Tcs01 Booklet

8/9/2019 Tcs01 Booklet

1/24


2/24


3/24

The Challenge Series is published through a sponsorship programfunded by members of the Millennium Water development, design andconstruction team and agencies of the federal government. The eightchapters follow the community development from its early conceptsthrough design and construction. Each chapter is researched andcompiled from historic les, interviews with the participants and materialrelevant to the building industrys response to the challenges of climatechange, carbon footprints and responsible resource consumption.

As the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games willchallenge the worlds athletes to achieve outstanding levels of personalperformance, we anticipate that this publication will educate and inspireboth the building industry and consumers alike to strive towards amore resilient living environment. Acknowledging the challenges andinnovation inherent in this undertaking, The Challenge Series can buildupon this knowledge and experience as the residential developmentindustry moves into the coming decade. The knowledge gaineddemonstrates British Columbias and Canadas commitment to a globalfuture through the efforts of our people and our environmental andsocial policy.

I am reminded of my young nephew Steven, who, when learning thathe had lost his lower left leg in a car accident after a days skiing,announced to his mother that the challenge for him now would be toski for New Zealand in the Paralympics. He went on to win a gold andtwo bronze medals at the Salt Lake City Winter Paralympics in 2002,creating personal opportunity from personal challenge.

Such is the opportunity for our designers, builders and communitiesto nd new and innovative ways of working and living together thatbalance our present needs with those of future generations.

It is in this context of knowledge sharing that the Millennium Waterteam offers these insights into the challenges and opportunitiesgleaned from two decades of collaboration and mutual cooperation.Such is the collective spirit that lies behind the renewal of the SEFClands and the construction of the Millennium Water Village, home tothe Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Roger BayleyDesign Manager: Millennium Water The SEFC Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Village

03

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

HISTORY

POLICY

EARLY CONCEPTS

06

08

16

19


4/24

CHAPTER ONE OVERVIEW SOUTHEAST FALSE CREEK, PAST + FUTURE

On the south shore of False Creek, develop a neighbourhood that is the model of sustainability, incorporating:forward-thinking infrastructure; strategic energy reduction; high-performance buildings; and high transit access.

04

This introductory chapter provides a glimpse into the history, policies andpersonalities that shaped the development of a sustainable communityin Southeast False Creek (SEFC). Formerly an important industrial hubfor Vancouver, SEFC occupies a key piece of waterfront real estateadjacent to the citys downtown core. The future of SEFC became a focalpoint of discussion in the early 1990s, following the citys decision torelease the SEFC lands from the industrial land base. It became clearthat the redevelopment of this 80-acre centrally located site presentedan opportunity to make a statement about the direction of futuredevelopment in Vancouver.

In 1991, Vancouvers city council determined that the SEFC lands

should be a model sustainable community: On the south shore of FalseCreek, develop a neighbourhood that is the model of sustainability,incorporating: forward-thinking infrastructure; strategic energy reduction;high-performance buildings; and high transit access. This proclamationmarked a momentous achievement for the City of Vancouver, and a turningpoint toward a sustainable approach to urban design. In the ensuingyears, city staff and countless people from local interest groups and theprofessional community became involved in the visioning process for thesites redevelopment.

Chapter One of The Challenge Series describes SEFCs past and future anddiscusses the importance of sustainable community development. It looks

at the in uences that led to the policy development and design of a newsustainable neighbourhood.

From industrial hub to vacant brownfeld to sustainable community

Northeast False CreekNorth False CreekGranville Island

South False CreekSoutheast False Creek


5/24

As a Senior Planner in the City ofVancouvers Central Area PlanningDivision, Ian led the planning processfor SEFC beginning in 1997. He wasinstrumental in assembling the advisorygroup, commissioning consultantreports, facilitating meetings internallyand with the public, creating the policystatement and the Of cial DevelopmentPlan and passing key reports through citycouncil. Ian is currently the Manager ofDevelopment at the City of VancouversSEFC Project Of ce. Ian coordinated allaspects of the development between thecity and Millennium from the masterplan and rezoning to permitting andconstruction. He is the city representativeresponsible for the construction ofthe affordable housing units and thecommunity centre. Following completionand delivery of t he site to Vancouvers

Olympic Committee after more than12 years of working on SEFC Ian plansto retire to Nova Scotia and focus ongolf and kayaking.

PROFILE

Ian SmithBA, LEED APCity of Vancouver SEFC Project Of ce

GLOBAL VOICES

Gordon Price onthe Evolution of False Creek

05

On the shores of False Creek, the

dreams of successive generationshave been realized, often beyondtheir expectations, beginning withthe greatest of them all: Canadasnational dream of a continentalrailway. When the trains reachedtheir destination here, not only werea nation, a port and a city willed intobeing, but the creek itself becamean expression of our relationshipwith nature.

First came industry, belching sootinto the air, sewage into the waterand lling in three-quarters of thecreek. (It would later be dredged bythe federal government and usedto create Granville Island.) Thoseindustries built a city, provisioneda navy for war, brought jobs andprosperity in peace, and eventuallydeclined as jobs turned from blue-collar to white.

Then came green. After the Cityof Vancouver acquired lands alongthe south shore of False Creek,the city council of the early 1970s

Alderman Walter Hardwick in

particular conceived of an idyllicresidential community that wouldexpress the ideals of a generationthat rejected the harsh modernismof freeways and urban renewal forcar-free village squares and bike- lledgreenways; a place to raise children,with mixed uses and mixed incomes.It all seems so obvious now, but itwas so radical then.

When it came time for thetransformation of False Creeks northshore following Expo 86, the privateand public sectors jointly built onthe successes of the south shore byembracing a high-density, high-riseurbanism that eventually came to becalled Vancouverism. The iconicskyline exempli ed by the residentialhigh-rise point-tower-and-podiummodel spread around the world.

And so, when the Southeast FalseCreek brown eld site came up forconsideration, a new consensusproffered an alternative vision, thisone closer to the ground, motivated

as much by the challenges of

sustainability as the desires oflivability. This sustainable communitywould take on the critical problemsfacing us as producers andconsumers on this planet and serveas a place of continuous learningand problem solving.

The look of the Olympic Village maybe different than what came before,but the process is much the same.This combination of vision and publicpolicy was discussed at a hundredpublic meetings, ltered througha dozen staff reports, redesignedby the architects, reconceived bythe marketers and rehashed by thepoliticians. Now gracing the shoresof False Creek, the Millennium WaterSoutheast False Creek OlympicVillage is another expression of thedreams of another generation.

Gordon PriceDirector, SFU City Program

Councillor for the City of Vancouverfrom 1986 to 2002


6/24

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES THE BIG PICTURE

BUZZWORD: LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary certi cation system for projects seeking to meet an establishedlevel of environmental performance. The Canada Green Building Council oversees the LEED certi cation process in Canada. A LEEDproject must comply with a set of criteria to meet one of four levels of certi cation: Certi ed, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The City ofVancouver is pursuing Gold designation for SEFC in a LEED for Neighbourhood Development (LEED-ND) pilot study. The LEED-NDcriteria integrate the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into a certi cation system for overall neighbourhood design.

Where Vancouversgreenhouse gas emissionscome from (%)

Our development methods, sound

as they seemed at the time, havewreaked havoc on our environment.Increased greenhouse gases (GHG),caused primarily by burning fossilfuels, threaten to heat the Earth tounprecedented levels. The worldstop scientists predict erratic weather,rising sea levels, drought andagricultural failure as a result. Inshort, the way in which we haveused the planet for our gain may also

be a means to our own destruction.Contrary to popular belief, carsare not the worst GHG culprits.According to the City of Vancouver,buildings contribute more than50 per cent of the citys total GHGemissions. Most buildings, toohastily constructed, also wastevaluable fresh water and have suchpoor indoor air quality and naturallighting that workers suffer from

mood disorders and lost productivity.

In terms of waste, Industry Canadacites that about one-third of thematerial in Greater Vancouversland ll is demolition, land clearingand construction waste.

However, nothing is keeping usfrom changing these conditions andestablishing a healthy and vibrantway of living. All the technologynecessary to make the shift towardsenvironmentally conscientious

methods of building already exist.

The industry has already proven thatan incredible 90 per cent diversionrate for waste on constructionsites is possible. Wind and solartechnology is available and alreadyserving foreign countries very well,slicing their GHG emissions bya remarkable amount. Productsand building methods have beendesigned and implemented to

improve indoor air quality and make

day lighting a reality. Communitiesin which people can work, play andlive within walking distances areemerging globally.

The environmental challenge werefacing has been met with examplesof astounding human innovation.Signs of a potential healthy futureare emerging. It is possible to bringthe building industry together tocreate sustainable communities thatenrich lives today as well as thoseof future generations. MillenniumWater, Vancouvers Olympic Village,is an inspired example of a modelneighbourhood striving towardssustainability. It demonstratesnew and progressive design andconstruction standards that will helprede ne the building industry overthe coming decades and contributeto a healthier world.

Life on this planet is in peril. The stability of the Earths natural cycles is jeopardized bythe actions we have taken in the last century.

buildings

passengervehicles

mobileequipment

solid waste

heavy trucks

06


7/24

In October 1998, the City of

Vancouver Planning Departmentand its consultants organized amultidisciplinary design charretteto imagine what a sustainableneighbourhood might look like atSEFC. The purpose was to discoverdifferent urban design options thatrealized the best-practice objectives,sustainability-based principles andperformance targets of the SEFCpolicy statement. (See page 20.)

Spread over three days, the charretteinvolved 28 professional architects,landscape architects, engineers,developers and planner-regulatorsand 12 students.

Participants were asked to keepan open mind and work collectively,bringing a diversity of expertiseto the dialogue. Guided by theredevelopment policies for SEFC,the group responded to the following

questions: What do we want for the

site? What is important? What doesthe neighbourhood look and feel like?The answers were communicatedverbally, in writing and throughdrawings, ultimately creating fourdifferent designs or vision solutions.

The primary issues explored throughthe charrette included land and water(fresh water, open space, soil); thebuilt environments (public spaces,community facilities, streets/parking,buildings); building design andperformance (energy, heights, sitesize, views); and wastes (greywater,blackwater, household andgreen waste).

During the three days of the charrette,participants worked and ate togetheras they brainstormed, sought teamconsensus, explored policies, andgenerated and tested ideas in

preparation for team presentations

on the nal day. An open discussionfollowed the team presentations. Itincluded re ections on various ideaspresented and on the opportunitiesand constraints provided by thepolicies that informed the charrette.The discussion provided valuablefeedback for city staff in theirongoing policy development work.

A commitment to the guidingprinciples of sustainability wascommon in all of the designs.Differences in designs ful lled thecharrettes goal of providing citycouncil, staff, consultants and thelarger community with variousoptions. Recommended changeswere made to certain city policies(including bylaws and regulations),plans, approaches and even to themandates/functions of some citydepartment/operational units.

A design charrette is no small

undertaking; the successesand bene ts are well worth thechallenges and, when done well,can increase community learningabout complex issues. For theCity of Vancouver, this charrettesuccessfully engaged a range ofexperts to collaborate and imaginehow best to bring the vision forSEFC to life.

The strength o a charrette is that it bringstogether a diverse range o expertiseand interests to collaborate on creatinginnovative design solutions that embodymultiple objectives and mutual interests.

REALIZING THE VISION FOR SEFC: THE CHARRETTE

A Design Charretteis no Small Undertaking

07


8/24

1 8 8 0

1 8 9 0

1 9 0 0

1 9 1 0

1 9 2 0

1 9 3 0

1 9 4 0

First NationsHistory First LandDevelopment Mount Pleasantis Developed Sawmills &Shingle Mills The Great War Post-War Years The GreatDepression SecondWorld War

Southeast False Creekwas frequented byFirst Nations peoplesfor at least 3,000 years,and likely for about10,000 years. The areais part of the territorytraditionally used by theMusqueam, Squamishand Tsleil-waututhpeoples.

SEFC was subdivided intostreets by Israel Powellin 1888.

In the 1890s, the citysresidential developmentspilled south overFalse Creek, creatingthe citys first suburb,Mount Pleasant, butconstruction had notyet reached the areasshoreline.

Sawmills and shinglemills lined the shoresof False Creek in thisdecade. In total, 17sawmills were eventuallybuilt, employing 10,000workers.

During the First WorldWar, the city block atthe foot of ColumbiaStreet (the Canron site)was home t o CoughlansShipyard, where alarge contract to build8,000-tonne naval shipsmade the companyVancouvers largestemployer in 1918.

A number of new woodand coal yards appearedalong the SEFC shore,while the sawmills andmetalworking industriesthrived.

Despite the GreatDepression, SEFC wasthe site of new andincreasing activity inthe 1930s. In 1931, theVancouver Salt Companyconstructed a newbuilding at the foot ofManitoba Street.

During the war years,the Industrial Agepeaked in False Creekas 5,000 union workerslaboured at the Canronsite. Thousands of otherworkers cranked outmaterials for the wareffort at more than adozen sawmills.

HISTORY SOUTHEAST FALSE CREEK TIMELINE

08


9/24

1 9 5 0

1 9 6 0

1 9 7 0

1 9 8 0

1 9 9 0

2 0 0 0

2 0 1 0

2 0 2 0

Post-War Years 1960s-1980s:Industrial Decline False Creekis Rezoned Expo 86Worlds Fair SEFC PlanningProcess Begins SEFC OfficialDevelopment Plan Approved

Vancouver 2010Olympic andParalympic WinterGames

In the 1980s, industrywas cleared from thenorth shore of FalseCreek in preparation forhosting the Expo 86Worlds Fair.

In 1990, the City ofVancouver removedthe SEFC lands fromthe industrial landbase. Vancouvers citycouncil adopted theClouds of Change report,establishing pollutionreduction targets.In 1991, the City ofVancouver proclaimedthat SEFC would bethe site of a modelsustainable community.In 1999, Vancouverscity council adopted theSEFC policy statement,which established

sustainable developmentprinciples for the sitesdevelopment.

The main plants alongthe SEFC shore, fromwest to east, were theCity Yard, DominionBridge, Western BridgeSteel Fabricating (laterCanron), Sauder LumberCompany, Vancouver SaltCompany and RuskinCedar Products.

In the 1960s, industry began to leave False Creek.In 1970, the City of Vancouver rezoned much of FalseCreek for housing and parks. Meanwhile in SEFC,workers in the Canron Building were fabricating steelfor sites all over the world. Local applications includedowntown Vancouver high-rises, the Alex FraserBridge, West Edmonton Mall, Canada Place, SeattlesHusky Stadium and the Boeing plant in Everett,Washington, which was at that time the largestfree-standing building in the world.

On March 1, 2005, Vancouvers city council approvedthe Official Development Plan for SEFC.In April 2006, Vancouvers city council selectedMillennium Properties Ltd. as the developer of the

SEFC Olympic Village site.Construction began in 2007 and is scheduled forcompletion in October 2009.Vancouver and Whistler host the 2010 Winter OlympicGames from February 12-28, 2010 and the ParalympicGames from March 12-21, 2010.

The summer of 2010 marks the permanent occupancyof Millennium Water Olympic Village.

09

MAYORS OF VANCOUVER

Michael Harcourt1980-1986

Gordon Campbell1986-1993

Philip Owen1993-2002

Larry Campbell2002-2005

Sam Sullivan2005-2008

Gregor Robertson2008-present


10/24

Natural History and First Nations

Before the arrival of the Europeans,the False Creek area was surroundedby a dense temperate rainforest of r,hemlock, spruce and salal. Numeroussalmon-bearing streams meanderedthrough the trees, draining into thePaci c at False Creek. First Nationspeoples, including the Musqueam,Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh,inhabited the area; evidence of earlysettlements on False Creek datesback 3,000 years. The creek itselfwas ve times its present size andits boundaries reached well intoareas now lled and urbanized. The

east end of the creek was a largetidal mud at. The creeks shallowssupported a rich diversity of sea life:shell sh and crustaceans aboundedwhile the waters off the tidal beachsupported sole, perch and sturgeon.The rich ecosystem of the estuaryattracted migratory birds, and theconiferous forest was home to bears,cougars, elk and deer.

43

2

HISTORY FALSE CREEKS ECOLOGICAL + INDUSTRIAL HISTORY

10


11/24

Industrial History

The name False Creek wascoined by English sea captainCaptain George Richards in 1859,when, expecting to pass throughthe waterway to Burrard Inlet, heinstead came to a dead end. In 1867,Julius Voight, another of the earlyEuropeans to arrive in Vancouver,built a cabin adjacent to the SEFCsite. The ensuing in ux of Europeansettlers marked the beginning ofan industrial period that would lastmore than a century. The industrialperiod began with the harvesting oflocal forest resources, and the area

soon developed into a busy centrefor manufacturing and processing.Southeast False Creek became animportant industrial hub beginningin the late 1800s. The site was usedfor a variety of activities and wasoccupied by shipbuilders, sawmills,foundries, metalworks, a salt re neryand a public works yard. Thoughfew signs of its industrial past existon the site today, its legacy is far-

reaching. Much of the city s earlyinfrastructure, upon which modern-day Vancouver was built, wasfabricated on this site.

1 Vancouver from the Lee block at the corner of Broadway and Main Street, 19132 Behind L.A. Hamiltons campsite on the south side of False Creek, 18863 Looking east from the shore at the foot of Nicola Street, 19004 One of the last squatters shacks near the Burrard Bridge on False Creek, 19345 Hull No. 106 under construction at West Coast Shipbuilders Limited, 19426 West Coast Shipbuilders Limited site under construction, 1941

5

6

1

11


12/24

South False Creek, east of theGranville Island Public Market, wasthe rst housing development toappear on the shores of False Creek.The province acquired the land fromCanadian Paci c Railway in 1928 andsold it to the City of Vancouver in

1968 at a time when industry moved

South False Creek

offsite. Development guidelinesfor the area were adopted by citycouncil in 1973, requiring a range ofhousing to provide a social mix thatre ected the citys income and socialcomposition. Construction began in1976 and continued through to 1990.The 76-acre site now contains 2,800residential units, 1,040 of which arenon-market units.

This low- to mid-rise, medium-densityresidential development was highlysuccessful and is viewed by many tobe one of the more desirable places to

live in the city. Building heights range

1978

2003

HISTORY

STATS

AREA: 76 ACRESUNITS PER ACRE: 64

POPULATION: 4,900HOUSING UNITS: 2,811PARKS/OPEN SPACE: 26 ACRESPARK SPACE PER UNIT: 402 SQUARE FEET

VANCOUVERS URBAN HISTORY

The Changing City Vancouver in 1978 and 2003: Downtown and False Creek from the Granville Street Bridge

Vancouver is a young city, incorporated in 1886. Its natural boundaries ocean, river and mountains have in uenced the evolution of thecitys built form. With limited opportunities for peripheral growth,recent development in the City of Vancouver has grown upward insteadof outward. Vancouvers downtown core sits on a small peninsuladotted with dense commercial and residential development stretchingwestward to Stanley Park, one of North Americas largest urban parks.

Over the past 30 years, the citys downtown skyline has transformeddramatically, as has its demographic makeup. Recent years haveseen a surge in the number of people who call downtown their home.New downtown residents live in a sea of high-rise condominiumtowers. Modern Vancouver has gained a reputation for dense urbanliving, so much a part of its identity that the model is often referred toas Vancouverism.

Vancouvers Central Area Planning department developed theLiving First strategy in the 1980s, emphasizing housing intensityand diversity; coherent, identi able neighbourhoods; and regionalarchitectural principles. Living First saw some eight million squarefeet rezoned from commercial to residential in the downtown core.Railyards and industrial zones along the waterfront were likewiseearmarked for housing. This proactive planning agenda, combinedwith immigration patterns and the economic climate, contributed to aperiod of dramatic growth. Vancouvers downtown population doubled

in the 20 years since the advent of Living First, reaching more than100,000 residents. As communities such as North False Creek, CoalHarbour and CityGate are completed, more than 120,000 people willlive in or adjacent to downtown.

12


13/24

North False Creek:Concord Paci c Lands

from an average of three to six storeysup to a maximum of 13 storeys.The neighbourhood offers a mix ofcommunity services, public spaces,public transportation, marinas, 25acres of parkland and 275,000 squarefeet of commercial space. Varioushousing alternatives co-exist, includinghousing cooperatives and public andrental housing. The developmentsapproach to amenities and socialdiversity presented a new model forurban development.

The north shore of False Creek wascleared of virtually all industry inpreparation for the Expo 86 WorldsFair. Following Expo, the provincialgovernment sold the lands to theConcord Paci c developmentgroup and the area was rezoned

to a comprehensive mixed-use

development. Concord Paci c hassince built out 166 acres of inner cityarea on this site. The development,Concord Paci c Place, explored urbandesign strategies for high-density,high-rise residential living. Planningincluded a seamless integration ofmarket and non-market housing.The development extended the streetsof the downtown grid to meet thewaterfront, allowing access to abody of water long cut off from thepublic realm.

Concord Paci c Place contributed to

Vancouvers emerging reputation as

a leader in urban revitalization. Theneighbourhood integrates a range of

civic amenities as part of the rezoningprocess. These include 42 acresof public park space, a continuouswaterfront walk- and bike-way,25 per cent family-oriented housing,20 per cent non-market housing,two elementary schools, four daycarecentres and a community centre.The development also added spacefor more than 20,000 new residentsdowntown, bringing peoples homesand workplaces close together, and

breathing new life to the inner city.

STATS

AREA: 166 ACRESUNITS PER ACRE: 55

POPULATION: 13,000HOUSING UNITS: 9,180PARKS/OPEN SPACE: 42 ACRESPARK SPACE PER UNIT: 200 SQUARE FEET

13


14/24

Historical Changes to False Creeks Shoreline

The original shoreline of Southeast False Creek was close to First Avenue.Todays shoreline extends several hundred meters from First Avenueinto the creek, having been lled over the years with material from many

sources, including a railway cut and ash from a local incinerator.

The SEFC site is divided into three distinct districts, derived from the industrial activities that onceourished on its shores: Worksyard, Shipyard and Railyard. Letterbox Design Group, a Vancouver-

based graphic design rm, developed a brand identity for this new community that simply, yetdramatically, de nes the neighbourhoods character. The symbols are derived from th e history ofeach place and the physical elements associated with it: bolts, screws and threaded pipes; the ribsof a ships hull; and railway spikes.

HISTORY HISTORICAL SHORELINE

14

2008 Google maps1939 City of Vancouver1906 Atlas of Canadaoriginal Historical atlas


15/24

Highlights

SHIPYARD

Built form in SEFC, including building height, character,massing and views, should create identi ableneighbourhoods which accommodate a wide range ofland uses and a diversity of residents.SEFC Policy Statement, 1999

DEFINING NEIGHBOURHOOD CHARACTER

Vancouver Salt Company, 1933

15

THE SALT BUILDING

The Millennium Water OlympicVillage lies at the centre of the

SEFC site on the site of the historicshipyard. During the First WorldWar the shipyard was Vancouverslargest employer, with a 2,000-strongworkforce. Called CoughlansShipyard, the site saw theconstruction of the largest tonnageof steel ships in the British Empire.

In 1935, a steel fabrication plantwas built on the shipyard site. This

three-acre plant came to be knownas the Canron Building and was thesite of the production of steel thatwas used to construct some of theregions major transportation routes,including the First Avenue Viaduct,the Pattullo Bridge and the towers ofthe Lions Gate Bridge.

With the advent of the Second WorldWar, the shipbuilding industry re-

emerged, employing another 2,000steelworkers in the fabrication oflarge sections of 10,000 freightersto replace the ships sunk by GermanU-boats in the North Atlantic.

Following the two wars, the shipyardsite remained operational, employingup to 5,000 workers. During this

period, the industry produced steelfor iconic structures such as the Alex

Fraser Bridge, Canada Place and thelargest free-standing building in theworld, the Boeing plant in Everett,Washington. Operations ceased atthe Canron Building in 1990, and thebuilding was demolished in 1998.

The location of the historic SaltBuilding marks the original shorelineof False Creek. The 16,000 squarefoot building was erected in 1930on exposed timber piles alongthe waters edge. Inside the SaltBuilding, elaborate roof trusses thatsupport the structure are visiblewithin a large, open space. One ofthe last industrial buildings at SEFC

that remains intact, the Salt Buildinghas heritage designation.

The building was originally usedas a salt re nery, storage facilityand distribution centre. Salt arrivedby ship from San Francisco, whereit had been roughly processed,and would be cleansed, groundand packaged for use in the

shing industry for canning and

refrigeration. Once the salt industrymoved out, in the 1980s, the buildingwas adapted for use as a paperrecycling plant.

Recently, under city ownership,the foundation and a portion ofthe structure of the Salt Buildingwere upgraded in preparation for arehabilitation project. A consortiumof companies called The Vancouver

Salt Company is working to give thebuilding new life. The Salt Buildingwill be used as a social gatheringplace during the 2010 Gamesand following the Olympics it willcontinue to be a public amenity,housing a restaurant and brew pub.


16/24

How do you nd meaning from abrown eld? What is the sharedvision for SEFC? How do you buildan authentic community? Thesequestions and others charted thecourse for an incredible learning

journey for the enormous teamof citizens, community groupsand professionals involved in thevisioning and decision-makingprocess for the future of SEFC.

Following the removal of SEFC fromthe industrial land base in 1990,discussion arose about how the80-acre site should be redeveloped.

A variety of ideas were proposed,ranging from a large urban parkto a high-tech of ce district to aresidential community. From thisdiversity of views there arose aconsensus that this unique piece

of property should become a modelof sustainability.

Clouds of Change: A Policy-Making Milestone

A signi cant policy move towardadopting sustainability as a guidingprinciple at the city scale was theClouds of Change report, passed bycouncil in 1990. Clouds of Changeoutlined a series of initiatives aimedat improving air quality in Vancouver.The report addressed emissions,transportation and energy and landuse issues and recommended thatthe city commit to a 20 per centreduction in carbon dioxide emissionsfrom 1988 levels by 2005.

In 1995, city council determinedthat SEFC should be redevelopedinto a residential neighbourhoodthat would be a model sustainablecommunity. The city commissionedstudies that would determine the mosteconomically feasible and socially andenvironmentally sustainable use of

the land. What type of neighbourhoodwould best express the commitmentto sustainability?

Searching forSustainable Solutions

A number of issues in uenced theapproach to redevelopment. Theseincluded heritage considerations,a desire for parkland, the economicsof various densities of housing andsocial mixes and the cost associatedwith remediating the contaminatedland. The City of VancouversProperty Endowment Fund (PEF)had a mandate to accomplish thecitys goal of developing a model ofsustainability. The PEF commissionedlocal development consultantStanley Kwok to develop and testconcepts for the physical plan ofthe site based on the economicsof redeveloping the site. BakerMcGarva Hart/VIA Architecturewere retained by the PEF as designconsultants, tasked with proposingan approach to planning that wouldintegrate the sustainability aspirationsof the project.

In 1997, Stanley Kwok submitted aproposal for the site titled CreeksideLanding. The proposed built formin Creekside Landing echoed to alarge extent the development at NorthFalse Creek, which is characterized bytall residential towers built on a baseof street-level retail amenities andtownhouses. Opponents of CreeksideLanding favoured a model moreakin to the dense low-rise model ofSouth False Creek. They preferred todevelop smaller sites with individualcharacter as an explicit contrastto the consolidated towers of NorthFalse Creek.

POLICY

It takes a village to raise a village.Scot Hein, Architect and Senior Urban Designer, City of Vancouver

CREATING A VISION FOR SEFC: PLAYERS, POLICY + PROCESS

16


17/24

GROUPS CONSULTED AND INFORMED ON THE SEFC POLICY STATEMENT:

LANDOWNERS WITHIN THE SEFC STUDY AREA

NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITY GROUPS INCLUDING:

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

STRATHCONA

MOUNT PLEASANT

BREWERY CREEK HERITAGE SOCIETY

FALSE CREEK SOUTH

CITYGATE

GRANDVIEW WOODLANDS

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OWNERS

VANCOUVER PARK BOARD

VANCOUVER RICHMOND HEALTH BOARD

VANCOUVER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

URBAN DESIGN PANEL

CITY YOUTH COMMITTEE

BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

BLUEWAYS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

HERITAGE COMMISSION

COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL

SCHOOL BOARD

GREATER VANCOUVER TRANSIT AUTHORITY

GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICTBC HYDRO

URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

BC CONSTRUCTION ROUNDTABLE

ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

PLANNING INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

VANCITY CREDIT UNION

SOUTHEAST FALSE CREEK WORKING GROUP

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH ALLIANCE

URBAN HERITAGE TRAIL

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING

SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

NATIVE EDUCATION CENTRE

RECYCLING COUNCIL OF BC

COAST FOUNDATION SOCIETY

ECOCAFE

SPEC & ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS

ECODESIGN RESOURCE SOCIETY

PLAYERS, POLICY + PROCESS

Policy Guidelines

In 1998, as the design debate continuedto unfold, the city commissioned areport from the Sheltair Group calledVision, Tools and Targets. The goalof the report was to generate a setof performance targets and precedentsthat would in uence the next phaseof design proposals. This reporttalked about the concept of completecommunities, where people live, workand have access to basic goods andservices within a close radius of theirhomes. A notable outcome of theSEFC visioning process was a growingrecognition that high-density housingand mixed-use communities arekey ingredients of urban sustainability.

During the period of policydevelopment, an advisory group wasformed, representing many interestgroups and professional associations.This multidisciplinary group workedwith city staff to integrate the ndingsof Vision, Tools and Targets togetherwith recommendations from the1998 SEFC design charrette intowhat would become the SEFC PolicyStatement. The policy statementwould serve as a guide to thesustainable development of the site.

For policy-makers and authorities at all levels of government to implement planning policies and greenbuilding strategies in support of sustainable community development.CHALLENGE

Mark Holland was instrumental in buildingthe sustainability agenda for the City ofVancouver in the late 1990s in his role asthe sustainable development planner andproject coordinator for SEFC. Mark wasintegral to researching and writing theSEFC Policy Statement as well as threeof the ensuing action plans: The SEFCEnergy Strategy, The SEFC Water and

Waste Management Plan, and The SEFCUrban Agriculture Strategy. Mark co-founded Holland Barrs Planning in 2001and is currently a Principal at HB Lanarc,a planning and design rm in Vancouver.

PROFILE

Mark HollandBLA, MSc, MCIP, LEED APHB Lanarc Consultants Inc.

17


18/24

POLICY

1) IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITYPromote the implementation ofsustainable development principles inan urban setting.

2) STEWARDSHIP OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTHEnsure that the development improvesthe ecological health of the False Creekbasin.

3) ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND VITALITYAim to achieve economic viabilitywith opportunities for employmentand investment to ensure long-termprosperity.

4) PRIORITIESSet social and environmental performance

targets that can be met in an economicallyviable fashion.

5) CULTURAL VITALITYEncourage vitality, diversity and culturalrichness, respecting the history andcontext of the site.

6) LIVABILITYEnhance the social and naturalenvironment by creating a walkable,safe and green neighbourhood.

7) HOUSING DIVERSITY AND EQUITYCreate housing opportunities for a rangeof income groups and social and physicalinfrastructure for people of all ages.

8) EDUCATIONEncourage awareness of the principlesof sustainability and how these areimplemented on the site.

9) PARTICIPATIONEncourage public involvement in decision-making processes.

10) ACCOUNTABILITYPromote accountability by monitoringimpacts using post-occupancy studiesand community consultation.

11) ADAPTABILITYEnsure that the community can adaptto new social and economic conditions,policies, programs, legislation andtechnology.

12) INTEGRATIONPromote integration with the city throughplanning, design, community involvementand public amenities.

13) SPIRIT OF THE PLACEPromote planning and developmentguidelines that celebrate the unique natural,social and historical context of SEFC.

14) COMPLETE COMMUNITYDevelop a complete community where

residents live, work, play and learn withina convenient walking, cycling or transit-riding distance.

Raising the Bar: From Plan

Years of studies, consultationand community involvementculminated in the production ofa milestone document: The SEFC

Policy Statement. Normally, policystatements are created to providegeneral planning principles to guidea sites development. The policystatement for SEFC, however,pushed the boundaries by describinga vision for the development of asustainable community.

The policy statement included 14principles of sustainable developmentto guide the creation of a sustainablecommunity. These principles would

carry on throughout the courseof development, helping to informdecision-making throughout thedesign process.

to Action!

Following the adoption of the policystatement by city council in 1999,it came time to turn the plans intoachievable actions. The city engageda suite of consultants to developaction plans describing howto achieve sustainability targets.

Principles of Sustainable Development for SEFC

The city chose to adopt a green building rating system toensure a high level of environmental design at SEFC. The LEEDstandard was adapted for use in Canada so that it could beapplied to the SEFC project. The Canadian version of LEED ledto the development of the LEED Canada certi cation system andultimately the formation of the Canada Green Building Council.

The development of a Green Building Strategy to guide thedevelopment of SEFC led to the creation of a city-wide greenbuilding strategy and ultimately to the creation of the City of

Vancouvers Of ce of Sustainability.

Innovation: Spin-Off Achievements

THE SEFC POLICY STATEMENT

18


19/24

This drawing is taken from a plan submittedto council by development consultantStanley Kwok at the behest of the Cityof Vancouver Real Estate Department.

Kwoks submission featured residentialtowers of 20 or more storeys, mimicking

in many ways the pattern of developmenton the north side of False Creek. The logicbehind this high-density plan was that theproposed model would be the only way

to generate enough capital to pay for thecleanup of this polluted site.

The praise needs to go to the councils of the day who stepped up to do the Cloudsof Change report and then supported SEFC through its steps ... It was a combinationof strong leadership, commitment, clear vision, excellent technical knowledge andcommunity buy-in. Mark Holland, Principal, HB Lanarc and former Planner, City of Vancouver

EARLY CONCEPTS DESIGN OPTIONS

As Principal of BMH/VIA, Graham McGarvahas worked on the development of SEFCfrom 1996 to the present. Starting asStanley Kwoks urban design consultantfor the initial concept and policy stages,Graham and his team continued asprime consultant from the AthletesVillage Olympic bid process throughto the approval of the SEFC Of cialDevelopment Plan in 2005. Since then,VIA has rezoned the triangular HingePark site at First Avenue and ColumbiaStreet for the post-Olympics phase ofMillennium Water, continuing Grahamsfull SEFC cycle from planning inceptionto architectural execution.

An early development plan applicationfor SEFC submitted by VIA Architecture,PWL Partnership and Hay & Companycontained a suite of poems as part of itsurban design principles. The followingexcerpt paints a picture of the ever-changing landscape at SEFC:

Tidal ats and inlet,Life dug from the ooze,

Ship slips, loading docks & rail tracks.Salt, Best, Canron.Remembering and reusing stuff,Keeping on trucking,Working life amid the revelation of water.Peeling back the industrial wall,Renewing access denied for a century,Building future on rm ground.

Graham McGarva

PROFILE

Graham McGarvaMAIBC, AAA, AIA, LEED APVIA Architecture

19



20/24

Stemming from the visioning statementsin the urban design guidelines for SEFC,this drawing emphasizes a range ofdifferent housing types and building

forms. Borrowing from Vancouverssuccesses in South False Creek, the WestEnd and downtown, Baker McGarva Hart/VIA Architectures proposed peaks andvalleys support the diversity of lifestyles

and life cycles within a community. Thedrawing stems from the idea that one keyto a successful urban community is theexperience of the sweep of the sun,

which requires a full repertoire of openspaces, building shapes and solar access both direct and re ecting off walls andwindows.

This rendering, a watercolour paintedby architect Bob Worden, was createdfollowing the 1998 SEFC design charrette.It shows a view along First Avenue,

demonstrating its development as a mixed-

use high street. The image captures therenovated Salt Building and featureslight rail transit with residential towers inthe background.


20


21/24

1 First Avenue High Street2 Naturalized Shoreline3 Salt Building Reuse

This illustration, submitted to the City ofVancouver by Baker McGarva Hart/VIAArchitecture, depicts the character of thepedestrian mews. The fundamentals of

patterning the street network as envisionedby the designers were Pizza, Grandma

and Garbage. These keywords capturethe essence of the diverse activities thatcontribute to the vibrancy of a pedestrianstreet: chance social encounters, ball

games, storm water management andpizza delivery.

The City of Vancouver created the SEFC

Project Of ce to oversee the developmentof the SEFC city-owned lands, representingthe city as a property owner, developerand development partner. The SEFCProject Of ce plays a unique role, actingas a liaison internally between the citysplanning, development, engineeringand sustainability departments and theVancouver Park Board and externally,between the various developers,architects and consultants who woulddevelop the land over the course ofseveral years.

Established in May 2005 at an on-sitelocation, the SEFC Project Of ce initiallyfocused on the development of Area 2A,the site of the Olympic Village. Its rstmajor tasks included the consolidationand subdivision of the city-ownedlands, procurement of environmentalapprovals for the foreshore and uplandsdevelopment, selection of a developer forthe building sites, and direct coordinationof designers and contractors for thepublic spaces. The SEFC Project Of ce

has also acted as the city liaison withVancouvers 2010 Olympic OrganizingCommittee (VANOC) for all mattersrelated to the Vancouver Olympic Village.Learn more about the role of theProject Of ce in Chapter Two: Planning+ Olympics.

FEATURE PROFILE

City of VancouverSEFC Project Of ce

21

1

2

3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SPONSORS / PARTNERS


22/24

Acknowledgements

Fiona Crofton, Scot Hein, Mark Holland,Norm Hotson, Lance Jakubec, Hal Kalman,Barb Lindsay, Stu Lyon, Graham McGarva,Robin Petri, Ian Smith

ContributorsTHE CHALLENGE SERIES TEAM

Roger BayleyPrincipal, Roger Bayley Inc.

Sarah CheeversWriter and Project Manager

Gilian DustingEditorial Consultant

Sarah HayCommunications Coordinator

Amanda McCuaigWriter

Mizu CreativeGraphic Design

Gordon PriceWriter

Rachel MoscovichWriter and Project Manager

2009Printed in Canada on 100% post-consumer paper[FSC logo]

Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.

Walter Francl Architecture Inc.

Robert Ciccozzi Architecture Inc.

GlotmanSimpson Groupof Companies

GeoPaci c Consultants Ltd.

KD Engineering

Letterbox Design Group

Morrison Hersh eld

PWL PartnershipLandscape Architects Inc.

Quoin Project and CostManagement Ltd.

Recollective Consulting

Vector EngineeringServices Limited

FVB Energy Inc.

Femo Construction Ltd.

Horizon LandscapeContractors Inc.

Jeda Mechanical Ltd.

Pitt Meadows Mechanical

Power Drywall Ltd.

Sentrax MechanicalContracting Ltd.

William Kelly & SonsPlumbing Contractors Ltd.

Aqua-Tex Scienti c Consulting Ltd.

Blue MountainTechnologies, Inc.

Commonwealth HistoricResource Management Ltd.

IBI Group

Levelton Consultants Ltd.

Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

Pioneer Consultants Ltd.

Contrada Enterprises Ltd.

Energy Aware Technology Inc.

Sandwell Engineering Inc.

FAMA Industries Corp.

Inform Projects Partnership

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Trane

PLATINUM

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Millennium SoutheastFalse Creek Properties Ltd.

Millennium Group is an award-winning Vancouver-based team of

professionals and the developersof Millennium Water OlympicVillage. They are renowned fortheir disciplined commitmentto high quality architecture andluxurious design. At 1.4 millionsquare feet, Millennium Wateris the largest single-phasedevelopment in Canada. It isdesigned to be Canadas largestLEED Gold neighbourhood and aleading model of how to build asustainable residential community.

Metro-Can Construction(OV) Ltd.

Metro-Can Construction is amongthe top 50 general contractors

in Canada and the top ve inBritish Columbia. Focusing onturning visions into buildings anddelivering value to their clients,Metro-Can has completed over280 institutional, commercial andmulti-family residential projects.Since placing the rst foundationson the Millennium Water projectin June 2007, Metro-Can hasproceeded to construct 10 LEEDGold buildings incorporating 540condominiums, 250 social housingunits, 60,000 square feet ofretail space and a LEED Platinumcommunity and boating centre.

ITC Construction Group

ITC Construction Group hasproven capabilities in multi-unit

residential, commercial and socialhousing construction projects.Established in 1983, they havesuccessfully completed over 100projects for private developersand public initiatives in BC andAlberta. ITC is proud to be theGeneral Contractor of the eightluxury waterfront towers atMillennium Water. These LEEDGold certi ed structures consistof 315 condominiums and will becomplemented by 13,619 squarefeet of commercial/retail space atthe ground level. Quality Counts.

Rennie Marketing Systems

Rennie Marketing Systems(RMS) proudly leads the sales

and marketing campaign forthe residential component ofMillennium Water. Led by BobRennie, RMS works closely asMillenniums representativeto bring to market the mostinnovative sustainable communityin North America. Maintaining theprojects identity of environmentalawareness, RMS utilizes eco-friendly elements throughoutthe marketing campaign. RMSmarketing objectives extendbeyond sales achievementsand include increasing globalawareness of a new standardof development.

Durante KreukLandscape Architects

Durante Kreuk is an award-winning landscape architectural

rm with over thirty yearsexperience in the private andpublic realms of design anddevelopment. A broad perspectiveand diverse thinking are thekey to creating a wide range ofsustainable, people-focused urbanplaces. At Millennium Water,the unique challenge of creatinga sustainable neighbourhoodthrough an integrated designprocess was both complex andrewarding. The result speaksfor itself.

SPONSORS / PARTNERS

22

VANOC

Merrick Architecture

Gomberoff Bell Lyon Architects Group

Cobalt Engineering Co. Ltd

Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd.

Keystone Environmental Ltd.

PacBlue Printing

SunProject Toro Inc.

VIA Architecture


23/24

Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation

Environment Canada

PARTNERS

Next Chapter: Planning + O lympicsChapter Two looks at the creation of the Of cial DevelopmentPlan for SEFC. When Vancouver wins the bid to host theOlympics, a number of conditions are imposed upon theOlympic Village site, and a timeline is set to completeconstruction of eight city blocks of development. This chapteris about shifting into high gear as Millennium and its designteam are chosen to develop the site.

SubscribeBe part of this historic resource. Subscribe to The ChallengeSeries e-bulletin to follow the story of Millennium Water:The Southeast False Creek Olympic Village.

Olympic International Inc.

Olympic International createscomfortable, healthy and energy-

conscious indoor environments.As a manufacturers representative,they are committed to bringingthe worlds most innovative andsustainable technology to localmarkets. The Millennium Waterproject utilizes radiant heatingand cooling technology, whichwill substantially reduce energyconsumption and system noise,increase available ceiling heightand improve overall thermalcomfort and indoor air quality.

Enerpro Systems Corp.

Enerpro Systems Corp. are marketleaders in intelligent energy

management for new constructionand infrastructure upgrades toexisting buildings. Since 1996,BCs only customizable energymanagement programs havebeen providing no-cost, full-service solutions that maximizeef ciencies in energy and wateruse, reduce consumption andprovide numerous economicbene ts. This groundbreakinginnovation has spurred a series of

rsts in energy management, suchas the ability to view a real-timedisplay of all energy and waterconsumption within 1,100 housingunits at Millennium Water.

Keith Panel Systems

Keith Panel Systems (KPS)is North Americas leader in

the design, manufacture andinstallation of rainscreen wallsystems. They are proud to be partof constructing Millennium Water.The wall systems installed by KPSwill preserve the performanceintegrity of the exteriors, reducethe heating and cooling loads,provide an extended service lifeand are virtually maintenancefree. Alucobond, Swisspearland specialty glass are the qualityexterior nish products featuredon proprietary systems by KPS.

Wilco Landscape Westcoast Inc.

Wilco has become expert in theconstruction and delivery of built

landscapes. Offering projectmanagement and landscapeconstruction services for civil,parks and development projects,Wilco is a leader in successfullydelivering complex projects to itsclients. Wilco thrives on diversityand challenges and seeks outprojects that require the depth ofexperience and knowledge thatthey have accumulated throughthe vast array of projects thecompany has built throughout BCand Western Canada.

Information Sources

page 06: City of Vancouver SustainabilityOf ce, www.vancouver.ca/sustainability/climate_protection.htm; page 07: Dr. Fiona

Crofton, www.4sustainability.com/pdfs/WSEFC2.htm; page 08: City of VancouverCommunity Services, www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/history.htm, www.vancouver.ca/olympicvillage/timeline.htm

Image Credits

front cover: City of Vancouver Archives, CVAMap 547; inside front cover and page 01:Danny Singer, 2009; page 04: City ofVancouver SEFC Project Of ce; pages 08-09:City of Vancouver SEFC Project Of ce;

pages 10-11: #1 City of Vancouver Archives,Pan N161C, photographer W.J. Moore; #2 City of Vancouver, Dist P35, photographerL.A. Hamilton; #3 City of VancouverArchives, P53, artist Will Ferris; #4 City ofVancouver Archives, WAT P128; #5 City ofVancouver Archives, M-7-50, photographerW.J. Moore; #6 City of Vancouver Archives,M-7-9, photographer W.J. Moore; pages12-13: top and bottom City of VancouverCommunity Services; background City ofVancouver Archives, M-7-9, photographerW.J. Moore; page 15: City of VancouverArchives, CVA 99-4317, photographer StuartThomson; page 17: Fiona Crofton, 1998;page 19: both images Stanley Kwok, 1997;page 20: left Bob Worden, 1998; right Taylor, Baker, McGarva, Hart/ VIA Architecture,1998; page 21: all images Taylor, Baker,McGarva, Hart/ VIA Architecture, 1998;back cover: Danny Singer, 2009

www.thechallengeseries.ca/subscribe


24/24

F R O N T C O V E R

T h i s e a r

l y ( a n d s o m e w

h a t i d e a l

i z e d

) m a p p o r t r a y s

V a n c o u v e r a s a

b u s y

i n d u s t r i a

l h u b ,

a n d s h o w s

t h e s i z e o

f F a l s e

C r e e k a t

t h e

t i m e .

B r i d g e s

l e f t t o r i g h

t a r e : W e s

t m i n s t e r

A v e n u e

B r i d g e

( n o w

M a i n

S t r e e t

) , C a m

b i e

S t r e e t

B r i d g e , G

r a n v

i l l e

S t r e e t

B r i d g e , a

n d K i t s i l a n o

T r e s

t l e .

B A C K

C O V E R

S o u

t h e a s

t F a l s e

C r e e k s e a w a l

l , t u f t s a n

d g r a n

i t e .

Tcs01 Booklet

Documents

Transcript of Tcs01 Booklet