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M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | 61 Echo – UBC ECHO – UBC by NATALIE BRUCKNER L ocated in the vibrant neigh- bourhood of Wesbrook Place on Gray Avenue at UBC Point Grey, the newly constructed six- storey Echo building stands tall as a testament to sustainable and community-centric living. The wood frame rental building, developed, owned, and operated by UBC Properties Trust (UBCPT), pres- ents 152 thoughtfully designed studio to four-bedroom rental homes cater- ing to the diverse needs of UBC faculty and staff. Seamlessly blending modern living with environmental conscious- ness, Echo represents a harmonious synthesis of thoughtful design and sustainable living principles. Echo's origin traces back to UBC's standard practice of providing its faculty and staff with below-market rental housing on campus. As well as maximizing housing options for fac- ulty and staff, Echo aims to provide a balanced variety of unit types for a variety of renters and consolidate open space with adjacent sites while providing thoughtful connections with the neighbourhood. In a commitment to walkabil- ity, nature, green streets, and a pedestrian scale, UBCPT has metic- ulously ensured that Echo's design philosophy aligns seamlessly with UBC's dedication to foster- ing a sustainable environment. Sophia Zhu, an associate at ZGF Architects and a certified passive house designer, elaborates on the design principles guiding Echo. Three primary goals shaped its design: maximizing housing; seamlessly integrating open spaces with neigh- bouring sites; and providing a diverse mix of unit types to cater to vari- ous renters. In the effort to tackle the challenge of maximizing density, the building diverts itself from the traditional L-shaped footprint. The staggered form on the courtyard side allowed for innovative unit layouts that prioritize efficient space utili- zation, offering residents distinctive living experiences. "The project seeks to establish itself as a means of enhancing the pedes- trian experience within the natural setting of Wesbrook Village. This tar- gets the human scale within the first two levels as means of generating a dialog with the surrounding land- scape," says Zhu. Overcoming the grading chal- lenges posed by the sloping site allowed the team, which included Peak Construction Group as construc- tion manager, to create and build dynamic architectural solutions. While some units may have varying relationships to grade, this adds char- acter to the community and creates diverse living environments within the development. Notably, Zhu explains that Echo departs from traditional massing approaches by creating the two-storey datum at ground level, allowing upper massing expansion into the public realm without compromising open space. "The upper massing is encapsu- lated with three intersecting framed elements. Positioned at the crossroad LOCATION 5768 Gray Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER UBC Properties Trust ARCHITECT ZGF Architects Inc. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Peak Construction Group STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT WSB Engineering MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Introba ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith + Andersen L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT R. Kim Perry & Associates TOTAL SIZE 139,173 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y U B C P RO P ERT I E S T RUS T; R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y ZG F A RC H I T EC T S I N C .

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