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AUGUST 2019 | 63 Mountain Equipment Co-op RENDERING COURTESY PROSCENIUM ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS INC. Mountain Equipment Co-op by NATALIE BRUCKNER M ountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is well known for being innova- tive; not just with its products, services, and approach, but also its buildings . . . and the new flagship store at the gateway to Vancouver's Olympic Village is no exception. The three-storey mass timber building, designed by Proscenium Architecture + Interiors, embodies MEC's signature green building form and seeks to contribute to sustainable urban development in South-East False Creek. "Designed to embody energy, enthu- siasm, and community for almost all things outdoors, the new store will be a true flagship and unlike any other building in the city," says George Bevan, MEC director of store development. "MEC stores are designed to be hubs for outdoor activities, and great synergies exist between Olympic Village and our new Vancouver store. There are cycling paths that intersect the neighbour- hood, perfect for trying out a new bike. Paddlers can push off from Habitat Island, and running gear can be tested around the False Creek Olympic Village pathway. We aim to contribute to the vitality of Olympic Village." The original concept for the site owned by the Beedie Group was for a high-rise tower, but as Hugh Cochlin, architect at Proscenium explains, "Beedie realized that MEC would be a great use of the property and for MEC it made sense as there wasn't a lot of site opportuni- ties for the size of store they required." Obviously the location of the site, being on a very popular thoroughfare and at the gateway to the Village, posed the usual construction challenges. Careful co-ordination and schedul- ing was required, but nothing that David Knight and Alain Friesen from Heatherbrae Builders Co. Ltd. and the team hadn't anticipated. Due to the surrounding high-rise density, the team realized that in order to construct a large retail store MEC had to provide a five-sided design, as all sides would be visible from neigh- bouring residential condominiums. In fact every last detail about this store takes into account its neighbours; even its three levels of underground parking have been designed to include loading areas and garbage pick up, which help minimise noise. The underground con- crete parking lot features a flood gate so that should there be any flooding, the parkade will not fill with water. The design of the building uses heavy timber construction, which reduces embodied energy in its con- struction compared to conventional concrete and steel construction, which is consistent with the MEC brand. "The store has been designed to achieve a minimum of LEED Gold cer- tification, as well as being Salmon Safe certified. Starting with a heavy timber construction, made from glulam columns and beams, and CLT decks, combined with the high-performance building enve- lope will provide thermal barriers of R50 and R40 for the roof and walls, respec- tively. The panelized wall system will be virtually airtight," says Bevan. Due to City requirements, Proscenium opted for glass at street level to provide a connection to the neighbourhood. "The city also requested that the design reflect the importance of the corner of Second and Quebec as a gateway to the Olympic Village. To do this, art has been inte- grated into the facade," says Corin Flood, MEC's project manager. The second floor features a solid Ombre wall with metal disc panels that create a pixelated image of the B.C. mountain range, which can be seen at various angles. "This statement piece acts as a marker for the entry point and reflects Vancouver as a coastal city with the mountains beyond," explains Cochlin. Entering into the building from the corner you are welcomed by a tall wood volume of mass timber, glulam columns and beams, as well as a seven- ply CLT floor structure. "The centre of the building opens up and you have this visual connection up to the sec- ond floor," says Cochlin. "A feature steel staircase in the atrium, which resembles the staircase we did in the first store and the head office, has been intentionally designed mid block to connect to the rest of the building." To meet seismic requirements, omega braces have been used and are left exposed to add to the raw feel of the building. "Inside there is a bouldering wall, full service bike and ski shops, as well as an improved rental services area that will provide members with a streamlined service offering. The store will also be home to Basecamp, an open-concept community space used to host clinics with resources available to help members plan their next adventure. A private community meeting room on the third floor is also available for use by local outdoor clubs and environmental organizations," says Bevan. The offices on the south side have been set back and given access to a large deck. As with all MEC buildings, a great deal of thought has gone into LOCATION 101 East 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Mountain Equipment Co-op ARCHITECT Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Heatherbrae Builders Co. Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Pageau Morel & Associates LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Enns Gauthier TOTAL SIZE 60,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed

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