Award

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | 81 KF Centre for Excellence P H OTO G R A P H Y BY S H AW N TA L B OT/CO U RT E S Y K F A EROS PAC E C EN T R E FO R E XC EL L EN C E A SS O C . KF CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE by NATALIE BRUCKNER N ot only is the KF Centre for Excellence aviation exhi- bition and conference centre in Kelowna, B.C., a mag- nificent feat of engineering and design, but it is also proof of how dreams can become reality. The vision for the Centre's iconic aircraft structure started with a sim- ple napkin sketch by Barry Lapointe, KF Centre for Excellence founder and aviation enthusiast; Paula Quinn, executive director, KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence, explains: "Barry took me out for lunch one day and told me about his vision, and said, 'Nobody knows me better than you and I think you can build this for me.' He borrowed a napkin and a pen and drew how he envisioned the building to look like, with a fuselage and wings either side. It was just a scribble, but I have it now in the exhibition because it really showcases how it all began." Lapointe had two stipulations: the building should be made with local wood and look and feel like an airplane. No easy feat. The light- bulb moment came for Quinn one day when she found herself star- ing at an old wooden wing spar from a 1914 biplane that she had purchased for Lapointe years ear- lier. "It was then I knew exactly how the interior should look." To fulfil such a vision would require a team of brilliant minds, which included Meiklejohn Architects Inc., Sawchuk Developments, and StructureCraft. The site on which the Centre is located also required some innovative thinking. "The site slopes down, from West to East, and faces the Kelowna International Airport [YLW] runway. In order to gain the best view of planes taking off and landing, we needed to ensure our second floor gather- ing space had the correct elevation to overlook the existing airside han- gars," explains Kevin Imthorn, VP, Sawchuk Developments. "To facili- tate this, we flew a drone vertically on the site, and photographed its eleva- tions every half metre. We had to find the right balance between increas- ing costs to build up and meeting the desired view requirement." The team also had to be mindful of YLW's Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) – the airspace around the aero- drome that must be free of obstructions. Meiklejohn adds that the slope and building required an unconven- tional approach in other ways, too. "Often we try to merge buildings into the landscape, but for this project we contrasted the sloping site against the level apron by creating a raised and retained circular base that clearly separates the building from the land- scape and presents it as an 'object.' We also used the grade change created by the base to engage people arriving to the site to drive [and walk] under the fuselage of planes on the apron as they approach the main entry. This feeling and scale of this approach is almost magical as it's uncommon to get beside, and under, such large air- craft," explains Meiklejohn. To create the shape of the building, state-of-the-art construction tech- niques were employed that included the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam timber trusses – in fact the entire wood structure was sourced from 100 percent B.C. local timber, mostly Hemlock and Douglas Fir. A striking element is the large glazed, hydraulically operated han- gar doors. With a 115-foot clear span they allow aircraft such as the Convair CV580 and the DC10 to enter the hangars. "They weigh over 100,000 pounds, open vertically, and are abso- lutely amazing," says Quinn. Walking into the building has a similar look and feel to walking into a flight lounge. From there on in, the experience is truly immersive. Every tiny detail has been considered: from the reception desk, made out of a DC 10 Cowling plane, to the boardroom table made from combat flaps with actual landing gear as legs.

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