Client: Metro Vancouver
Location: North Vancouver, BC

This project is a large-scale piece of essential civic infrastructure on a complex downtown site immediately adjacent to intensive commercial and industrial uses, an established residential neighbourhood, and a community greenway. To achieve Metro Vancouver’s commitment to progressive sustainability, the consultant team embarked on a two-year Integrated Design Process to develop a project definition and preliminary design. The goal was to realize the potential of four key project goals: robust levels of secondary water treatment; optimization of Integrated Resource Recovery; the utilization of the principles and techniques of advanced sustainability; and the creation of a strong community asset.

Through a series of community workshops and stakeholder charettes, issues of ecological health, social integration, and resource efficiency rose to the forefront. Working with Metro Vancouver’s project management and education staff, the stewardship of water resources, resource recovery (both energy and water), and watershed and ecosystem health were identified as important themes. The completed Project Definition Report includes a vision with aggressive targets for energy use, community integration, and overall project performance, including provisions for an ecosystem of indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, active and passive education opportunities, and moments for demonstrating innovation through public art and exhibitions.

Local Practice is now assisting in the implementation of this vision as Metro Vancouver’s Owner’s Representative, providing ongoing review of the design and construction process. The final design includes an odour abatement system, rainwater harvesting and reuse, water conservation and reclamation within the plant, and the removal of 90% organic material and suspended solids. Additional community amenities include a public plaza, education spaces, and community meeting spaces. Biogas produced in the treatment process will be used to provide power and heat for the plant. The new plant will be constructed to LEED Gold and Envision Gold certification standards.

Project Team: Local Practice (Architectural Project Management),Miller Hull Partnership (Architectural Lead + Prime Consultant), AECOM in partnership with CH2MHill (engineering),Integration (Bill Reed + the 7Group), Space2Place Design Inc (Community Planning + Landscape Architecture), Michel Labrie Architect (Sustainability), Compass (Integrated Resource Management), Raincoast Applied Ecology (Ecology + Environmental), BRC Acoustics (Noise + Acoustic Controls), Ken Lum (Public Art Programming)

Anticipated Completion: 2021