Architects and construction companies were recognized for their builds as the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board handed out its commercial building awards last week.
Island West Coast Developments in Nanaimo had two local projects taking home awards of excellence (three overall), including Garry Oak Park on Boxwood Road, which won in the industrial category, stated a press release. Designed by Raymond De Beeld Architecture Inc. and intended to address a deficit of warehousing for small businesses, the site features green space with Garry oak trees and a totem pole carved by Snuneymuxw First Nation artist Noel Brown.
IWCD also won an award of excellence in the automotive category for the European Speciality Automotive dealership on Kenworth Road, which was designed by Turner Architecture. The “monolithic concrete panels” offer an “elegant look” which matches the types of vehicles sold on site, noted the event program.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s thermal energy centre, built by Kinetic Construction Ltd. and designed by Stantec Architecture, took the award of excellence for community institutional and features metal, brick and glass, offering a modern look for a “neglected” area of NRGH, said the board.
Colville Medical Centre on Dufferin Crescent won the award of excellence in the office category. Built by R.W. (Bob) Wall Contracting and designed by OCA Architecture Inc., it consists of two structures: a 74,000-square-foot precast concrete parkade and a free-standing 32,000-square-foot steel building.
For the awards of merit, Kerrisdale Corner took top billing for multi-family townhouse. Situated on Kerrisdale Road in Nanaimo and built and designed by Boehm Construction Ltd., it took advantage of corridor zoning changes and offers much-needed affordable housing without use of public money, noted the program.
In the affordable housing category, 10 Buttertubs facility in Nanaimo, built by Windley Contracting Ltd. and designed by Low Hammond Rowe Architects Ltd., won an award of merit for their build which will offer 159 new residences to seniors, said the board.
Commercial, industrial and revenue-producing projects, including renovations, that were completed during 2021 from the Malahat to Port Hardy were eligible for the awards.
The awards were handed out April 28 at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville.
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