Industrial projects offer both challenging and some surprising design opportunities for the architect. Often initiated from an engineering focus, specific building forms and technical challenges emerge which require architectural solutions. The scale of projects is typically large, the technological or ‘production’ requirements are foremost and the human
needs can be diminished but still necessary when approaching the functional program for an industrial project. Nonetheless, our firm has had the opportunity and enjoyed the non-typical circumstances of participating in industrial project design teams, often lead by engineering firms.
For a site adjacent to the Landfill Administration Building where CAGP completed renovations to staff facilities in 2017, City of Vancouver Facilities Management selected our firm in 2018 to carry-out detailed design for a new, ‘modular friendly’ Scale House to support Weigh-Master operations related to expansion of access and vehicle service capacity at the Vancouver Landfill. The site is tightly constrained due to roadway allowances, new and existing site services including weigh-scales and the need to keep the Landfill fully operational, 7 days a week. The concept to develop a 1,200 sf, two-storey, wood frame ‘stacked modular’ building to be constructed off-site, transported in 2 main pieces and erected in a short period of time (days, not weeks or months) to provide Weigh-Master operations, administrative offices and technical support facilities pushes the limits for modular construction. The foundation and site services were constructed as part of the main Entry Re-design civil project. The new building is ‘sustainably-designed’ relying on super-insulated walls and roof, high-performance fiberglass/ triple-glazed windows and energy-efficient mechanical-electrical systems which required a high level of coordination between designers and fabricators.
City of Vancouver Landfill Scale House, Delta, B.C., 2019, $1.0M
For City of Vancouver Facilities Management CAGP was appointed late fall 2016 to carry out design and renovation of 3,500sf in an existing headquarters building in Delta, B.C. To achieve better environmental separation to meet improved worker health-safety objectives on the contaminated landfill site, the functional program entailed complete re-organization of existing building access, M/F washroom, change and lunch areas. As the existing two-storey steel-frame building sits on a steel pile/ raft foundation due to poor soil conditions, re-organization of under-slab building services was challenging. Renovated areas offer new change room with 44 lockers, new washroom with shower area and improved kitchen/ lunch/ lounge area to accommodate full staff meetings. Also added is a protected outdoor area with new washroom, wash-sink and direct access to a ‘Drying Room’ for immediate removal of wet-weather gear. Existing 2nd Floor Admin. Offices and Vehicle Repair Shop to remain operational during renovations. Construction Budget, $550K, not including new kitchen equipment and on-site temporary facilities. Current Construction Schedule, summer-fall 2017.
For The Finishing Trades Institute, a privately-funded trades school based in north Surrey, CAGP was asked to renovate an existing 3,100 sf two-storey wood frame industrial building to provide teaching, administrative offices and washrooms for finishing trades programs. The older building received all-new mechanical electrical systems including sprinkler rough-in for tie-in to Phase 2. With the ‘Phase 1’ project completed in 2014, CAGP was then asked to design a new two-storey steel-frame ‘addition’ with open warehouse-type space, mezzanine for offices with additional washrooms and teaching facilities. The intent for the ‘high-bay’ phase 2 building is to incorporate state-of-the-art ‘paint booth’ and (sand-)‘blast booth’ facilities to supplement expanding training programs. This project adds to an existing complex of FTI buildings located along the Fraser River near the Putallo Bridge. Buildings are low-rise, ‘tough’ metal-clad and incorporate parking and landscape elements as part of a growing ‘campus’ development.
For a B.C.-based mining company and consulting to Ausenco Engineering, CAGP was commissioned to design new administrative offices and public information facilities for an existing 3 storey, 18,000 sf. concrete frame office building which had fallen into disuse as a result of the mine shut-down in early 2000. New facilities include a 50 seat public presentation theatre, reception areas, administrative office and meeting rooms along with employee lounges. Interior partitions, doors and frames, custom millwork and finishes are to be new, throughout with an emphasis on natural, sustainable finishes. Existing mechanical-electrical systems are to be entirely replaced with new, more energy efficient systems. The existing exterior curtain-wall will be re-furbished along with parking and adjacent hard and soft landscaping.
The COLBORNE ARCHITECTURAL GROUP Pacific formed part of the design team for this major new Cogeneration project on Vancouver Island. Our role in this project focused 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.
The COLBORNE ARCHITECTURAL GROUP Pacific was architectural sub-consultant to Sandwell Inc. for the design of this major new Power Boiler project at MacMillan Bloedel’s Powell River pulp and paper complex. Our role in this project focused on the architectural components of the complex; cladding and roofing systems, design of the control room, electrical equipment rooms, laboratory and staff areas. A new control room in this building consolidated several previous sub-control centers into the new facility. Exterior cladding systems continued the Powell River gold colour scheme used elsewhere in the Plant, with a deep blue accent colour used to express louvres and doors. Documentation was produced to suit a fast-track, multiple tender process.