Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1274063
J U LY 2 0 2 0 | 51 IntraUrban Enterprise R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E SY T K A+D (TAY LO R KU RT Z A RC H I T EC T U R E + D E S I G N I N C .); P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY P C U R BA N P RO P ERT I E S T he new IntraUrban Enterprise business park in Kelowna, B.C. is not only the result of a devel- oper envisioning what industrial strata for small and medium sized businesses can be, it's also an example of how thoughtful design can elevate the appeal of what would otherwise be a utilitarian site. Centrally located, IntraUrban Enterprise from PC Urban Properties Corp. is a Class A industrial small- bay strata development consisting of 109,000 square feet of space over two buildings, with unit sizes rang- ing from 2,000 to 3,800 square feet including ground floor and mez- zanine. All units feature extensive glazing, a unique architectural facade, 24-foot clear ceiling heights, at- grade loading access, and wide span structure for efficient layouts and con- solidation potential. The IntraUrban concept seeks to revitalize obsolete industrial space in strategic locations. The first park debuted near Vancouver's Marine Gateway and its success led to six more business parks prior to Enterprise. In keeping with this concept, PC Urban in February of 2017 purchased eight acres of land in Kelowna once occu- pied by a steel manufacturer near key thoroughfares and a major retail/resi- dential hub. PC Urban then retained TK A+D (Taylor Kurtz Architecture + Design Inc.) due to its reputation for creat- ing dynamic industrial space (with Ironworks in Vancouver being one of its more notable projects). Work commenced with the aim of developing the entire eight acres, but early on Kelowna Ford Lincoln approached PC Urban with a plan to build a new dealership, "and this led to them acquiring four acres," according to Brent Sawchyn, CEO of PC Urban. While TK A+D's design for the eight acres took advantage of a full corner frontage, the bisected site obliged the architects to work with a single street frontage. "But it really wasn't a big deal, as we shift gears all the time," says TK A+D president Craig Taylor. The architects created two types of light industrial buildings best suited for their specific locations. "One we designed as a front load/front entry because it backs up against the prop- erty line, and the other has rear loading access and front customer/ staff entry," says Taylor. PC Urban's past experience in retail development influenced the design process. "TK A+D created the front loaded building with the mezzanine above to be somewhat 'showroomy' in appearance, which is uncommon in light industrial facilities," says Sawchyn. "This harkens back to the days when we would erect three walls for retail and the fourth wall would be the storefront." INTRAURBAN ENTERPRISE by ROBIN BRUNET 8:11 AM