Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/124234
very big project has to start somewhere, and the BC Children's and BC Women's Redevelopment Project is no exception. The first step in the hospital's redesign? To create a new space to house crucial services while existing buildings face demolition. "Phase 1 is all about relocation and renovation," explains Dave Ingram, chief project officer. He adds that Phase 2 is "the heart, literally and figuratively, of the project" as it will introduce a new acute care centre, children's inpatient units, an emergency department, medical imaging, a surgical suite, hematology/oncology and intensive care. "The Clinical Support Building is a whole new build. There aren't a lot of design builds in the health care sector, so this was exciting," says Ingram. The two-storey, 53,561-square-foot facility is an office-type environment with 79 underground parking stalls. It is home to administrative offices, psy- by Stacey McLachlan chology and social work departments, youth health and shape down clinics, several research offices and also supplies the University of system because normally the heat rejected from the buildBritish Columbia's Faculty of Medicine with teaching space. ing would be sent out to the atmosphere, and any heating A series of single and double offices, meeting rooms, required for the building would have to be produced using and three video conference rooms provide ample space for a heating source such as a gas-fired boiler," Nelson explains. research and support services. "Since the building serves as Energy recovery ventilators further save energy by reduca clinical support building – accommodating programs from ing air when the building is lightly occupied and recycling the existing building to make way for the new acute care cen- heat from the building exhaust air stream. tre – space uses will be changing during the building's life," Heating isn't the only way the CSB will stay green. Highly explains Brian Hulme, principal at Kasian Architecture Inte- reflective roofing materials minimize heat island effects, a rior Design and Planning Ltd. stormwater management plant will reduce runoff, low-flow "Providing flexibility for future changes was one of the plumbing fixtures keep water usage to a minimum and bicymain criteria addressed during the design stage," says Hulme. cle parking and electric car recharging stalls are included in To do that, Kasian designed a structural grid larger than the underground parking space. To make sure the building is the minimum prescribed in the RFP, minimized shear walls operating as efficiently as planned, energy meters will collect on the flexible floor plate and consolidated fixed areas like real-time consumption data, measuring the building's lightwashrooms in one area. The structure can also accommodate ing, HVAC systems and electrical outlets to determine how the future point loads if necessary in the future. building can be even more efficient. Esthetically, the Clinical Support Building (CSB) was Energy-saving lighting and control systems were a must. designed to fit with the look of the facility's other structures. LED and fluorescent lamps, as well as sensor-controlled That meant lots of clear and coloured glass, and plenty of wood, lighting help prevent wasted electricity. in accordance with the Wood First Initiative. The CSB features Electrical consultants Genivar also handled the building's glulam columns and beams, wood chord open web joists, emergency power supply system, communications strucwood stud walls, exterior wood panels and siding, and wood ture, fire detection and security system. For medical sercounters. "Wood building materials promote climate-friendly vices, emergency preparation is of the utmost importance, construction as a result of the reduced energy required to cre- so Genivar made sure to include a backup plan. "In the event ate wood products and the sequestered carbon in the wood of a power failure, the emergency lighting and part of noritself," says Hulme. "The use of local wood also supports the mal lighting and power will be automatically backed by the generator," says Ali Rahimpour, project manager at Genivar. economies of our forest-dependent communities." There are green features to be found throughout the CSB, "Also, the power distribution system is equipped with switchas it was designed to meet LEED Gold standards. "Even though gear to manually transfer the entire building load to another it's not a large building, we are quite proud of the energy normal power supply or generator in the event of a prolonged reduction targets that we are aiming for compared to a typical power interruption." The landscape, integrated to fit with the rest of the hospital office building of its size," says Jason Nelson, project manager at Integral Group, Inc. "The building has targeted a 43 per cent campus, is comprised of native plants and drought-tolerant reduction in energy compared to a typical office building as ornamentals. Some plants were salvaged from the original defined by ASHRAE 90.1 – 2007, Energy Standard for Build- site. "The majestic London Plane trees and Akebono Cherry trees all survived the construction despite being on the only ings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings." A superior building envelope, passive design elements like two access edges," says Patricia Campbell, partner with PMG external solar shading and low power-consumption lighting Landscape Architects Ltd. The CSB landscaping is also the systems should make that target easy to reach. first leg in the hospital's Wellness Walk project, offering A variable refrigerant flow fan coil system provides widened sidewalks, garden areas and places to sit and rest. increased energy savings by redirecting rejected hot air from This creates a therapeutic walking route for patients. As with spaces that require constant cooling to other areas. "This is a any project, there are challenges. For the CSB, the confined marked improvement over a traditional building mechanical and active site proved to be an impediment. "Relocating an courtesy KASIAN ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN AND PLANNING LTD E BC Children's and BC Women's Redevelopment Project – Clinical Support Building BC Children's and BC Women's Redevelopment Project – Clinical Support Building p84-85BC Children's and Women's.indd 85 existing high-pressure steam line while maintaining existing facility operations was a challenge, too," says Hulme. "Meeting existing grades to allow both the vehicular traffic and pedestrian access and exits to work, including handicapped accessibility, was also difficult." Thoughtful planning and careful communication with the team helped overcome these problems, and the project was completed on time and on budget. Though the new CSB may be a beautiful, high-tech space, Ingram wants to point out that the motives behind the redevelopment project are rooted in the best of intentions. "Facilities are only there to enable our ability to provide care," he says. "Our focus is always safe, quality patient care." Phase 3 of the project is to be completed by 2019. n LOCATION 4480 Oak Street Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Children's and Women's Health Centre of B.C. ARCHITECT Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. design build CONTRACTOR Bird Design-Build Construction Inc. STRUCTURAL CONSULTAnT Weiler Smith Bowers Consulting MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Integral Group, Inc. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Genivar LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT PMG Landscape Architects Ltd TOTAL AREA 53,561 square foot (includes 29,084 sq. ft. of underground parking] TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $14 million april 2013 /85 13-04-05 2:24 PM