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78 | M A R C H 2 0 2 3 Crescent Court CRESCENT COURT by NATALIE BRUCKNER A t the highest point in the "Univercity" neighbourhood at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, B.C. stands the impres- sive Crescent Court development by Liberty Homes. This project features two stepped high-rise towers, 14- and 20-storeys high, fronted by 14 town- homes arranged in a sweeping curve along University Crescent. With a long-standing presence in the development of Univercity, par- ticularly in the High Street core where they have undertaken three other projects, Liberty Homes was thrilled when the opportunity arose to acquire what Jesse Nobbs-Thiessen, direc- tor at Liberty Homes, describes as this "unique and prominent site." At the time of the acquisition of this greenfield site, Liberty recog- nised its many benefits including its close proximity to campus, high van- tage point, and large scale. "We were also intrigued by the curved front- age which would translate into a unique expression at grade," says Nobbs-Thiessen. During the original rezoning pro- cess a number of requirements were placed on the site that presented some unique challenges to Liberty, as Nobbs-Thiessen explains: "These included a public pathway ease- ment through the middle of the site and significant building setbacks along the property lines. In partic- ular, along the south property line we were required to maintain a full road right of way for future access by the City of Burnaby to a potential water reservoir location. We were left with a very tight space within which to fit the envisioned structure." It would take a highly skilled and collaborative team to be able to pull this together, and fortunately BFA Studio Architects already had a deep understanding of the location having originally been approached in 2016 by Century Group to design a mixed-use project including a seniors indepen- dent and seniors assisted building on Univercity. So, when in March 2017 BFA was approached by their long-standing client (Liberty Homes) to design the townhomes and two tower high-rise project, they jumped at the chance. "We were excited to embark on our second project on SFU campus given the diversity of users, our posi- tive experience working with Liberty Homes, SFU Community Trust, and the City of Burnaby," says Helen Besharat, principal at BFA, who worked alongside her colleagues Daniel Au and Megan Chan on the project. For the design, Liberty Homes' key objective was to achieve livable spaces. "Liberty's units tend to be larger than average, and our team works towards simplified space layouts," says Nobbs-Thiessen. BFA took this vision and came up with a design that would truly complement the neighbourhood and maximise the views from the peak of Burnaby Mountain. "The University East Neighbourhood Plan Development Guidelines were fol- lowed with some minor variances," explains Besharat." The tower's alignment reflects the established orthogonal grid of the campus, whereas the podium's curved façade, townhome levels, and tower entry lob- bies follow the curved street along University Crescent. "The two stepping terraced tow- ers respect the sloping site and the primary horizontal orthogonal cam- pus grid. The rounded balconies of the towers soften the form and echo the curve of Crescent Court, as well as the townhome geometry." The exterior design of Crescent Court follows Liberty's envelope strat- egy: to focus on painted concrete and aluminum-frame window wall for the majority of the façade. "These are reli- able and cost-effective elements that can also form the basis of a thermally efficient envelope when paired with good interior insulation and a low window-to-wall ratio. We then incor- porated unique materials for accent elements such as zinc panelling at the south lobby, brick for the townhouse facades, and wood-grained aluminum siding product for privacy screens and soffits. Each accent material was also selected with constructa- bility and durability in mind," says Nobbs-Thiessen. Approaching Crescent Court you are struck by how well the proj- ect blends with its mountain setting, while also making a statement, as Besharat explains: "The townhome fronts have a wonderful scale at first sight, framing the curved Crescent Court. The two tower main lobbies are obvious, acting as beacons in zinc metal and glass as you travel along University Crescent, inviting people to the elevator lobbies. The land- scaped and elegantly lit pedestrian public stair leads people to an internal courtyard and becomes a journey of discovery to this green gem rooftop." The incorporation of large green roofs into this project cre- ates visual interest at level three courtyard, while also demonstrat- ing Liberty Homes' commitment to sustainability and understand- ing of wellness for occupants. Inside, there are a variety of floor plan options suitable for people in all stages of life: from one- and two- bedroom apartments, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and townhomes. "We focus on a lim- ited number of layouts that we can dedicate our time to and then reuse them in a variety of locations within the form. Both towers are effec- tively mirror images of each other and share common floorplates," says Nobbs-Thiessen. The core interior design ele- ments include engineered flooring with a real-wood finish layer and flat panel painted cabinetry. "The floor- ing is always the starting point of our interior design process, and we select a value point well above typi- cal multi-family market offerings. Good flooring with a real-wood finish installs well, wears in an attractive manner, and contributes to the over- all sense of well-being for occupants. The flat-panel painted cabinets add a sleek, modern element that comple- ments the natural flooring look, while still remaining true to its materiality," explains Nobbs-Thiessen. Back outside, a feature pathway steps up from University Crescent and travels through the site to neigh- bouring Richard Bolton Park, passing through richly landscaped courtyards with gathering spots, gardens, and children's play elements. Despite 2019's weak market and the challenges presented by COVID, the project was completed on time. Nobbs-Thiessen cred- its Liberty's team members for the success saying they "had the will to hold their course and speed." Besharat echoes this statement adding that the rigour, excel- lent management skills of Liberty Homes, dedication of Au and Chan of the BFA team, and dedication of all consultants and sub-trades contributed to a successful proj- ect that was completed on time. A LOCATION 8725 University Crescent, Burnaby, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER / GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Liberty Homes ARCHITECT BFA Studio Architects STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT RJC Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Innoreflection Engineering ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Opal Engineering CIVIL CONSULTANT R.F. Binnie & Associates L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PMG Landscape Architects TOTAL SIZE 220,000 square feet TOTAL COST $75 million P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y L I B ERT Y H O M E S

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