Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/137453
Latreille Delage Photography 13-05-03 7:18 AM The Residences at Suter Brook Village by Jessica Kirby stunning 26-storey residential tower is nestled in the private corner of Suter Brook Village in Port Moody, B.C. – a beautiful community that combines residential, commercial and recreational space for completely integrated urban living. The Suter Brook Community consists of three distinct neighbourhoods connected to a greenway via a pedestrian loop-trail system. The trail system leads to the core Village Plaza, which serves as a gathering place for the community. Eric Hughes, senior development manager with Onni Group, the project's developer, says the 216,500-square-foot residence tower was constructed to cater to individuals looking for high-end living in Suter Brook Village, particularly those who value the privacy, spectacular views and amenities that the building and its location offer. Architecturally, the objective was to create a building that exuded sophistication while encompassing a unique and dynamic esthetic. "The development team strived to include numerous articulations to the building envelope to provide architectural variety and interest," says Hughes. "Incorporating vertical landscaping was also a design goal." Pascal Jean-Mairet, project manager with IBI/HB Architects, says the development is part of one of the fastestgrowing communities in Metro Vancouver. The primary exterior expression is of painted concrete completed with natural materials like brick-veneer masonry, metal, steel and wood timber. Slab eyebrows respond to the typical West Coast environment, offering sun and rain protection to the extensive exterior window-wall treatment. Cornice detailing solidifies the base, building architectural character from the streetscape level. A The Residences at Suter Brook Village p78-79Suter Brook.indd 79 "[The building's] design is sculptured to emphasize a vertical form and edge that accentuate a slender, elegant appearance with a defined base composed of brick masonry and painted concrete finish," says Jean-Mairet. This deliberate massing and material choice corresponds with the scale and esthetic of surrounding residential buildings. "On the facade, a combination of floating and articulated shapes give the building its modern and sophisticated feel," he adds. The two-storey terraces allow room for vertical landscaping, which includes small trees that bring vegetation up the sides and to the top of the tower. These "Sky Gardens" create a visual expression that the tower is part of the surrounding landscape. John Zickmantel, structural engineer with John Bryson & Partners, says because the slab at each floor generally runs all the way through the floor, detailing the skyhomes required a little extra consideration. "They are essentially two-storeyhigh spaces that occur throughout the building at different floors," says Zickmantel. "We had big open spaces that required special detailing for the windows and columns – it was more of a coordination matter than an engineering challenge," he adds. The residences are located adjacent to the Suter Brook Greenway and positioned to minimize the impact on the natural environment. Locating the tower near the road system created a connection with the main village and opened up a significant portion of the site for outdoor amenities. A key component of the landscape design philosophy was the enhancement and preservation of the Suter Brook stream and adjoining riparian habitat area – a significant and sensitive environmental area. David Stoyko, landscape architect with Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture Inc., says the grounds around the residences connect esthetically and functionally with the adjacent buildings, while successfully and safely integrating the stream. "When you get around the edges and away from the urban projects there is a natural relation to the stream that runs through the property," says Stoyko. "It's always a challenge fitting a building against a creek and in this case, it changed the shape of the site." The site is angled to meet the shape of the creek, while the sports court, play area, dog run and other amenities are terraced up higher. "There are smaller groups of intimate seating areas," he adds. "Most of the site has a large parkade underneath, which partially buries into the landscape, with terraces overtop." The parkade structure was carefully designed to limit disruption of natural water table levels and is terraced with an above-grade green roof that helps mitigate environmental impacts. A mix of materials – brick pier, wood fence and metal gate – provide visual interest at the ground level and help integrate the podium outdoor amenity space into its natural environment. A greenway trail runs along the creek, connecting the project elements, says Stoyko. "All of the site features also have to address the trail and connect to it, with a bit of buffering and some privacy." The design consists of a combination of decorative ornamental selections and functional species – Port Moody has a bylaw promoting naturescape planting strategies that rely heavily on native species. The building also features a 30,000square-foot indoor/outdoor Residence's Club that includes a fitness centre, sauna/steam room, yoga studio, games room, boardroom, social lounge, media room and two guest suites. "We believe the community will benefit from great, sustainable, modern living and we are delighted to have been affiliated with this successful journey," says Jean-Mairet. n Location 301 Capilano Road, Port Moody, B.C. Owner/Developer Onni Group Architect IBI/HB Architects Structural Consultant John Bryson & Partners Mechanical/ Electrical Consultant SRC Engineering Consultants Ltd. Landscape Architect Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture Inc. Project area 216,500 square feet Total construction cost Undisclosed june 2013 /79 13-05-30 2:35 PM