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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 67 Riverworks RIVERWORKS by ROBIN BRUNET I n intent and execution, Riverworks on Southwest Vancouver's water- front is the spiritual sibling of Ironworks in East Vancouver, Canada's first stacked mixed-use commercial industrial project. Both were devel- oped by Conwest Developments, and both were designed by Taylor Kurtz Architecture + Design Inc. (TK A+D). But although Riverworks is mixed-use commercial industrial, it retains its own distinct character. While Ironworks' outward appear- ance reflected the no-nonsense early 20th century industrial elements of its surrounding neighbourhood, Riverworks' two buildings are smaller, sleeker, and more elegant, reflecting its location beside the water. Blending innovative and functional space with contemporary design, the buildings provide spacious decks and unobstructed water views, plenty of outdoor space, high clearance loading bays, and thoughtfully designed ame- nities (flexible industrial space ranges from 1,588 to 3,816 square feet). Peter Matthews, senior VP, con- struction at Conwest Developments, says the property was discovered nearly 10 years ago when Conwest COO, Ben Taddei, spotted it while hav- ing dinner at a nearby marina. The property posed challenges includ- ing its proximity to the Fraser River. "During our design process we under- went numerous iterations for the optimal product and parking deliv- ery relative to the site constraints," he says, adding that retaining TK A+D founder and president Craig Taylor early on "was crucial, considering Ironworks' success." TK A+D commenced design in 2017. "As with Ironworks, Riverworks' aesthetic is completely driven by its purpose as well as surroundings, and our provision of balconies cantile- vered over a setback requirement gave it its distinct identity," Taylor says. Kelly Riopelle, principal at TK A+D, adds, "It was important for the project that we create units of two full storeys as opposed to following the traditional mezzanine concept." Riopelle goes on to note that the project's visual interest starts with a taller building to the south and a smaller one immediately north. "The balconies of the south building wrap around on both sides on levels two, three, and four, and due to the wind- ing nature of the river there was lots of discussions about what our setbacks would be, which resulted in hang- ing the balconies from the roof and projecting onto the setback," she says. The common areas were designed by Cristina Oberti Interior Design, including a fully-furnished lobby that sets a welcoming tone to the space. Taylor says the strength of this straightforward design and the func- tion of the facility "meant there was no arbitrary decoration. As for mate- rials, we diverged from the tilt-up experience of Ironworks and opted for this structure to be pre-engi- neered, including precast panels and structural steel. Also, thanks to our proximity to the river, we were able to take advantage of passive cooling throughout the buildings." Matthews says, "The constraints of the site and the scale of the built- form predicated that we needed a P H OTO G R A P H Y BY GUS TAV H O R N EL L /CO U RT E S Y TAY LO R KU RT Z A RC H I T EC T U R E + D E S I G N I N C .

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