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CirCle reply Card 12
BAS09-5717_WALLTITE ad CanArch.indd 1
p03 BASF Ad.indd 3 Docket #: BAS09-5717 Magazine: Canadian Architect Colours: cmyk 1/22/09 11:33:25 AM
1/28/09 2:50:18 PM
Client: BASF Canada Issue: Resolution: 300 dpi
4. 2008_Certification_Ad_Con_Can 4/23/08 1:45 PM Page 1
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CirCle reply Card 13
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CirCle reply Card 14
p05 Kingspan Ad.indd 5 1/28/09 2:51:16 PM
7. deRek LeppeR
RichaRd Johnson
14 whistler PuBlic liBrary 11 news
Taking advanTage of The dynamic quaLiTies of iTs siTe, a much-anTicipaTed LibRaRy Atelier TAG and Jodoin Lamarre Pratte
by hughes condon maRLeR: aRchiTecTs has become a popuLaR communiTy hub architectes design the new Saint-Hubert
foR WhisTLeR’s diveRse popuLaTion. teXt LesLie Jen Library; Gregory Henriquez proposes
Stop Gap pre-fabricated housing as a solu-
tion to Vancouver’s homelessness issue.
18 John M.s. lecky uBc Boathouse
designed by LaRRy mcfaRLand aRchiTecTs, This fLoaTing sTRucTuRe handsomeLy 30 Practice
Responds To The needs of dedicaTed univeRsiTy of bRiTish coLumbia RoWeRs. Rick Linley suggests that profitability and
teXt adeLe WedeR
efficiency can be increased through the
optimization of net fees, labour, and utiliz-
ation rates.
22 PeterBorough regional health
centre 33 Books
Leslie Jen and Ian Chodikoff review three
This neW faciLiTy by sTanTec aRchiTecTuRe RepResenTs a RemaRkabLe achievemenT
recent publications that offer insight into
in a counTRy cRying ouT foR subsTanTiaL impRovemenTs in heaLTh caRe.
teXt ian chodikoff
the future of the city.
maRTin TessLeR
36 calendar
Enzo Mari exhibition at Cambridge Galler-
ies, Design at Riverside; Eelco Hooftman
of Edinburgh’s GROSS. MAX lectures at
the University of Toronto.
38 BackPage
The Oberlander family share details of the
extraordinary life of H. Peter Oberlander
(1922-2008).
febRuaRy 2009, v.54 n.02
main enTRance To The peTeRboR-
coVer
ough RegionaL heaLTh cenTRe. phoTo-
gRaph by RichaRd Johnson.
The NaTioNal Review of DesigN aND PRacTice/
The JouRNal of RecoRD of The Raic
02/09 canadian architect
8. VIEWPOINT
IAN CHODIKOFF
EDITOR
IAN CHODIKOFF, OAA, MRAIC
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
LESLIE JEN, MRAIC
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HERBERT ENNS, MAA, MRAIC
ABOVE A WOMAN POSES ON A PUBLIC SECTION OF JUMEIRAH BEACH, AS THE EXPANDING DUBAI DOUGLAS MACLEOD, NCARB
SKYLINE RISES IN THE BACKGROUND. REGIONAL CORRESPONDENTS
HALIFAX CHRISTINE MACY, OAA
MONTREAL DAVID THEODORE
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8 CANADIAN ARCHITECT 02/09
10. Vicwest ad 03-butterfly:Layout 1 1/21/09 9:36 AM Page 1
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FORMAT: 300DPI
NOTES:
COLOUR: FOUR COLOUR
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FIN SIZE wxh: 8x5.125
FLAT SIZE wxh:
BW
NS
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p10 VicWest+Mitsubishi Ads.indd 10 1/28/09 2:54:20 PM
11. news
PrOjects problem is rising faster than what BC Housing can GreGory Henriquez’s
aBOVe, LeFt tO riGht
build. According to Henriquez, the problem has to stop Gap HousinG proposal intends to
atelier taG and jodoin Lamarre Pratte to do with permitting, which can take several years Help eliminate Homelessness in Vancou-
design saint-hubert Library. for a typical social-housing project. Through a Ver; atelier taG and Jodoin lamarre
The commission for the new library in the temporary, renewable 12-month permitting pro- pratte HaVe been awarded tHe commis-
sion to desiGn a new library in saint-
borough of Saint-Hubert in Longueuil, Quebec cess and a schedule utilizing a pre-fab construc- Hubert, quebec.
has been awarded to the design consortium of tion process, Henriquez wants to build 1,000
Montreal firms Atelier TAG and Jodoin Lamarre units of Stop Gap Housing on eight city sites young Montreal designer with fewer than 10
Pratte architectes, who will incorporate a variety within the next year. He has the support of Van- years’ professional practice, having demon-
of context- and sustainability-related measures couver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who has prom- strated exceptional quality in studies and work as
that harness wind, sun, geothermal and rainwater ised to work towards ending homelessness in the well as a marked interest in the city. Created by
technologies. The 2,000-square-metre facility is city. The Tyee online journal estimates that, if the City of Montreal in 2008, the deadline for
situated on a wooded, windy lot. As a result, the combined with the reopening of almost 500 hotel submission is April 14, 2009. The application
architects developed the design parti of a “flying rooms recently identified by the Carnegie Com- form and eligibility criteria are available at
carpet,” where the roofline is folded to accom- munity Action Project, the Stop Gap Housing www.designmontreal.com. The announcement
modate the prevailing winds. Extensive solar scheme would provide enough homes for nearly of the winner will be made in June 2009.
studies resulted in the provision of perforated all of the 1,547 individuals found in Vancouver www.designmontreal.com
wood slats along the exterior to help modulate the during the spring 2008 homeless count. And the
intensity of the sun while reducing glare inside. cost of building these 1,000 units would be less Bc architect wins canada’s top business
Various spatial qualities of the forest are trans- than what the city and province are currently award for female entrepreneurs.
lated into the function of the building: the open paying to administer to those same people on the Teresa Coady, Chief Executive Officer and found-
plan of the ground floor is inspired by the con- street. BC taxpayers currently spend an average of ing partner of the Vancouver-based architectural
cept of the forest floor; on the upper levels, the $55,000 per year in health, corrections and social practice of Bunting Coady Architects, has been
verticality of the wood slats are inspired by tree services for each of the estimated 11,750 home- named as a winner of the 2008 RBC Canadian
trunks; and at the north end of the library, the less people in the province, according to a 2008 Woman Entrepreneur Awards (CWEA). Estab-
porous design of the roof recalls the experience study by Simon Fraser University’s Centre for lished in 1992, these awards are conferred on
of peering at the sky through a canopy of trees. Applied Research in Mental Health and Addic- leading female entrepreneurs whose successful
The children’s area forms the geographic heart of tion. Henriquez’s Stop Gap Housing could be business achievements have contributed signifi-
the building, and the building’s circulation built for less than $40,000 per unit, excluding cantly to the Canadian and global economies, as
promenade terminates with a reading room cap- the price of land, which could be provided by the well as to their own community. Coady is the only
turing views of the Montérégie region beyond. city or funded by the province. architect to have ever received this honour and is
Including all site work and landscaping, the con- one of only a handful of women running a full-
struction budget is $11.6 million. Construction is awards service architectural practice in Canada. A lead-
expected to begin in July 2009 with the library ing pioneer of sustainable and energy-efficient
becoming operational by the summer of 2010. Phyllis Lambert design Montreal Grant: design, Coady’s vision to create “Living, Breath-
call for applications to young professionals. ing Buildings” which enhance the environment—
henriquez Partners architects proposes The call for applications for the annual Phyllis is the philosophy behind the work of Bunting
scheme to end Vancouver’s homelessness. Lambert Design Montreal Grant has been an- Coady Architects. The firm has more square foot-
Stop Gap Housing is a new idea being proposed nounced. Destined for young design profession- age of LEED® NC Gold-certified institutional and
by Vancouver architect Gregory Henriquez to end als, this grant aims to acknowledge and promote commercial projects than any other firm in North
Vancouver’s homelessness problem through the the talent of emerging Montreal designers and America and has won over 50 awards for design
rapid construction of temporary pre-fabricated foster their professional recognition. The winner quality and building performance. Teresa Coady
housing. Henriquez’s proposal calls for a motel- will receive a $10,000 award to fund a profes- is the only architect to serve on the BC provincial
like village with 48 suites clustered around a cen- sional development project in one of the cities of government’s Climate Action Team (CAT), which
tral courtyard that features a manager’s office, a the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, of which is developing strategies to significantly reduce
covered patio, and a second-storey meeting Montreal is a member. The Phyllis Lambert greenhouse gas emissions in the province of
room. Vancouver’s exploding homelessness Design Montreal Grant rewards the talent of a British Columbia. She has acted as an advisor to
02/09 canadian architect 11
12. the British Columbia Energy Code and the 31, 2009. All winning entries will be presented at 2008), it has come to our attention that, at the
National Energy Code. A board member of the the Atlantic Seniors’ Housing Needs Conference time of submission to our magazine, the client
Cascadia Chapter of the United States Green in Halifax in 2009. who initially commissioned Patkau Architects
Building Council, Coady is the acclaimed author www.msvu.ca/ASHRA/pdf/CompGuidelines_ Inc. to design Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
of a number of articles and academic papers. FINAL.pdf Church had no intention to build the proposal.
www.buntingcoady.com Therefore, according to the rules of eligibility
what’s new clearly expressed on the 2008 entry form for the
cOMPetitiOns Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence, the sub-
canada Green Building council and Bc mitted design is considered ineligible and will
affordable seniors’ housing ideas design hydro collaborate on energy efficiency. not receive an Award of Excellence. While Patkau
competition. These two organizations have launched a joint Architects Inc. were initially commissioned by
The goal of this competition is to showcase ideas effort to improve the design, construction and the client on November 21, 2007 to produce the
and/or concepts of innovative seniors’ housing operation of buildings in British Columbia. They design recognized by the jury, the contract
design at the ASHRA Seniors’ Housing Needs Con- will work together to: develop customer-focused between the client and architect was mutually
ference later this year. This collaborative research programs for energy conservation for buildings; terminated on April 15, 2008—several months
project involves over 75 organizations and five increase the number and skill level of industry before the submission deadline for our awards
universities from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, professionals focused on energy efficiency through program. It should be noted that the friendly ter-
Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward joint training programs; create demonstration mination of the agreement was due to the fact
Island. The research will determine the housing projects featuring sustainable communities and that, in the opinion of the Parish Building Com-
needs and choices, both existing and emerging, energy infrastructure; and look for opportunities mittee, the design “did not meet the parish
for our aging population. Policy recommenda- to promote the LEED® green building rating sys- requirements with respect to the design of a
tions will then be developed to help satisfy these tem in conjunction with Power Smart. BC Hydro is ‘traditional’ Catholic church and the architect
needs in the future. There are three prizes as fol- working to make BC electricity self-sufficient by was not prepared to modify his position suffi-
lows: 1st prize of $5,000; 2nd prize of $3,000; and 2016 and will meet 50 percent of new electricity ciently beyond the presentation of a ‘contempor-
best student entry wins $2,000. Any potential demand through conservation by 2020. ary’ church.” Since a new design by another
entrant must advise the competition information architect for Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
officer at info@ashra.ca by 12:00 noon AST on addendUM Church has been released into the public realm,
March 2, 2009 of their intent to submit an entry. Canadian Architect regrets causing any confusion
All entries for the competition are to be post- In reference to the winners of the 2008 Canadian for the parish, the client, and the general com-
marked no later than 12:00 noon AST on March Architect Awards of Excellence (see CA, December munity of Port Coquitlam, BC.
The Future of Building
With a number of disparate, often geographically distributed
organizations involved in the delivery of construction
projects, there has been considerable interest in e-business
tools within the construction industry. These tools open up
a range of possibilities for the industry to rethink existing
processes and working methods, so their use is increasingly
common. Nevertheless, there has been little definitive
guidance on the major issues in electronic business from a
construction perspective. With a fine blend of theoretical
and practical aspects of e-commerce in construction, and
well illustrated with a number of industrial case studies,
e-Business in Construction will find an appreciative
audience of construction practitioners, researchers and
students at all levels. Readers will also benefit from
further coverage on legal matters, technological issues and
implementation.
Available at www.amazon.ca.
12 canadian architect 02/09 circLe rePLy card 19
4792.indd 1 1/8/09 3:38:26 PM
14. room to read
a resort community welcomes a
long-awaited public facility that
unites its diverse population.
proJect Whistler Public library, Whistler, british columbia
architect hughes condon marler: architects
teXt leslie Jen
photos martin tessler
14 canadian architect 02/09
15. Known by most as a winter playground for the
wealthy, the town of Whistler is, in fact, an
intriguing community with a diverse population.
Currently numbering at around 10,000 full-time
residents, the village also employs 2,500-3,000
transient/seasonal workers. With a steady stream
of part-time residents and tourists, the popula-
tion averages close to 30,000, and during peak
periods, can swell to an astonishing 55,000. Its
popularity is understandable: one of the Great
White North’s most frequented resort destina-
tions, Whistler offers breathtaking mountain
scenery along with fantastic skiing, hiking and
rock-climbing opportunities. Consequently, the
last 15 years have witnessed a massive construc-
tion boom, with high-end condominiums sprout-
ing up in and around the town, jockeying for
position with the countless hotels, bars and res-
taurants servicing outdoor adventure-seekers
from around the world.
The maturation and growth of the community
has necessitated expansion of its public facilities.
Housed in a portable structure since the late
1980s, the original Whistler Public Library was
located in the heart of what is now a densely
built-up village. As this was never intended to be
a long-term solution, the community has been in
discussions concerning a new library building
since the early 1990s. In 2002, Hughes Condon
Marler: Architects (HCMA) was retained to tackle
a dual program comprising both library and
museum functions. Differences in process and
objective between library and museum stalled the
project indefinitely, which eventually resulted in
the two institutions going their separate ways. In
2004, the library project alone was resurrected,
with HCMA once again at the helm, steering the
project over the next few years through a rigorous
and integrated design process that engaged the
community and public at large.
Despite the rugged and majestic geographical
context of Whistler, increased development over
the years has resulted in a definite urban quality
to the town. Public transit is excellent, and a
number of pedestrian-friendly plazas along with
an extensive path network called the “Village
Stroll” successfully link the buildings together.
A sun-drenched civic plAzA drAws visitors into the highly ArticulAted mAin
opposite
California-based landscape architect Eldon Beck entrAnce of the librAry. top structurAl hemlock members give drAmAtic expression to
is largely responsible for the community’s the soAring roofline in the mAin spAce. above the librAry glows At night, set AgAinst
design, having been retained as one of Whistler’s the trees in the AdjAcent pArk And the distAnt mountAins.
original planners in the 1970s. Influenced by the
ideology of Christopher Alexander, Beck advocat- won Beck over through an articulate and well- within a fairly dense cluster of hotels all access-
ed for the inclusion of many human-scaled ele- reasoned presentation. ible from the pedestrianized Village Stroll. A
ments such as benches and low walls to encour- Constructed on what was the second-last un- civic plaza draws visitors into the vestibule and
age a real sense of community interaction and developed parcel of land in the village—a former through a set of doors to the main stacks area,
engagement. In fact, deferential to Beck even to surface parking lot close to where the old library where the real drama of the space unfolds. Slop-
this day, the project’s clients insisted that the portable sat, the new L-shaped library responds ing up towards the north, the exposed structure
HCMA design team fly to the US to present the to both the urban fabric of the village and the of the soaring roof is rhythmically expressed in
scheme to the venerable guru in his California adjacent densely forested park—the largest in hemlock. A high-performance curtain wall offers
office for his approval. Initially meeting with Whistler Village. With the main entry facing unimpeded views of the evergreens in the adja-
resistance, principal Darryl Condon eventually south towards Main Street, the library is nestled cent park as well as distant views of Sprott Moun-
02/09 canadian architect 15
16. gain, which is major consideration during Whist-
ler’s surprisingly hot, dry summers. The heavy
timber construction respects the vernacular
building tradition of the area, but the uncommon
use of hemlock represents a more sustainable
above pronounced tectonic expression typicAl of west coAst Architecture is evident in choice than other woods that are typically used,
this northeAst corner view. top right the north elevAtion illustrAtes the Anchoring such as Douglas fir and cedar. But to compensate
presence of the stone fireplAce, which contrAsts with the lifting roof plAnes And for hemlock’s structural inconsistencies, the
the trAnspArent lightness of the curtAin wAll. middle right A close-up view cAptures the
mAteriAlity of the building And its structurAl connections. opposite tAken from the
HCMA team developed an innovative roof system
end-of-trip entry At the librAry’s northeAst corner, this view reveAls the covered of prefabricated laminated panels that were ver-
ArcAde leAding visitors up to the front of the building. tically staggered to address this shortcoming.
This allows for a shallow structural zone,
tain, and allows the space to be suffused with mountains are always present, and two outdoor reducing exterior cladding quantities while maxi-
even north light, ideal for reading and other reading terraces reinforce the perpetual connec- mizing light and views. Strategies such as these
tasks. tion to the outdoors, as does the sheltered arcade will likely earn the building a LEED Gold rating.
Project architect Bill Uhrich maintains that that runs along the east elevation. Another project advancement is the counter-
there is a dual aspect the project: while the Numerous sustainability strategies were intuitive choice to go against the steeply pitched
library is ostensibly about books, information, implemented to create the greenest building pos- roofs that characterize the region. Heavy, wet
and technology in sustaining and promoting the sible. The provision of end-of-trip facilities snow can weigh as much as 160 pounds per
intellectual culture of Whistler, it is equally about encourages non-vehicular forms of transporta- square foot, resulting in inordinately high roof-
its relationship to site and the larger context of tion like cycling, and as such, bicycle parking, loading situations. HCMA sought the advice of a
the mountains. HCMA examined European pre- change rooms, lockers and washrooms are locat- snow-management consultant, who suggested
cedents to facilitate a strong connection to the ed on the lowest level, accessed through a separ- keeping as much snow on the roof as possible, to
outdoors and to mountain culture, looking spe- ate entrance at the northeast corner of the build- take advantage of the insulatory properties of the
cifically at the architecture of the Alps. Con- ing. In addition to a green roof, deep overhangs snow, and to minimize the amount of snow dump
sequently, light and views of the surrounding on the south and east elevations minimize solar on the ground, which would otherwise impede
16 canadian architect 02/09
17. client resort municipAlity of whistler
architect team dArryl condon, bill uhrich, kurt mclAren, juliA
mogensen, jAy lin, kAynA merchAnt 18
structural fAst + epp structurAl engineers
mechanical stAntec engineering
17 19
electrical Acumen engineering
landscape phillips fArevAAg smAllenberg
cost consultant hAnscomb 1 main entry
code consultant lmdg 2 entry vestibule
building envelope consultant rdh group 20
16 3 circulation desk
builder whistler construction compAny 4 patron service
ground floor area 1,400 m2 5 book drop
budget $12 m 15
6 workroom
completion jAnuAry 2008 16 14
7 head librarian office
8 copy/storage
21 9 storage
3 10 office
13 22 11 staff room
12 child program room
9 8 7 4 13 children’s area
2 14 group study
6 15 quiet carrels
12 10 5
11 16 outdoor reading terrace
1
17 reading room
18 fireplace
19 teen area
20 computer lab
21 multipurpose room
22 arcade
main floor
3 1
4
2
5
6
11 8
7
1 end-of-trip entry
2 arcade
3 men’s end-of-trip facility
9 4 women’s end-of-trip facility
5 mechanical room
6 secure bike storage
7 stair to civic plaza/main entry
10 8 covered parking
9 garbage recycling
pedestrian circulation. The resulting folded roof 10 access to parking
11 electrical room
plane keeps snow on the roof and off the ground
at critical entry points into the building, giving
the library a more authentic formal expression
unique amongst the identical cookie-cutter cha-
lets that dot the village. parking plan 0 10m
Unfortunately, Whistler has acquired an
unsettling Disneyfied quality typical of most
Intrawest resorts: Blue Mountain, Tremblant,
Panorama ... the list goes on. As an antidote, the
Whistler Public Library represents a courageous
deviation from the global sameness and forced
quaintness of the unrelenting flat pastel stucco
façades, and remains true to Whistler’s original
planning principles. Additionally, it rewards the
community for its resilience, initiative and cross section
independent spirit with a truly democratic place
of gathering and learning. Tourists and resi-
dents—both permanent and transient—have
responded overwhelmingly: over the past year,
the number of daily visitors has increased by
300% from about 300 to roughly 1,000 per day.
And for their efforts, HCMA can bask in the
glory of receiving the 2008 Real Cedar Award
from the Canadian Wood Council this past Nov-
ember. ca longitudinal section 0 10M
02/09 canadian architect 17
18. Oars tO the GrOund
a new rOwinG facility flOats Gently On
the fraser river, and the bifurcated
structure reflects the physics Of the spOrt
itself.
prOJectJohn M.S. Lecky UBc BoathoUSe, RichMond, BRitiSh coLUMBia
architectLaRRy McFaRLand aRchitectS Ltd.
teXt adeLe WedeR
phOtOs deRek LeppeR
Nestled on the middle bank of Fraser River, the John M.S. Lecky UBC the flexion point between the thrust and pull of the oars. The symbolic
Boathouse subverts the usual bankside paradigm of architecture-as- and also practical architectural correlation is the junction point between
fixed-anchor. Instead of attempting an illusory defiance of its site, the the two building components, a flexible “drawbridge.” This dual-
design team has conceived the Boathouse as a structure in sync with the module concept expresses in symbolic terms the double-beat rhythm of
sandy soil and shifting tides. With a simple palette of glass, metal and the sport, but also allows the practical functioning of the building as
wood, the architects devised a kind of nautical architecture that works in “floating architecture.”
much the same way as the boats themselves. Lead architect and former The project is primarily a conflation of dock, boat shed, locker/
rower Craig Duffield points to “the moment of athletic poise, of athletic showers, offices and an events hall, the latter being the cash cow to
flexion” in rowing, where the rowers alternately pull and thrust, and subsidize the operating costs of the rest of the building. It’s a pro-
then pick up enough speed for the boat itself to lift slightly off the water. gramme that is more complex than one might think, involving sculls—
Neither the marina nor the building is anchored to the earth on those competition-minded boats that require a lot more consideration
immoveable piers. This is a floating dock that rises and falls with the in their circulation and storage than your average Canadian Tire canoe.
tides, as does the structure adjoining it. The Boathouse itself is a The dauntingly long, narrow and expensive vessels—nautical hotrods,
strategically bifurcated structure. The physical act of rowing is based on really—are engineered to move fast through the water with minimal
18 canadian architect 02/09
19. effort, but also remain light enough for the rowers to carry and hoist onto
the brackets in the boat shed. Moreover, at $30-40,000 a pop, the configura-
tion of the path from boat to bay becomes critical: the diagonal positioning
of the floating dock helps not only expedite the boats coming in, but also
avoid dings and outright crashes. (It’s not surprising that Duffield has
serious rowing experience under his belt—in fact, it was an essential qualifi-
cation for the project).
The design team selected translucent polycarbonite panels to wall the
boat shed, a choice at once functional and aesthetic. The translucent panels
allow copious daylight into the garage such that on the overcast day of my
visit, no artificial lighting was needed to navigate the space or hoist the
boats up on and down from their bracket frames. It’s a proverbial green
gesture, but it also means that a group of rowers straggling into the garage
with a $40,000 scull in their grasp need not risk fumbling for a light switch.
And, from inside and outside, the panels are quite simply beautiful: lumi-
nous, like water.
The luminescence of the polycarbonite panelling is one of many charac-
teristics that hint, not holler, at the purpose of the project. “I disdained
forms that look like upside-down boats,” insists Duffield. Still, the massing
gently evokes the form of a boat, not only in the swell of the roofline but
also in the contiguous line of the steel fascia that runs across the top of the
building, which transforms into a supporting beam and then continues into
an elliptical arc supporting the brise-soleil of the upper deck.
The cedar slats of the brise-soleil in turn serve to frame the otherwise
bleak vista. Across this arm of the Fraser River, there is little more than
scrub and scattered housing to look at, but the cropping of this stark
expanse transforms it into a postcard of nautical charm.
With its clean simplicity and floor-to-ceiling glazing, the event hall
opens up a panoramic river view. The ceiling is a splendid expanse of
Douglas fir. Below the curved clerestory, an otherwise neutral space is
enriched by a frieze with a fish-motif bas-relief sculpture created by
Musqueam artist Susan Point. The one odd note is the faux-wood laminate
flooring. The choice was predicated by cost considerations. But with real
wood used strategically and sparingly elsewhere, and honest industrial
materials like corrugated steel used for the cladding, it would have seemed
more appropriate to specify a straightforward coloured laminate than an
apologetic stand-in for hardwood.
Overall, however, the Boathouse is a smartly designed, light-infused
structure with uncommon sensitivity to the end users. Glass-walled offices
are suffused in daylight and offer a generous river view to the administration
staff. The event hall is carefully calibrated to draw paying crowds for parties
and celebrations that help bankroll the building’s operating costs. Most
Floating gently on the Fraser river, the new boathouse
OppOsite
glows brilliantly at night. riGht, tOp tO bOttOM translucent poly-
carbonite panels provide lots oF natural light into the boat
bay storage area; a cedar guardrail and screen assembly on
the second-Floor viewing deck; a southwest view oF the new
boathouse.
02/09 canadian architect 19
20. the viewing deck look-
left, tOp tO bOttOM client university oF british columbia
architect teaM craig duFField (design architect + project
ing out toward the Fraser river; hand- architect), carrie gratland, susanne hunter, david kitazaki, alvin
martin, penny martyn, larry s. mcFarland (principal), dean
some structural detailing characterizes shwedyk, robert whetter
the interior oF the event hall. structural (superstructure) Fast epp structural engineers
structural (flOats GanGways) all-span engineering and
construction ltd.
crucially, the project has a good, tight feel—the Mechanical stantec consulting ltd.
electrical cobalt engineering
sense that space is modulated with careful civil p.s. turje associates ltd.
builder (superstructure) kindred construction ltd.
precision and economy, with a focus on the builder (flOatinG structure) international marine Floata-
tion systems inc.
highest possible efficiency—much like the design cOde cOnsultant gage-babcock and associates ltd.
GeOtechnical cOnsultant trow associates inc.
of an Olympic-calibre racing scull. ca Marine cOnsultant westmar consultants inc.
area 1,920 m2
budGet $3.985 m
cOMpletiOn june 2007
Adele Weder is an architectural critic and curator
based in British Columbia.
12 12
10
10 2
9
11 7 1
5
9 6
5 4
8
11 16
3
15 15
14
13
upper floor
19
20
17
17
18
21 4
15
lower floor 0 10M
1 event hall 8 administration 15 gangway
2 alumni lounge 9 athlete lounge 16 entry balcony
3 kitchen 10 coaching office 17 boat bay
4 storage 11 changing room 18 mechanical room
5 entry vestibule 12 viewing deck 19 launching docks
6 flexible enclosed link 13 main entry pier 20 dragon boats
7 viewing gallery 14 boat-loading pier 21 coach boat dock
fraser river (Middle arM)
15 2 12
13 3 1
17 19
existing river road
rip rap dyke public trail parking
Middle arM park
river road
site plan 0 50M longitudinal section 0 10M
20 canadian architect 02/09
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22. at the crossroads
a new regional health centre rethinks The provision of adequate health care remains a high priority for Canadians.
the idea of patient care and connection But despite the billions of dollars being spent on new hospital facilities, the
to the community. expedient process of building hospitals is resulting in mediocre architecture
that responds only to bureaucratic design guidelines established by provin
proJect Peterborough regional health Centre, Peterborough,
cial governments. This process rarely addresses the less tangible but no less
ontario
architect StanteC arChiteCture ltd.
important characteristics of “pride of place” and “community.” Fortunately,
teXt ian Chodikoff there are a few notable exceptions, such as the recently completed Peterbor
photos riChard JohnSon ough Regional Health Centre, a project led by Michael Moxam of Stantec’s
Toronto office. Awarded to Moxam’s firm in 2000, the $205million,
715,000squarefoot health facility was completed in August 2008. Built
adjacent to the existing hospital, the 494bed acutecare facility is nearly
three times the size of the original facility. Moxam, who has also designed
22 canadian architect 02/09
23. healthcare facilities in Chatham, Toronto and Ottawa, is becoming increas opposite one of many delightful CourtyardS SCattered through-
ingly well known as an expert in designing forwardthinking healthcare out the hoSPital. theSe outdoor SPaCeS orient Staff and
communities. His firm, along with Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg PatientS by eStabliShing a viSual ConneCtion to the outdoorS
and to other ProgrammatiC elementS in the faCility. aBoVe the
Architects, recently won a 2008 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence for main entry to the hoSPital iS deSigned to Convey the feel of a
their thorough design strategy for Bridgepoint Health, a complex healthcare Community Centre, rather than an inStitutional building.
facility and urban regeneration project just east of Toronto’s Don River.
Located about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto, the city of Peterborough cover communities with names such as Fowlers Corners, Precious Corners or
(pop. 75,000) is situated in the picturesque Kawartha Region, an area charac Mathers Corners. In addition to its agricultural roots, Peterborough has a
terized by sublime views overlooking rolling hills, lakes and marshland. Peter strong connection to both the Ottonabee River and the TrentSevern Water
borough, like many other communities within the Kawarthas, evolved from way. Consequently, numerous bridges have been built in the region, the most
the establishment of rural crossroads or “corners” used by the agricultural or famous of which arguably remains the Faryon Bridge (1969) designed for the
dairy farmers in the region. Driving through the area today, one can still dis original Trent University campus by Ron Thom and Morden Yolles.
02/09 canadian architect 23
