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70 | J UNE 2019 Connaught at Edgemont Village RENDERINGS COURTESY GROSVENOR AMERICAS Connaught at Edgemont Village by NATALIE BRUCKNER E dgemont Village is one of North Vancouver's most beloved neigh- bourhoods. With its mountain resort feel and distinctive character and charm, it takes a special developer to understand the kind of project that would not only enhance the area, but pay respects to its unique attributes. The four-storey Connaught at Edgemont Village is a perfect example of this. The team involved in its devel- opment – owners Grosvenor Americas, architects Rositch Hemphill Architects (RHA), and general contractor ITC Construction Group – have succeeded in building a mixed-use building at the gateway to the Village that comple- ments its surroundings. "Connaught was designed to make a lasting contribution in the neighbour- hood of Edgemont, today and for future generations, which is very much in line with our Living Cities framework – to help foster thriving places that reflect the spirit of individual cities, and ulti- mately contribute to their enduring success," says Michael Ward from Grosvenor Americas. Finding a development site in this neighbourhood is indeed quite rare. "This site is located at the gateway to Edgemont Village and offered a unique opportunity to build a development with only 82 concrete homes in a well- established community," says Ward, who lives in the area. As the project is located in a densely populated area and built in very close proximity to the property line, Leo Markle, construction man- ager at ITC Construction Group, says that "throughout the course of con- struction, site logistics were a primary consideration as site access for deliv- eries was difficult. Loading out during excavation was particularly challeng- ing and we also encountered rock during excavation." Markle adds that interest- ingly enough, despite the fact that this is a four-storey structure, ITC Construction Group required similar manpower to that which is required for a high-rise tower. The site itself was also rather com- plex as there is a two-storey grade difference between the highest and low- est parts of the site. "The property is angled at the western end and concave at the south. Multiple entrances to the parking and to the necessary loading bays and garbage pick up all needed to be incorporated in a way that softened their impact on the street," explains Bryce Rositch, architect at RHA. For the design of the building (which includes retail, single-level one- bedroom suites to three-bedroom two-storey townhomes with roof- top decks) RHA brought with them a unique outlook, having previously worked with Grosvenor, as well as having extensive experience with the District of North Vancouver. "A key influence to the design of the residences was to ensure that the architecture suited the scale of the Village and fits harmoniously within the neighbourhood," says Ward. The building gently ties together but is constantly varying as you walk around, with every elevation and every view of the building being different. "It was important to design something that respected the existing scale and texture of the neighbourhood. Because the scale is much larger than anything else in Edgemont, it was important to create a series of vignettes, to provide an ongoing story to those who walk or drive by the site." The large grocery store has been cleverly tucked into the development so that other retailers can provide front doors along the street, while the western end of the project is a signifi- cant gateway to the Village. The exterior facade is made up of a variety of material including concrete, ledgestone features, woodclad col- umns, sleek charcoal window frames and railings, and natural tone siding. "The materials relate directly to the setting at the base of the mountain and the varied massing of the build- ings refer to the varied massing of the mountains behind," explains Rositch. As the project consists of residen- tial, retail, and parking components, Fadi Ghorayeb at Dialog explains that all these elements required reinforced concrete. "A transfer structure was required above the retail due to the change in column and walls layout," says Ghorayeb. When it came to seismic resistance, Dialog had to ensure enough shear walls were provided. "We also had to ensure the shear walls would be compatible with the various programs and layouts at all levels. Significant design and opti- mization effort was invested in order to find a safe and economical solution that would also accommodate the various architectural layouts," says Ghorayeb. Inside the building, Grosvenor wanted homeowners to have access to everything they should need, right at their fingertips. "We wanted each resident to have access to a welcoming residential lobby complete with con- cierge service, a well-equipped gym, and even a shared wash station for their car, bike, and pets. We are also creating multiple spaces for commu- nity engagement," says Ward. For the townhouses and condos, the interiors have been thought- fully designed by Scott Trepp and not only include high-end finishes (such as wide-plank engineered hardwood flooring and Italian wood vanities), but high-end systems (for which Smith + Andersen and Integral Group were the electrical and mechanical consultants) including air-conditioning, and Nuheat in-floor heating. "The residential floors were changed from wood to concrete early on in the project," says Ghorayeb. "This increased the quality of the construc- tion, but it also presented a challenge due to the significant increase in weight of the structure, and required a more substantial transfer structure." Residents are also able to enjoy an exclusive and expansive landscaped rooftop courtyard that has a BBQ, fire pit, generous seating area, and a natu- ral kid's play area. "The central landscaped court- yard, raised above the street but still accessible and visible from the street, will provide a sense of green refuge. Because the courtyard allows mul- tiple entrances, it is hoped that it will encourage social interaction among residents and their guests. The large, private balconies and terraces will offer some great outdoor living for resi- dents," says Rositch. It is fair to say that Connaught at Edgemont Village is a great addition to the Village. "With many of Grosvenor's management team living in the area, there is an immense amount of pride in this project. The addition of the 82 homes and Thrifty grocery store will provide an option for local residents to downsize from larger single family homes and benefit from the walkable nature of Edgemont Village," says Ward. Markle concludes by saying, "Connaught is one of the most beauti- ful developments we have ever built. The developer and design team did an amazing job with creating their vision for this development and we are proud to be a part of this landmark project." A LOCATION 3230 Connaught Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Grosvenor Americas ARCHITECT Rositch Hemphill Architects (RHA) GENERAL CONTRACTOR ITC Construction Group STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT DIALOG MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Integral Group ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith + Andersen LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PFS Studio TOTAL SIZE 160,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed Heritage FM36896.indd

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