Bowen Island Community Health Centre

  This is a recently completed, community driven (and financed) health care project on Bowen Island. The building is about 12,000 sq ft on 2 floors, and has doctors' offices/exam rooms, procedure rooms, dental, Lifelabs, a gym, as well as space for community education and day programs (through Vancouver Coastal Health) all under one roof. The construction was done during Covid, which added to the challenge, but the ongoing energy and optimism of a small army of volunteers in the community managed to get it done. 

How can a health care centre be open, warm, and inviting while also respecting patient privacy? Our solution to this tension was to have the most public parts of the building full of windows and natural light; the entry/waiting area/flex room have extensive windows and give a very transparent and open appearance from the street. The street side entrances also have oversized eaves with skylights, for maximum weather protection. 

Windows get smaller towards the more private clinical areas, but even the exam rooms and procedure rooms have natural light and ventilation. And a series of dormers allows light to spill deep into the building.

Interior finishes in health care are often ruthlessly ‘efficient’ but completely lacking in warmth or visual interest. We did a few simple manoeuvers to distinguish the space,  such as bringing heavy timbers into the main entry area and waiting room, adding feature lighting in select locations, pleasant and colourful furnishings, as well as plenty of artwork on the walls.

For more information: https://bowenhealthcentre.com

Project team: Dan Parke architect, Gary Scrivens intern architect, Won Kang, Geoff Bartle, Vanessa Jansen (interiors)

Structural consultant: Ennova Engineering

Mechanical consultant: AB Consulting

Electrical consultant: EDG 

Civil: Creus 

Landscape: ETA

Envelope: Busque Engineering

Building code: TCCP (Barry Thorson)

Geotech: Terrane

Costing: Quoin

Environmental: Maddison Consulting

Contractor: Titan Construction, Jacques Viljoen project manager, Shane O'Neill site super

Photos: Tristan Deggan

  We worked closely with a couple moving to Bowen Island to design a new 2700 square foot house. Theirs was a typical west coast site--steep, rocky, wind-swept, and with spectacular views. The house was placed just back from a steep drop-off, to allow for decks and patios on the view side. Occasionally whales can be seen (and heard) from the decks. We worked extensively with models to ensure the house nestled into the complex topography and really took advantage of the spectacular views. The floor plan gives some separation between the master bedroom and a 'guest' wing, which has two bedrooms and a separate bathroom. The lower floor has a recreation room, laundry and services.

Project team: Dan Parke architect

Contractor: Rick Burrows

Structural: Eric Man

Geotech: GVH

This new facility replaces an old and outdated veterinary clinic on Capilano Road in North Vancouver. This site is basically an island amongst busy roads and highway on-ramps, and the shape and form of the building were dictated by the geometry of the lot. This site is very centrally located, easy to access, and is highly visible–all good qualities for an animal clinic that includes 24 hour emergency care. The building has underground parking, and two levels of clinical space/kennels above, as well as a suite for staff. In addition, the District of North Vancouver partnered with the owner to lease space for their animal shelter, rather than build a new facility. For more information:

https://mountainside24er.ca/

project team: Dan Parke architect/Gary Scrivens intern architect (architecture and interiors)

structural consultant: Thomas Leung Engineering 

mechanical consultant: Flow Engineering

electrical consultant: Flow Engineering 

animal care facility consultant: Design Learned 

landscape: ETA

envelope: Level 5

sustainability: E3 Ecogroup

building code: GHL

civil: Creus 

geotech: Horizon

contractor: Kindred Construction, Peter Winckler project manager, Daren Adams site super