Award

M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 59 The Paramount P H OTO G R A P H Y BY P U B L I S H PA RT N ER S/CO U RT E S Y K ELT I C C A N A DA D E V ELO P M EN T LT D.; G R A H A M CO N S T RU C T I O N THE PARAMOUNT by NATALIE BRUCKNER K eltic Canada Development is known for its innovative business and commercial developments, and its latest mixed- use project, The Paramount, is no exception. The complex, located in the heart of Downtown Richmond, B.C., features three 15-storey residen- tial towers, a 12-storey office tower, and various ground-level retail units, all built on top of a two-level parkade. From the outset, Keltic opted for early contractor involvement (ECI) with Graham Construction to ensure a smooth and successful completion of the project. This approach allowed the contractor to leverage their expertise and resolve construction- related issues before procurement. Constructability methodology, 3D pre-modelling, and numerous meet- ings helped identify and resolve any problems, and early procurement and stockpiling of materials nearby also helped keep the project on schedule. "ECI allows the contractor to get ahead of the curve and mitigate a lot of the problems that could come up during actual construction. By get- ting the contractor in early, there are fewer surprises," says Mike Wurm, director, construction, at Keltic. James Cassano, senior project man- ager at Graham, agrees, adding that "the project was highly collabora- tive among everyone involved." Building in a sea-level environment in Richmond posed a challenge, but Graham's technical expertise, includ- ing extensive geotechnical work and innovative deep soil mixing, ensured a stable foundation for the four-tower community. "In Richmond there aren't too many buildings that go two lev- els below grade like The Paramount, because the water level is typically only one metre below ground level. You only have to kick the dirt before you start seeing a swimming pool," explains Cassano. "The system used drilled concrete columns, greatly reducing the amount of seepage and pumping required during construction." For the design of The Paramount, GBL Architects was tasked with "creating a landmark building, some- thing really memorable, something the city could be proud of," recalls Amela Brudar, a principal at GBL Architects. Leaning glass with a dra- matic "inward cut" became the office tower's most prominent aesthetic element, while the residential and retail sections had a number of other features. In addition, a spectacular back-painted glass art installation by Indigenous artist Thomas Cannell of the Musqueam First Nations was designed to span six storeys above the entrance to the office tower, creat- ing a focal point in what is recognized as the City Centre of Richmond. "The way GBL managed to give each of the project's exterior elevations a unique look while main- taining thematic integrity, and maintaining logical constructabil- ity, was incredibly impressive," says Wurm. "Whereas some architects excel in design, and others dur- ing the working phase, GBL ticked all the boxes at The Paramount." Initially thick balcony partitions clad in very high-end aluminum products were envisioned for the project, however Graham realized early on that this would simply not be achievable. Together with GBL and Keltic they came up with an alterna- tive that was less costly and simpler to execute, while still maintaining acceptable aesthetics. A subcontrac- tor's proposal to use prefabricated honeycomb sandwich panels would deliver the required privacy with adequate structural rigidity, while

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