Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/147234
Drake by Jerry Eberts courtesy BKDI Architects 13-07-03 3:33 PM algary has bounced back from the most recent economic downturn. In fact, that bounce has arguably been higher than any other part of the country. To meet the growing demand developer Grosvenor Americas is providing 135 much needed condos and townhomes with its newest project, Drake. Located just off 17th Avenue SW in Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood, the 17-storey Drake is ideally situated for young professionals newly arrived in the city or those wanting to live in the heart of Calgary's downtown. Michael Ward, VP of development for Grosvenor Americas, says the major concern with the project was the small size of the building site. "We had to plan for the building and the parkade to go right up to the edge of the property. So we had some issues with the delivery and storage of material during construction. We had to close some streets and sidewalks," says Ward. Being a relatively small property, the parkade had to be five below-ground storeys to accommodate 139 parking stalls. "This meant we required the use of a shoring system," says Ward. "We ran into bedrock as we dug that provided a stable wall and prevented worries. We were also a bit concerned about water, but it was not as bad as expected." Bill Mitchell of BKDI Architects has worked with Grosvenor on several other projects. Mitchell says Drake is the most significant project on which the companies have collaborated. "We began the planning process for Drake in 2007, but the project was delayed because of the economy," he says. "When market conditions in Calgary changed, Grosvenor was quick to make changes to the original plans. They knew the economic changes would affect what they could sell the units for. But all the changes to the plans were done before construction began and the project ran smoothly." Mitchell describes Drake as "a contemporary building that fits great in the Beltline. A lot of young, urban professionals C Drake p62-63Drake.indd 63 live there and it's a lively neighbourhood with restaurants and a vibrant nightlife." Foad Rafii was associate architect on the project and is principal of Rafii Architects. Rafii says Grosvenor has approached his company to help design multiple projects in Calgary. "The Drake site goes back a few years. Grosvenor wanted a certain volume Location 1500 7 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta Owner/developer Grosvenor Americas Architect BKDI Architects Associate Architect Rafii Architects Inc. General contractor Axiom Builders Inc. Structural consultant Jones Kwong Kishi Mechanical consultant Hemisphere Engineering Inc. Electrical consultant Robertson & Associates Engineering Ltd. Interior design Insight Design Group Landscape architect Matrix Landscape Architecture Total area 13,000 square feet Total construction cost $25 million and site coverage," says Rafii. "We had a maximum height and volume we could build and originally it was going to be 99 units. That began to increase during the process and we went from 99 to 135 units. We did that by making more small suites, but we had various restrictions: the envelope of the building had to stay the same, for example. "We did it well and the end result is pretty good," adds Rafii modestly. "Drake is a modern interpretation of a traditional older building; very symmetrical but with modern detail. I'd call it organized classic." When it came to the constriction of Drake, there were no real obstacles. This meant the project came in on budget, on time and of a high quality, according to Champston Le, project manager at Axiom Builders Inc. "We had to use an interesting shoring system. We drilled down and put concrete piles around the site to create a wall to keep out potentially heavy groundwater, but it worked well." Structural consultant for the project, Fadi Ghorayeb of Jones Kwong Kishi, describes the project as having five components: the townhomes facing the street, the underground parking, the bachelor suites, one-bedroom suites and the grander suites up top. Ghorayeb agrees that water was a concern but was ultimately not a big problem. The building was constructed with flat slabs, concrete columns and sheer walls that were all cast-in-place. Robertson & Associates Engineering Ltd. did the full design on the electrical systems, including lighting, power, security and life-safety systems. Rick Robertson, electrical consultant on the project, says the only challenge was the size of the footprint, but adds that Grosvenor and the team were good to work with. "Drake was also aiming for LEED Silver certification," says Alex Kelada of Hemisphere Engineering, the company in charge of plumbing, the HVAC system, heating and fire protection. "Simply having good design practices will get you close to that. Much of the LEED goals depend on the type of construction and the elimination of waste on the site." Drake has a clean and simple design that is both modern but appealing to everyone. "The demographic we had in mind was younger than usual, but eclectic," says Allisa Karvonen of Insight Design Group. "We chose warm, deep-coloured wood, more popular in the Calgary market than, say, Vancouver. But we wanted a classic feel. We used black countertops in the kitchens with a striking white porcelain backsplash. Every suite has the black and white elements, with a choice of wood." With such a tight downtown space, Matrix Landscape Architecture's Victor Kallos says he didn't have a lot of ground to cover. However, there are terraces on the ground floor townhomes and he "wanted to give the feeling of private space at the front and side of the building. There is also heavier screening for patios at the back of the building and on level three there are larger balconies with big planters." When it comes to the livability of the studio suites – each under 400 square feet – general contractor Le says, "They are extremely functional for the Calgary market. A lot of younger people move to Calgary and when you are right downtown, you don't need a lot of space." Architect Rafii agrees, adding that "lots of people want to buy, but can't afford to. We designed the studio suites to look like luxury and I think we accomplished that at a good price." n august 2013 /63 13-07-12 1:46 PM