Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1274063
J U LY 2 0 2 0 | 63 Aurora Coast P H OTO G R A P H Y BY N I C K PAG E /CO U RT E SY AU RO R A C A N N A B I S I N C . L ocated on the east coast of Vancouver Island in beautiful B.C. is Aurora Cannabis Inc.'s lat- est and largest hub for plant science in its nationwide network of cannabis research sites. Once complete, Aurora Coast (pre- viously the Cannabis Innovation Centre) will be a unique facility that provides a supportive and nurturing space for the Aurora team of scien- tists. It will feature a state-of-the-art 21,700-square-foot greenhouse and a 10,500-square-foot research building that will be home to offices, lab space, meeting rooms, and also house all the mechanical and electrical systems that support the impressive greenhouse. "Aurora Coast's name was chosen to reflect and pay homage to the facil- ity's geographic location in coastal Comox," explains general manager Nick Page. "This centre is the larg- est purpose-built cannabis science facility in Canada and will use plant breeding programs supported with cutting-edge molecular and genetics techniques to develop cannabis culti- vars for Aurora's production facilities, optimize plant health and grow- ing characteristics. It demonstrates Aurora's commitment to science as a foundation of long-term success." When Anandia Laboratories (which was acquired by Aurora in 2018) ven- tured outside of Vancouver's lower mainland to find a site that could accommodate their expanding activi- ties around cannabis science, they came across a parcel of land that perfectly suited their needs. "The Town of Comox had the foresight to allow medical can- nabis facilities on properties zoned for 'Aeronautical Industrial' use. Supportive zoning is essential to reduce the uncertainty around planning for can- nabis-focused projects," explains Page. The site chosen had previously been stripped of soil and vegetation, and so one of Aurora's sustainability activities is to incorporate the composted waste product generated by the growing of cannabis for research trials into the site's landscape. Additionally, the Town of Comox had stringent development restrictions to manage stormwater runoff from the site. To tackle this, the new facility reduces the cumulative runoff using a stormwater infiltration gallery and detention pond. The site also captures and stores rainwater to provide an emergency water source for the greenhouse. A win-win for every- one involved. Before construction could begin, a number of consultants and subtrades from various industries gathered to provide insight into the project and determine the best way to move for- ward. "Site meetings sometimes had dozens of people, all with very spe- cialized areas of expertise," explains Heidi Nesbitt, architect at Local Practice Architecture + Design. "We learned to communicate early and often, to always maintain respectful dialogue, and to be open-minded." For the design of the building and the greenhouse, Aurora tasked Local with the job of creating an innova- tive building that would meet Health Canada's security requirements and elevate the community's image of what a cannabis facility could look like. Nesbitt explains that the research and greenhouse buildings were both designed out of prefabricated struc- tures – one wood and one steel – to allow for off-site construction that would speed up the overall schedule and allow the buildings to be weather- tight very quickly. CLT was chosen for the research building as it is not only cost-effective LOCATION Knight Road, Comox, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER Anandia Laboratories Inc. (acquired by Aurora) ARCHITECT Local Practice Architecture + Design GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Heatherbrae Builders STRUCTUR AL /MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Associated Engineering CIVIL CONSULTANT McElhanney ENVELOPE CONSULTANT RDH TOTAL SIZE 32,200 square feet (building and greenhouse) TOTAL COST Undisclosed AURORA COAST by NATALIE BRUCKNER and has a high strength-to-weight ration, but has a lighter environmental footprint and is beautiful esthetically. Sustainability was also top of mind with this project, and so efforts were made from the beginning to mini- mize waste. "Our firm has been doing a lot of research into embodied car- bon and construction waste. We really appreciate the ability of the bolted steel assembly and the CLT walls and roof of the building, which can even- tually be deconstructed and reused if and when necessary. These are long- lasting, durable materials that should see many lifetimes of use and reuse," explains Nesbitt. For additional esthetic appeal, pure white metal cladding was chosen for the exterior to symbolize the future potential of cannabis science, "while the discreet elements of wood have been located where the public or staff come in close contact with the build- ing, to humanize the austerity of the white, and give a hint of the dramatic wood interiors," explains Nesbitt. Inside the research building, emphasis has been placed on transpar- ency and light, providing a connection to nature, with the ultimate goal of uncovering the latent potential for healing in the cannabis plant. "Aurora wanted a building that allowed every opportunity for transformative science to be accommodated. They wanted staff to be able to connect not only to each other, but to the plants, the building systems, and to the greater ecosystem that the building rests within," explains Nesbitt. On entering the building you are immediately faced with a soaring tim- ber structure, a welcoming front entry desk finished with rich hemp oil, and clerestory sight lines leading into the other building spaces. In the main research area, north clerestory win- dows bring daylight deep into rooms normally kept out of sight, such as mechanical, irrigation, and harvest rooms. Corridor glazing connects research spaces, the greenhouse, and back-of house spaces. Inside the greenhouse, in addition to grow rooms, the facility includes propagation and cultivation rooms for growing seedlings, as well as labora- tory spaces for molecular biology and supporting transplanting and sowing. The greenhouse is equipped with retractable screens that can exclude sunlight during parts of the grow- ing cycle. These same screens will be used to prevent light escaping from the greenhouse during the evening when the LED lights are turned on. To con- trol odour, two types of filters will be used – ionizing filters and activated carbon filters. The systems for the new facility are, as you would imagine, state-of-the- art, as Page explains: "Two highlights are the use of water-cooled LED light- ing that reduces power consumption and cooling costs, and a very sophis- ticated environmental control system developed by Climatrol using a Priva system that allows us to manage light- ing, cooling, humidity, temperature, and other systems to support cannabis plants." Using a mixture of sunlight and LED lighting reduces electricity load in the greenhouse and mimics natural growing conditions. To pull together such a complex project requires close collaboration and teamwork, and as Nesbitt says: "Heatherbrae and their trades made this job an absolute pleasure to work on. Their hard work, honesty, and integrity are upstanding." In conclusion, Page says: "There are two things I'm most proud of: bring- ing a world-class science facility to a small town on Vancouver Island and using local contractors to successfully deliver a unique and state-of-the-art research facility." A 1:10 PM We are proud of our contribution to the Aurora Coast Project 3061 Barons Road, Nanaimo BC V9T 3Y6 • Tel: 250.756.9996 cornerstone-tile.ca Cornerstone Tile Logo Design July 21 2009 CornerstoneTile_0420.indd 1 2020-03-17 12:35 PM October 2020 ANNUAL INDUSTRY FEATURE: Reinforcing Steel Book your ad space now: Dan Chapman 604.473.0316 Alexander Sugden 604.473.0358