and optimizing the exterior envelope, the building easily meets BC Building Code Step Code 3. The envelope is highly insulated, has a low window-to-wall ratio, energy-efficient windows, and vertical and horizontal solar-shading systems. Detailing concentrated on eliminating thermal bridges and maintaining continuous high insulation values. These passive design strategies work together to optimize energy performance.

These  passive design strategies work together to optimize energy performance. Various conditions informed the linear design concept of the building: the long, narrow site, Surrey’s requirement to provide building access off Foxglove Drive, and the complex program. The simplicity of the building’s massing and character is intended to create a calm atmosphere for both its residents and the surrounding community.

To get the most from the budget, and to reduce its carbon footprint, the building was designed as a six- storey structure with five levels of wood frame construction over a concrete ground floor and a single level of underground parking.

Project Performance

  • Energy Intensity (Process Energy) 17.2 KWh/m2/year
  • Energy Intensity Lighting  24.3kWhr/m2/year
  • Reduction in energy intensity relative to
  • reference building under ASHRAE 90.1-2010  7.5%
  • Potable water consumption from municipal sources  1214L/occupant/year
  • Reduction in water consumption relative to reference building 44%
  • Regional materials content 14%
  • Construction waste diverted from landfill  63.91%

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  RainCity Housing and Support Society
  • Architect  NSDA Architects
  • Development Consultant  Terra Housing Consultants
  • General contractor  Yellowridge Construction Ltd.
  • Landscape Architect Durante Kreuk
  • Civil engineer  RF Binnie and Associates Ltd.
  • Electrical Engineer  AES Engineering
  • Mechanical engineer  TD Systems
  • Structural Engineer  Entuitive Corporation
  • Commissioning Agent  CES Engineering Ltd
  • Building Code  LMDG Building Code Consulting Ltd.
  • Building Envelope  exp Services Inc.
  • Sustainability/Environmental  Pinchin West
  • Energy Modelling  Edge Consultants Ltd
  • Interior Design  Aliki Gladwin and Associates
  • Photos  Andrew Latreille Photography Ltd.

Detail of vertical and horizontal solar-shading which work together to optimize energy performance. EXP provided consulting services for the building envelope.

Aqua-Tech supplied the Lochinvar Indirect Domestic hot water heaters [model Squire]. 

The resilient flooring is Forbo Marmoleum and many of the plumbing fixtures are by Chicago Faucets.

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Institutional (Small) Award – WINDERMERE FIRE STATION 31, Edmonton, AB

Jury Comment: “A fine example of a building in which the form is driven by its performance targets, the sustainability strategies required, and the technologies employed to implement them. The result is simple and elegant, a radical and refreshing departure from the traditional architectural responses to this typology.“

Windermere’s Fire Station 31 is both symbolic and functional, extending the role of this building type as a trusted civic presence and anchor for the neighbourhood. The project site was unbuilt and unremarkable – essentially a blank slate. The challenge was to design an expressive structure that would foster community pride while integrating advanced environmental technology.

The City of Edmonton requested a highly sustainable project that would generate on-site renewable energy equal to 100% of total building energy needs. The facility was also required to have an energy performance 40% more efficient than NECB 2011, reduce GHG emissions by at least 40% relative to  the baseline, and operate at 80 kwh/m2/year for heating needs.

In response, the building re-imagines the traditional fire station design by replacing the now-redundant hose and bell tower form with a gently curving, south-facing roof adorned with photovoltaic panels. Further sustainable strategies include optimal southern orientation for natural light, geothermal systems, well insulated and high-performance windows, and quick-closing apparatus bay doors to minimize heat loss.  Windemere Fire Station 31 underscores a shared commitment between the City of Edmonton and the design team, to sustainable public infrastructure and a healthier future for citizens.

The site of Fire Station 31 is south of a local public school and low-rise apartment buildings, and north of a new commercial centre. The station is well located for emergency response and to meet the functional requirements of Edmonton’s Fire Rescue Services. The building is a single-storey, three-bay design that provides full fire fighting services.

Integration of passive systems is optimized by the southern orientation of the building, which maximizes  natural daylighting as well as creating maximum efficiency for the photovoltaic panels on the south- facing roof. The facility also has significantly fewer windows than the average building to reduce heat loss. Solar panels, geothermal systems and bi-folding and quick-closing apparatus bay doors which restrict heat loss from typical use, are active systems which are employed to enhance the overall performance of the building.

Project Credits

  • Client  City of Edmonton
  • Design Architect  gh3* (Toronto)
  • Prime Consultant  S2 Architecture, (Edmonton)
  • Structural engineer  RJC Engineers
  • Mechanical/Electrical Engineers  Smith and Andersen
  • Sustainability  Ecoammo
  • Civil Engineering and Landscape Design gh3* and Urban Systems
  • Interiors  gh3* and Urban Systems
  • General Contractor  PCL Construction
  • Photos  Raymond Chow/ gh3*

Project performance

  • Energy Use Intensity (Projected) = 94 kWh/m2/year With solar panels operational, EUI will be 0 kWh/m²/year
  • Water Use Intensity (Projected)  104 m³/m²/year

 
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Residential (Small) Award – BIRD’S WING PASSIVHAUS DUPLEX +, Vancouver, BC

Jury Comment: “In addition to achieving Passive House performance, this duplex addresses multiple aspects of social sustainability, such as affordability, demographic diversity and ageing in place. It doubles the density in  this former single-family zone, while still respecting the form and scale of the surrounding buildings.“

Bird’s Wing Passivhaus Duplex + is a new housing typology that elegantly adjusts to the occupants’ needs for space and flexibility, without waste. The name “Bird’s Wing Passivhaus Duplex +” has several layers of meaning, describing the architecture, planning, and unique objectives of this custom duplex that includes two primary dwelling units as well as two flexible lock-off suites.

The project takes a soft density approach, with four households under its wing, yet keeping within the scale of its single-family neighbourhood. Adaptability is key, with units able to expand and contract for generational flexibility.

The project also addresses  accessibility for ageing-in-place, and affordability with its two primary and two lock off units on a previously single-family lot.

The architecture of Bird’s Wing incorporates a folding roof line, like the wing of a bird in flight. The modern and minimalist design demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. Located in an established neighbourhood on Vancouver’s west side, Bird’s Wing is just two blocks from an active commercial street.

With a Walkscore of 92 and Bikescore of 91 there is rarely a need to drive. However, both parking spaces are equipped with electric car chargers.

The design is rooted in nature. The result marries thermal efficiency with spatial efficiency in a perfect balance of design, space, and nature.  The four comfortable, yet compact homes are nested within what appears to be a single-family home. Each is unique, bright, and connected to the outside through large operable windows on all sides.

Consistent with Passive House goals of efficiency and simplicity to avoid wasting energy, the design also avoids wasting space or materials. Every square inch is considered, impactful, and multi-functional. The planning is a creative three-dimensional puzzle of interlocking pieces. The suites bend and fold around each other to maximize efficiency and provide evocative volumes within strict zoning regulations.

PROJECT CREDITS

  • Architect  ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors
  • Interior Design  ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors
  • Structural Engineer  Timber Engineering
  • Builder  Naikoon Contracting
  • Certified Passive House Designer  JRG
  • Building Engineering Certifier  CertiPHIers Cooperative
  • Landscape Design  Acre Horticulture
  • Photos  Janis Nicolay

Bird’s Wing brings four households together, with communal outdoor living spaces for larger gatherings. Cascadia Windows & Doors supplied the fixed and operable fibreglass windows from its Universal PH Series.

The duplex interior connects to the exterior through strategically placed openings for ample daylight and cross-ventilation. nVent NUHEAT Mats provide radiant floor heating in the bathrooms and are stocked in standard sizes or can be custom made for a perfect fit. Ideal for sustainable projects, NUHEAT systems are 100% efficient, smart home compatible, ultra-low profile, and easily installed.

The metal roofing and siding is Vicwest.

Proclima Solitex Mento Plus from 475 Supply performs the dual role of water-resistant barrier and air barrier.

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Mixed Use Award – CHEKO’NIEN HOUSE  University of Victoria, BC

Jury Comment: “This project is notable for its richly mixed program; including student housing, academic areas and food services. Innovative and progressive, it makes a positive contribution to social life on the urban campus. Selective use of large windows and exposed wood in areas where people gather reinforce their connection to nature.”

Čeqwəŋín ʔéʔləŋ (Cheko’nien House), the first of two buildings in the Student Housing and Dining project at the University of Victoria (UVic), embodies a transformative approach to student living and community engagement. Its unique design emphasizes social connectivity and sustainability.

The first two storeys house a 600-seat dining hall, a multi-purpose room for 200, a servery, and a commercial kitchen, fostering vibrant community interaction. Above, the 398-bedroom student residence offers modern living spaces tailored to promote student well-being and academic success.

Driven by a steadfast commitment to climate action, Cheko’nien House meets rigorous sustainability standards, including BC Energy Step Code Step 4 and LEED v4 Gold certification, and is on track for Passive House certification. This dedication not only reduces campus-wide CO2 emissions, but also enhances the health and comfort of its residents.

Propelled to preserve greenspace while meeting the growing demand for on-campus housing, the building has a compact footprint and much greater height than any other building on campus. Strategically positioned to catalyze the new Campus Greenway strategy, the building massing shelters the pedestrian realm from rain and shades its transparent ground floor from sun. Other passive design strategies—including fixed sunshades and optimized fenestration—balance daylight, heating, and cooling. Complemented by energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, these strategies ensure optimal performance while minimizing energy inputs and carbon emissions.

Working with local Indigenous communities, the design team explored opportunities to recognize and preserve the inherited spirit of place and connect students to Indigenous histories and cultures. A swath of concrete is transformed into a stormwater detention feature, serving the project site and beyond. Trees removed were replaced at a ratio of 3:1, following a planting plan developed through research into native species and consultation with Elders.

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  University of Victoria
  • Architect  Perkins&Will
  • General Contractor  EllisDon-Kinetic, A Joint Venture
  • Civil and Electrical Engineer  WSP Canada
  • Mechanical Engineer  Introba
  • Structural Engineer  Fast + Epp
  • Landscape Architect  Hapa Collaborative
  • Commissioning Consultant  WSP Canada
  • Photos  Michael Elkan

Cascadia Windows & Doors supplied the fixed and operable fibreglass windows from its Universal PH Series.

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Technical Award – MINISTRY OF CHILDREN & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, Williams Lake, BC 

Jury Comment: “This project takes an underutilized, poor performing and discarded single-storey retail building and transforms it with a variety of technical interventions that make it net-zero, thus greatly extending its service life. Inside, the plain box has been enlivened with light, colour and cultural references.“

Located in Williams Lake, a city of 10,000 in the Cariboo Region of BC, this project represents the transformation of a 1500 sq.m single-storey retail building into a NetZero Carbon Neutral office for the provincial government. It incorporates a suite of tenant Improvements, base building upgrades and energy retrofits. Together, these strategies enable the project to meet  the GHG reduction requirements mandated by BC’s Climate Change Accountability Act, while at the same time following the Blueprint and Real Property Division guidelines for innovative service delivery.

For the energy retrofit, Passive House design techniques were implemented such as high efficiency triple-glazed windows on the southeast and west facades, enhanced thermal insulation, and the minimization of thermal bridging.

Internally, communal areas were strategically located near these windows with enclosed spaces positioned in the centre. Solatube skylights flood the interior with natural light, while the operable argon-filled windows with low-e coatings reduce reliance on mechanical systems and offer occupants environmental control.

These high-performance windows (with a U-value of 0.15 or R-6.67) enabled the window-to-wall ratio to be increased from 5%  to 20%, enhancing both energy efficiency and occupant comfort. The existing mechanical and electrical systems were upgraded to highly efficient systems with geothermal heating and cooling capabilities.

Based on these upgrades, the energy model predicted a reduction of up to 80% in energy consumption relative to the baseline building. To achieve Net-Zero Energy, the building then offset the remaining 20% of energy consumption through on-site renewable energy in the form of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules covering most of the roof. The project is now certified Zero Carbon Building by CAGBC (V2 – Design Standard).

The daylighting strategies noted above were part of a much-needed redesign of the interior spaces. This redesign integrated WELL principles for occupant health and well-being, Rick Hansen Foundation principles for accessibility, and strategies to enhance Indigenous inclusion.

Project Performance

  • Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 0 KWhr/m²/year
  • Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building = 100%

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  Ministry of Children and Family Development
  • Architect  J. Robert Thibodeau Architecture + Design Inc
  • General contractor  Lauren Bros.
  • Landscape Architect  BENCH Site Design Inc.
  • Civil Engineer  True Consulting Group
  • Electrical and Mechanical Engineer  FWD Engineering Ltd. (now TWD Technologies)
  • Structural Engineer  Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.
  • Geothermal Consultant  GeoTility Geothermal Installations Corp
  • Photovoltaic Consultant  HES PV (now Charge Solar)
  • Acoustic Consultant  BKL Acoustics
  • Energy Consultant  Energy Revolution (Previously with TWD)
  • Photos  James Alfred

The refurbished building is surrounded by landscaping and outdoor spaces to enhance the well-being of occupants. Fibreglass-frame windows were supplied by Cascadia Windows & Doors.   

With the improvements made to the envelope and PV modules covering most of the roof, the building has achieved Net-Zero Energy and is certified Zero Carbon Building by CAGBC (V2 – Design Standard). Many of the plumbing fixtures are Sloan and Chicago Faucets.

The building is equipped with a high-efficiency central ERV system by Winnipeg-based Tempeff. 

Communal areas were strategically located near windows, with enclosed spaces positioned in the centre. The project uses the BOREAS® dry cooling system by NIMBUS® which can accommodate almost any facility to maximize energy efficiency with Smart Programming that cycles fans as cooling demands change.

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The Narrows

Experience hones understanding of details

By Scott Kennedy and Simon Richards

Located in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood of Vancouver, The Narrows is a six-storey mixed-use building with 48 residential rental suites in conventional wood frame construction over 225 sq. m of commercial uses in a concrete podium. It is located just one block east of The Heights, another mixed-use building which in 2018 became the first Passive House certified project to be completed by Cornerstone Architecture.  The Narrows has been recognized by the Province as a Clean BC Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge Winner.

Unlike The Heights, which is located on a corner, The Narrows has zero lot line setbacks on both the east and west sides, with its south façade on busy Hastings Street, and its north façade facing a commercial lane. From a Passive House perspective, the site is a challenging one, as the lane is almost two storeys higher than the street. As well as planning complexity, this creates issues around thermal bridging, the extent and detailing of the airtight envelope, and the transition between the parkade and the occupied portion of the building.

Additional massing complexity was generated by setback steps in the building section, in part responding to City zoning guidelines (of note, the City is recognizing this issue and is moving to allow simpler massing forms). The Narrows achieves a form factor of 0.47; higher than that for The Heights (which was 0.42) but still within the range that can meet Passive House energy standards. The zero lot line condition on the two sides necessitated an innovative solution to achieve the required levels of air tightness, insulation, minimized thermal bridging, as well as providing required fire ratings.

On the ground floor, which is at basement level relative to the lane, there are two retail units. The transition from the parking area includes a vestibule with doors at either end. The vestibule prevents the infiltration of carbon monoxide from the parking garage to the occupied spaces of the building. With the low air change rates required in Passive House buildings, ensuring the quality of incoming air is critical. 

Elevators connect a cold parkade to a warm building. At The Heights, the inside of the elevator shaft was lined with insulation; at The Narrows the outside of the shaft was insulated. Where the concrete podium extends beyond the upper floors, thermal bridging is again an issue.  At The Heights, the solution was to create a double slab with insulation between the layers; at The Narrows, the insulation was simply extended out beyond the building enclosure. Even with well-considered and conscientious detailing, it is impossible to eliminate thermal bridging entirely.  In large buildings, these deficiencies are manageable, as their impact can be minimal when considering the performance of the whole building.

The wall framing is generally conventional; the front and rear assembly comprises a 2×8 load-bearing external section with an internal 2×3 framed service layer – both with insulated cavities. The intelligent combined air/vapour barrier is installed in a protected position between the two. This membrane needs to be construction-sequenced around the outside of the floor perimeter for continuity.

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  Steiner Properties
  • Architect  Cornerstone Architecture
  • Project Manager  ADM Management
  • Construction Manager  Scott Construction Group
  • CP/Code Consultant  Camphora Engineering
  • Structural Engineer Weiler Smith Bowers
  • Mechanical/ Electrical Engineer  Smith + Andersen
  • Geotechnical Engineer  Terrane Group
  • Civil Engineer  Webster Engineering
  • Building Envelope Engineer 
  • Aqua-Coast Engineering
  • Interior Design  Port + Quarter
  • Landscape Architect  Forma Design td.
  • Photos Luke Han Architect AIBC

The zero lot line conditions on two sides required innovative solutions to achieve the required levels of air tightness, minimized thermal bridging, and fire ratings. Varsa Windows & Doors provided Passive-certified UPVC windows and doors for the project, contributing to the high energy-efficiency performance of the envelope.

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The City of Vancouver net zero carbon initiative

By Patrick Enright

The City of Vancouver’s initiative to

monitor, regulate and ultimately codify the embodied carbon requirements for buildings is the first of its kind in Canada and provides an example for other authorities, whether municipal, provincial or federal, to follow.

The City of Vancouver’s interest in monitoring embodied carbon in new buildings dates back to 2016. As work was being done on the original Zero Emissions Buildings Plan (designed to bring operational emissions for all rezoning projects to near zero levels) it was pointed out that embodied carbon would then become by far the most important (if not the only) consideration in terms of life cycle carbon for new buildings.

This realization highlighted the need for City staff to develop a better understanding of embodied carbon, and its contribution to overall life cycle carbon emissions. To get started on understanding embodied carbon, a requirement to calculate and report embodied carbon was included with the new rezoning policy that went into effect in 2017. This laid the foundation for a more comprehensive approach to be introduced in the future.

In January 2019, the City of Vancouver declared a climate emergency (joining a global movement that now includes nearly 2300 municipalities worldwide) and commissioned a Climate Emergency Response report to guide future policy decisions. Approved by City Council in April 2019, this report set a target of a 50% reduction in carbon pollution in Vancouver by 2,300 and carbon neutrality by 2050; accelerating the City’s previous climate efforts.1

It also added six major new objectives (referred to as Big Moves) for the next decade. One of the big moves identified in the subsequent Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) was the phased introduction of embodied carbon standards for new buildings. This document enabled City staff to review the rezoning requirement and advise on process, enforcement, and outcomes. It also provided a better understanding of leading-edge practice for embodied carbon calculations, life cycle assessment protocols and related policies.

The data acquired through this reporting phase of the project enabled City staff to determine a realistic baseline against which future mandated embodied carbon reductions could be measured. The methodology for calculating embodied carbon was based on a standard LCA and a building service life of 60 years, with reporting covering the extraction, processing and fabrication of materials and products, construction, operating and deconstruction and disposal phases.

The Embodied Carbon Strategy lays out a 10-year road map; and is designed to achieve the City’s goal of a 40% reduction in the embodied carbon of new buildings by 2030. In May 2022, the City took major action under the CEAP, proposing regulatory changes to the Vancouver Building Bylaw. The first change is to require embodied carbon reporting for all Part 3 buildings starting in July 2023; the next step (approved in principle) is scheduled for implementation in January 2025, when project proponents will have to start demonstrating reductions in embodied carbon below the benchmark levels. The advance notice will provide them with an adjustment period in which to familiarize themselves with the new requirements. 

The implementation of embodied carbon reductions will be a staged process: the first stage will require reductions of 10% for most buildings (including buildings up to 12 storeys constructed under the Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) code adopted by British Columbia and the City of Vancouver in 2020.). For buildings that are of 1-6 storeys, and permitted outright to be of wood frame or mass timber construction, the required reduction will be 20%.

Both the new legislation and the underlying strategy are ‘material neutral’. Proponents will be required to complete the life cycle assessment and submit the results. Establishing a reasonable benchmark at the outset is critical to the success of the program, so the initial benchmark for high-rise buildings is based on concrete construction. This ‘initial benchmark’ will be a baseline that teams create for each project based on their proposed building (as they do currently for LEED projects). Guidance on how to create a baseline will be published as part of the upcoming City of Vancouver Embodied Carbon Guidelines, to be finalized and published in January 2023.

Patrick Enright, P.Eng., is Senior Green Building Engineer with the Sustainability Group at the City of Vancouver.

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Interview with Graeme Stewart of ERA Architects

Graeme Stewart is a principal of ERA Architects which was the lead architect of the Ken Soble Tower transformation, one of the largest EnerPHit-certified projects in the world. www.eraarch.ca

1. How did ERA Architects become involved in the Ken Soble Tower project?

ERA Architects had been working for over a decade on the Tower Renewal Project, a strategy for the revitalization of Canada’s aging postwar apartment neighbourhoods, through which we gained experience on tower retrofits. As part of the Hamilton City Housing portfolio of buildings, the Ken Soble Tower was in a distressed, abandoned condition. Based on our experience, we were brought in to do an assessment of what to do: tear it down or retrofit.

2. Deciding to do an EnerPHit transformation was a bold decision. How did you arrive there?

I am pleased to say that the decision was largely made for us by Hamilton City Housing CEO Tom Hunter. He came from the health care sector and said that we build world-class hospitals and need to do the same for our public housing. He understood the long-term benefits of doing an EnerPHit transformation, and the project moved ahead from there.

3. Once the project was a go, how did the process work of coordinating the various disciplines in the team?

When Hamilton City Housing decided on pursuing EnerPHit the intent from the start was to achieve certification. This kept everyone ‘honest’. It was crucial to have a fully co-ordinated team which we assembled based on our experience. The team included: Entuitive, JVM Consulting, Transsolar, Reinbold Engineers and the certifier from PHI in Germany among others. At every step – during design development, review of assemblies, costing reviews – the team always asked if we were meeting PHPP targets. We then worked with PCL on construction mock-ups that would meet the criteria of EnerPHit and serve as the standard should alternate details or products be suggested by the trades. Through this process we arrived at a tight ‘specs package’ such that the project met performance and was ultimately certified.

4. What did you learn from this first project about what worked and what could be improved?

As far as we know, this is the largest residential EnerPHit project in the world. The precedents for this type of work come from Europe but we realized that we need solutions that meet North American practices, products and trade familiarity. Our design made this its focus. The construction manager PCL was critical in the strength of their quality control regime, but some trades wondered early on if the PassiveHouse was overkill.  Yet as testing procedures became easier the consensus was these were key practices for use in future projects, Passive House or overwise.

There are two other observations. We would love to have trades more familiar with high-performance retrofits, and a supply chain that can provide more of the types of products for this type of work. But the evolution will happen. Since we went to tender three years ago, many more suitable products have become available.

5. Is the Ken Soble Tower transformation a practical template for the many similar towers in our building stock?

A resounding yes. The project gave us a lot of elbow room to try things because it was empty. We can apply the lessons learned to an occupied building. It was cheaper by half to renovate the Ken Soble Tower rather than tear it down and replace. The economics will improve further as the supply chain and trade skills improve. The incentive is an improved quality of life in revitalised buildings that are quiet, more comfortable, and more economic to operate in the long term. 
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825 Pacific Street Artists Hub

New residential space provides public amenity and top performance

By Padraig McMorrow

With more than 2,000m² of affordable production spaces, independent studios, exhibition space and offices, 825 Pacific provides a vital injection of dedicated artist space into the City of Vancouver. The tallest Passive House building in Vancouver, 825 Pacific represents the Community Amenity Contribution made by the developer to the City of Vancouver, in exchange to permit the construction of rezoning an adjacent property for a high-rise residential tower. Because the City would take over the project, it was required to be constructed to the Passive House standard.

The seven-storey building stands next to the historic Leslie House, one of the oldest remaining single-family homes in Downtown Vancouver. To acknowledge the small scale and cultural importance of its neighbour, the ground floor of 825 Pacific, which will be a publicly accessible gallery, is set back to create a small entrance courtyard between the two buildings.

This is a core and shell project, with only the washroom and storage areas on each floor enclosed; the remainder awaiting subdivision by the tenants.The structure of the seven storey plus basement building comprises conventionally reinforced concrete walls, columns, floor slabs and roof slab. The stair cores located at the rear of the building provide the necessary lateral resistance.

Envelope

The slab on grade and basement walls are insulated with 125mm expanded polystyrene (XPS) which provides an effective thermal resistance of R-27. The roof, with 230mm of XPS laid on the slab, provides an effective thermal resistance of R-43 for the green roof. The ground floor concrete walls are insulated with 203mm mineral wool, which provides an effective thermal resistance of R-32.

The walls of the upper floors are steel stud with 152mm mineral wool batt insulation between the studs; with an additional 203mm of continuous semi rigid mineral wool insulation, supported by the thermally broken stainless steel brackets used to secure the metal cladding.

This wall assembly provides an effective thermal resistance of R-44. To mitigate thermal bridging, heavy gauge studs were used to reduce the number of brackets required; together with non-metallic through wall flashings.

Project Credits

  • Developer   Grosvenor Group
  • Owner  City of Vancouver
  • General Contractor  Ledcor Group
  • Architects  ACDF Architecture and Arcadis IBI Group
  • Building Envelope Consultant and Energy Modeller  Morrison Hershfield
  • Structural Engineer  Dialog
  • Mechanical and Electrical Engineer  Integral Group

Three shades of metal panels create a dynamic exterior pattern, and staggered windows from one floor to another contribute to the rhythm of the facade. The overall effect is that of a pixelated beacon to attract the public. EJOT® CROSSFIX® stainless steel thermal clip brackets attach the facade to the building structure to maintain thermal performance.

Padraig McMorrow Architect (Ireland) MRIAI, CPHC, Associate – Manager, Architecture Arcadis IBI Group Vancouver Office.

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