Award

is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the sights from an even higher perch, nestled among lush planting beds that will be able to handle whatever the elements bring. "Many of the plants were chosen to withstand harsh conditions like sun and wind, which are typical for a rooftop environment," explains Julie Lommerse of LADR Landscape Architects. "A special anchoring/ staking system – the Platipus RF1R Eyebolt – was specified for the trees in the planters." The project features all the sustainability staples (Low-E, argon-filled glazing and high-efficiency common hot water boilers) and more unusual methods (Runtal baseboard heaters provide radiant hot water heat and in-suite air conditioning utilizes a common heating/cooling hot water loop). Low VOC carpet, flooring, cabinets and paints are used throughout the building, as well as MDF produced from lumber milling by-products. On the roof and surrounding the building, drought tolerant landscaping and drip irrigation make the garden even greener. Lighting – from compact fluorescents and LED lights in the parking, storage and hallways to the occupancy sensors in little-used areas – are smartly designed for efficiency. The small size of the site proved to be a challenge as the team struggled with accommodating the city's requirement for a certain number of parking stalls. The solution? Victoria's first multi-family building car elevators that deliver visitors and residents to stalls on the second level or three levels of belowgrade parking. "We gave a great deal of consideration to the placement of the elevator in order to make the most of the parking room we had available," says Macmillan. "We were also challenged by the long spans of the retaining walls that the placement of the elevator caused, so we had to detail the walls of it to resist the exterior soil pressure. The use of The Sovereign p50-53 The Sovereign.indd 53 an elevator instead of a ramp, however, freed up a lot of space for parking and Benson Ind.indd amenities." The uneven bedrock of the site also caused some problems, but by installing large caissons in one corner of the site, the perimeter walls were supported. In September, the first residents moved in – good news for Old Town. "The introduction of residences into this neighbourhood will enhance the vitality of the area which has been largely thought of by locals as a tourist and business area," says Griffiths. "The site was previously a surface parking lot and a 'missing tooth' on Broughton Street, but the addition of high-quality retail on the ground floor of The Sovereign, along with the attractive street frontage and 'eyes on the street' of the building's residents, will assist in creating a vibrant new community." Here comes the neighbourhood. ■ 1 13-08-28 11:35 AM LOCATION 608 Broughton Street, Victoria, B.C. OWNER Broughton Limited Partnership DEVELOPER Chard Development Ltd. ARCHITECT Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership GENERAL CONTRACTOR Farmer Construction Ltd. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Genivar ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Applied Engineering Solutions Ltd. INTERIOR DESIGN BBA Design Consultants LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT LADR Landscape Architects Inc. TOTAL AREA 51,000 square feet TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $15 million OCTOBER 2013 /53 13-09-13 3:46 PM

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