The Colborne Architectural Group Pacific formed part of the design team for this major new Cogeneration project on Vancouver Island, working as the architectural consultant for Sandwell Engineering Inc. and Asea Brown Boveri (ABB). The objective of the project was to employ surplus steam from the adjacent Fletcher Challenge Elk Falls pulp mill to generate power which can be fed back to the mill or to the B.C. Hydro grid. The generator also operates from natural gas fed from the Island pipeline which runs through the site. This is a state-of-the art facility designed to generate power at a high level of efficiency.

Our role in this project focuses on the architectural components of the complex; cladding and roofing systems, design of the control, administration and staff areas. Main building components are enclosed in an off-white metal cladding with a deep red accent colour used to express trim and doors. Ancillary buildings are clad in blue with red trim. Exposed structural steel and the exterior boiler components are expressed within a bright blue steel framework.

Documentation was produced to suit a fast track, multiple tender process. Construction began in early 1999 with completion in June 2000. Total project value is approximately $200 million.