Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/607779
DECEMBER 2015 | 71 Burn Fund Centre RENDERING + PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY B.C. PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS' BURN FUND Burn Fund Centre by ROBIN BRUNET P edestrians approaching the inter- section of Main and E23rd Avenue in Vancouver are invariably capti- vated by a bold new building amidst the trendy retail venues of this distinctly urban neighbourhood. The three-level structure is strik- ing in its use of glazing and horizontal lines. It could easily be mistaken for a boutique hotel if it weren't augmented by a massive concrete rendition of a fire- fighter attending to children. This is the new Burn Fund Centre, located between the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn, Trauma and Plastics Unit at Vancouver Genera l Hospit a l ( VGH ) and BC Children's Hospital. The Burn Fund Centre was con- ceived, designed and constructed as a home away from home for patients and their families, with eight short-term, furnished suites. The centre also con- tains a family-friendly great room, chil- dren's play area, large family kitchen, laundry facilities, computer stations, resource and games library, secure out- door spaces and a healing garden with plants chosen for their burn injury- friendly qualities. In addition, the $13.1-million facil- ity accommodates burn awareness and education programs. Given all these elements, it's noteworthy how effort- lessly the Burn Fund Centre integrates with the busy neighbourhood. Instead of imparting a restricted, institutional ambiance, it is inviting to the public, aided by 3,100 square feet of prime retail space at ground level. During the fundraising process for the facility, Mike Hurley, chair of the Burn Fund, expressed why this type of home away from home was a priority for all involved. "We've seen firsthand that helping with accommodation for burn and trauma survivors and their families can be one of the most significant con- tributions to help them physically and emotionally recover," he said. Francl A rchitec t ure and Bosa Construction, along with project man- ager Concert Properties Ltd., were made well aware that each year almost 700 children and adults from across B.C. are admitted to the Burn, Trauma and Plastics Units at VGH and BC Children's Hospital – and that the patients' health can be compromised when they return home sooner than advised or live in inappropriate recovery settings. T his apprec iat ion ver y much informed the design of the new facil- ity. "When we first became involved in the project two and a half years ago, we agreed with the owners that the facil- ity should be a strong and welcoming place," says principal Walter Francl. "This was accomplished partly by the building's relatively small size of 1,200 square metres, but also by simply ensur- ing that the layout and design of the suites and common areas had a more domestic, welcoming feel." Francl, whose company had previ- ously designed the Honour House hos- pice for military and emergency services personnel in New Westminster, goes on to say that the common areas "are almost like those found in small hotels, and the residential suites were designed to have exterior deck space facing either Main Street or the back lane." Arranging the three main com- ponents of the facility was of crucial importance. "The most obvious choice for retail was on the ground floor, while the residences were located on the sec- ond level and administration above that," says Francl. In order to make the most productive use of space, the design team eliminated underground parking. "That resulted in substantial cost savings," says Francl. "Instead, we have lane parking." From a pedestrian viewpoint, the most impressive aspect of the facility is the facade, with a seemingly continuous ribbon of metal cladding running hori- zontally along the front and side of the top level, dropping down to the second level and running horizontally in the other direction, only to drop down again to the first level and run in the original direction, terminating at the sidewalk. "We wanted a sense of animation and colour, with the extensive glazing on each level contrasting the concrete and metal finishes," says Francl. Chris Barber, manager, special proj- ects for Bosa Construction, admits that he and his crew weren't fully aware of the visual impact Francl's facade would have "until about six weeks before the end of construction in October of this year. The facade materials included con- crete, wood siding, metal cladding and Alucobond in addition to the glazing, and assembling these components was like working on a giant jigsaw puzzle." Barber, whose company broke ground on the site in December of 2014 and employed about 50 people at peak, is impressed by the attention to detail throughout the structure. "From the vinyl plank flooring and porcelain tiles of the interior to the fitted planter on the balconies, there's a sense of peace and relaxation no matter where you turn," says Barber. For Concert Properties' project man- ager Jeff Duncan, the visual highlight of the Burn Fund Centre is the 28-foot by eight-foot concrete mural depicting a firefighter attending to children. "It stands on a cast-in-place sidewalk and is absolutely striking," he says. The image is in fact an Allan de la Plante photograph imprinted onto the concrete via an elaborate chemical pro- cess. "It's Finnish technology and the first time it has been used in Western Canada," says Francl. As for the construction process, Duncan and Barber say it went smoothly. "Since there used to be a laundromat and carwash on the site, remediation was necessary, but nothing major," says Duncan. "We were lucky to get the very best people at Bosa; there were no struc- tural issues to deal with, and even the weather co-operated." "It's a beautiful addition to the neigh- bourhood, and we're all proud to be part of it. Thanks to the owners and a good com- bination of the trades, the work environ- ment was very positive," says Barber. A LOCATION 3891 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER B.C. Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund PROJECT MANAGER Concert Properties Ltd. ARCHITECT Francl Architecture Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Bosa Construction STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT The AME Consulting Group Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Applied Engineering Solutions Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Eckford Tyacke + Associates TOTAL SIZE 13,000 square feet TOTAL COST $13.1 million 2:11 PM 3:25 PM