A new church and apartment building in Nanaimo was the judges’ choice as the best new building on Vancouver Island this year.
The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards were held Thursday, April 6, at the Coast Bastion Hotel, and Brechin United Church was a double winner. The church and apartment building on Estevan Road was named the Judges’ Choice winner as best overall project, and it also received an award of excellence in the green and sustainability category.
The five-storey wood-frame building, which includes 74 apartments, was designed by Via Architecture and was built by TL Housing Solutions. An official opening is planned at the end of this month.
“This site has been a community hub and home to the Brechin United Church since 1906 and its revitalization charts a path forward with attainable housing options and sustainable design,” noted an event press release.
READ ALSO: Brechin United holds first community event at newly completed church
Kinetic Construction was named Construction Company of the Year and Knappett Projects Inc. earned the Safety Award.
Also at this week’s awards, the City of Nanaimo’s Bowen Park trailway and utility upgrade, done by Milestone Equipment Contracting, won an award of excellence in the civil category; Uplands Terrace, built by IWCD, won in the purpose-built rental category; Horang Restaurant and Market, built by Saywell Contracting Ltd., won in the tourism and hospitality category; and Norwell Corner, built by R.W. (Bob) Wall Ltd., won in the office category.
Other award of excellence winners included Rainbow Gardens, Port Alberni, IWCD, affordable housing; Parksville Outdoor Theatre, COPCAN Civil LP, community institutional; Canadian Coast Guard Base, Port Hardy, Kinetic Construction Ltd., industrial; Pier 1, Campbell River, Crowne Pacific Development Corp., mixed use; Tidalwood, Ladysmith, Westmark Construction, multi-family condominium; Marine Wild, Ucluelet, AFC Construction, multi-family townhome; John Howard Society of North Island, Courtenay, Lacasse Construction Ltd., renovation; Coastal Gateway, Port Alberni, MKM Projects Ltd., retail.
Nanaimo Mitsubishi, built by IWCD, won an award of merit in the retail category and Sonepar, built by Saywell Contracting Ltd., was recognized in the industrial category. Other award of merit winners were Eyuhwum, Duncan, WestUrban Developments Ltd., affordable housing; 6-Plex on Jubilee, Duncan, Plante Homes Ltd., multi-family townhome; and Edgett Excavating, Cumberland, Lacasse Construction Ltd., office.
“These very important buildings need to be celebrated, as it takes a lot of hard work, ingenuity and perseverance to see them completed, from start to finish,” said John MacDonald of the Business Examiner, which co-ordinated the event, in a press release.
Buildings completed during 2022 from the Malahat north were eligible for awards.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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