Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/177297
SOPA Square by Lauren Kramer ight years is a long time to wait, but for Edgar Fenwick, the mastermind behind Kelowna's new SOPA Square, it means his vision is becoming a reality. Concerned about urban sprawl in the Okanagan, the local developer commissioned a building that would span an entire city block and include a European-style courtyard with gourmet retail stores and a twolevel public market similar to Vancouver's Granville Island. On the top of that podium will be three additional structures providing a total of 96 residences: an 11-storey E Location 3000 block of South Pandosy Street Kelowna, B.C. Owner/Developer SOPA Square Joint Venture Design Architect Busby Perkins + Will Project Architect Meiklejohn Architects Inc. Construction Manager Fenwick Developments Structural Consultant John Bryson & Partner Mechanical Consultant Rocky Point Engineering Ltd. Electrical Consultant Falcon Engineering Geotechnical Engineer GeoPacific Consultants Interior Design Designs by Shannon Total Area 277,000 square feet Total Construction Cost $80 million tower, a five-storey townhome building and a six-storey townhome building. The tower will have an architectural feature that splits it to eliminate hallways while providing views and natural light to the homes, as well as allowing each corner suite to have three walls of windows. Some townhomes will have private rooftop gardens and lake and valley views. But it's the combination of residential and retail facilities in a central setting that distinguishes SOPA Square. "In Kelowna, we don't have a central mixed-use area," explains Stacey Fenwick, sales and marketing manager for SOPA Square. "The idea was to get people out of their cars and densify an entire city block. People can just go downstairs to purchase their groceries and do their day-to-day living, so they don't have to get into their cars to get a carton of milk." The Fenwick family has lived in Kelowna for 80 years, and Edgar worked as a developer in the city for over a quarter century. He's watched its growth with increasing concern. "We need to stop diminishing our arable land and get away from the car society we have created," he says. "There's a delicate balance between growth, demand and sustainability. SOPA Square was born out of a deep care and concern for the Okanagan, as well as the need for a true, urban lifestyle in Kelowna." SOPA Square was designed by Busby Perkins + Will, an architectural firm known for its sustainable design. After the design phase, Penticton-based Meiklejohn Architects Inc. was brought in to handle the remaining architectural work. "The owners made some changes to meet budget challenges and they also wanted a team that was locally based," says Cal Meiklejohn, partner. "We helped realize some cost-saving measures, captured under-utilized space and revised some of the plans and building materials." Though Fenwick is not seeking LEED certification, he has made many sustainable choices at SOPA Square. "The LEED administration was so costly, I elected not to do it," he explained. "I can rather spend that extra money on making the building more efficient, so that it uses less energy." Insulation, for example, was placed outside of the concrete, to allow the concrete mass to hold heat or cool air for longer. The concrete construction has an energy saving advantage because of its thermal mass, which will mean fewer spikes in heating and cooling requirements. Argon low-E glass was February 2013 selected for the windows, and there will be landscaped green roofs. Underground parking will reduce the island heat effect of surface parking, and Busby Perkins + Will's overall design will maximize passive energy strategies. Emmanuel Lavoie, mechanical engineer with Rocky Point Engineering, designed the building's three separate mechanical systems: one for each of the commercial component, residential tower and townhouses. "This allows the owner to phase the project and have the systems work when he needs them to," he explains. "Typically, a building like this will have one mechanical system. It definitely adds some cost, but also flexibility with regard to phasing." The mechanical system is a variable refrigerant flow, a high-efficiency, high-tech heat pump system. "All three systems are district-energy ready," he adds. A few years ago, Fortis identified the South Pandosy area as a potential zone for a district energy system, one that could utilize treated effluent discharge of the wastewater treatment plant. "SOPA Square will be compatible with and ready to be connected to a district energy system, which would mean the building would no longer require natural gas for its heat source," Lavoie says. The two-phase project will be completed by fall 2013, with retailers opening in January 2013 and the residential component done by the end of that year. SOPA Square will feature wide sidewalks and walkable corridors as well as ample green space for socializing. The marketplace will be home to a green grocer, bakery, seafood store and butcher, with rotating kiosks featuring local artisans. Residents will enjoy a lap pool and fitness facility, homes with Euroline glass folding door systems, a car-sharing program and a guest suite for family and friends. The green roof will have a putting green and garden areas, and a number of penthouse townhomes will have private rooftop terraces. On the construction side, things are going well, though manpower is the biggest challenge according to Kim Dobranski, construction manager with P218 Enterprises Ltd. "Kelowna is getting busy and we're having to compete with northern B.C. and northern Alberta's high-paying jobs," he explains. "We're struggling to find and keep high-quality, ticketed carpenters, which tends to slow our job down. But we're making good progress based on our schedule." ■ courtesy Fenwick Developments ANNUAL INDUSTRY FEATURE: Plumbing Products Review Book your ad space now: Dan Chapman 604.473.0316 Alexander Sugden 604.473.0358 SOPA Square p90-91SOPA.indd 91 december 2012 /91 11/16/12 3:50 PM