Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/178290
PHOTO: ROBERT STEFANOWICZ 56/ APRIL 2012 p.54-59 700 west8_Penguins.indd 56 green walls in addition to the Heather Street green screen. These, in addition to landscaped terraces and roof-top gardens assist in heating and cooling the building as well as slowing rainwater run-off. On ive elevations, facades made of welded 100-pound, rectangular, painted, galvanized steel trellises create a support system for plants. Each trellis is patterned with irregularsized circular cutouts. Finished in a champagne cream, these are also meant to be a "lively and fun" addition, says Braun. A rainwater collection system stores irrigation water in a cistern in the underground parking lot. Shrubs, evergreen plants, plants that grow well in various light conditions and up building sides, as well as ornamental trees such as magnolias and maples are used throughout. "Vertical terracing is a way to incorporate green space into a high-density urban building adding to its visual esthetic and quality of life without impeding views," says Nastaran Moradinejad, landscape architect, Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg. Both entries, one off Heather, the other off 8th Avenue, have arched bridges over water features. A discreet waterfall adds to the Heather Street presentation. Construction began late April 2010 with the project now nearing completion. "By pushing the project early during the structural stage and by using a shotcrete forming system in the parkage, we were able to come out of the ground well ahead of schedule and push other elements earlier than usual," says Mark Oord, construction manager, Icon Paci ic Construction Corporation. "This allowed us to install the windows earlier and close the building in a timely manner." Icon spent considerable time and effort sourcing out materials overseas to keep expenditures down. Working with design consultants in the early stages kept changes to a minimum and costs down. Given the high number of different suite layouts it was dificult to obtain a scope of scale, says Oord. "Much effort was taken by onsite personnel to ensure each unit got the proper inishes. While there was a cost advantage in bringing material from overseas, it took tremendous effort coordinating these shipments." "The project is a huge success. It's come in on budget and ahead of schedule," says Braun. "We have only ive suites left. We didn't build a presentation suite, we took out few ads, we sold primarily out of our of ices and in the midst of a global recession." ■ LOCATION 700 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Westbank Projects Corporation GENERAL CONTRACTOR Icon Pacific Construction Corporation ARCHITECT Henriquez Partners Architects STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Glotman Simpson Group of Companies MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Sterling Cooper & Associates Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg TOTAL AREA 54,000 square feet TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $40 million 700 West 8th 3/26/12 2:27:39 PM