13th Annual BDO LLP Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards
The Okanagan College Student Residence was the recipient of the Judges Choice Award sponsored by BDO LLP. Left, Curtis Morcom of Okanagan College and Ken Carmichael of sponsor BDO LLP.
KELOWNA – Okanagan College Kelowna Student Residences was named the Judges’ Choice Best Overall entry in the 13th Annual BDO LLP Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards held Thursday night at the Coast Capri Hotel.
Bird Construction Co. was the general contractor for the building at 880 KLO Road, Kelowna, which also was named the Award of Excellence winner in the Affordable Housing category. Architect was GEC Architecture.
The new Student Residence at Okanagan College’s Kelowna Campus is a landmark project that exemplifies the College’s commitment to sustainability, indigenization, and student well-being. The residence is set back from K.L.O. Road to create an inviting forecourt centred around a mass timber student lounge.
Architect of the Year was LIME Architecture Inc. and Construction Company of the Year was EllisDon.
There were 37 finalists in the event, which celebrates the best commercial, industrial, community and multi-family buildings, with entries coming from Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Armstrong, Vernon, Coldstream, Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Penticton and Osoyoos.
Gold sponsors were RE/MAX Commercial and Snap Printing, with Category Sponsors being TOMTAR Roofing & Sheet Metal/TRS, Bannister Kamloops (Chevrolet Hyundai Cadillac), Insta Container Modification, Orion Construction, Sandman Hotels, Canada Outdoor Kitchens, along with Media & Engagement Sponsor Kamloops Truss (Networking Reception), Hero Security and Green Sheet Construction Data.
Other Award of Excellence winners in their categories were:
Royal Inland Hospital, Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower, won the Community Institutional Award of Excellence, sponsored by TRS Building Envelope/Tomtar. EllisDon, the General Contractor of the project also won the Construction Company of the Year. Left, Alan Calder of Ellis Don and Zach Johnson.
Community Institutional: Royal Inland Hospital – Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower, 311 Columbia Street, Kamloops.
General Contractor: Ellis Don Corporation. Architect: Parkin Architects Western. This consists of a new, nine-storey patient care tower. The new tower integrates into the existing RIH campus, thanks to a multi-storey sky lit atrium that acts as the connection point for the new and old construction. This space creates a wonderful indoor hospital amenity that was provided by EllisDon as an additional feature of the design beyond the minimum Project Agreement requirements.
Revelry Food + Music Hub was the winner of the Award of Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism, sponsored by Bannister Chevrolet Cadillac. Photographed is Lee Simon, owner of the project.
Hospitality & Tourism: Revelry Food + Music Hub at 1383 Ellis Street, Kelowna.
Developer: Revelry Holdings. General Contractor: Hammer Construction. Architect: Norman Goddard Architecture. Extensive renovations were completed at the former produce warehouse on Ellis Street to accommodate Revelry Food+Music Hub and its versatile business concept. The combination of a dining room, a music hall and an urban meeting space all under one roof demanded unparalleled flexibility from the facility to support each aspect of the operation while considering adaptation requirements and labour efficiencies.
The Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant received the Industrial Award of Excellence, sponsored by the Sandman Hotel Group. Left to right, Sandon Honeyman, Sandman Hotel representative – Michael Collins, Cal Meiklejohn, Tom Cerajeski and Elyse Blais.
Industrial: Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant at 1500 Rosewood Drive, West Kelowna.
General Contractor: Maple Reinders Construction. Architect: MAD Studio (Meiklejohn Architectural Design Studio). The Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant was designed and constructed to allow the City of West Kelowna to treat an additional 70 million litres of treated water a day for the expanding city. MAD Studio was hired by AECOM, the primary consultant, to design the “shell” of their water treatment plant. The beginning of the project began back in 2017.
450 Parc won the Multi-Family Condominium Award of Excellence, sponsored by Green Sheet Construction Data. Left, is Carla Sulina of Green Sheet, Craig Mohr of Vineyard Developments and Aman Dhindsa of Green Sheet.
Multi-Family Condominium: 450 Parc at 450 Groves Avenue, Kelowna.
Developer & General Contractor: Vineyard Developments. Architect: Zeidler Architecture. 450 Parc was designed never to be replicated, marking a defining moment in luxury real estate, and most of the homes sold quickly as a result. It has a private lobby, a semi-private elevator and all units are owner occupied. The building is a reflection of architectural brilliance and sophisticated living. The design philosophy marries old-world charm with contemporary aesthetics, akin to the timeless architecture found in old town Manhattan.
The Award of Excellence in the Multi-Family Town Home category went to The Monarch, sponsored by Canada Outdoor Kitchens. Laura Reners of C2 Homes received the award from Ernie Lussier of Canada Outdoor Kitchens.
Multi-Family Townhome: The Monarch at 7920 Kidston Road, Vernon.
Developer: C2 Developments. General Contractor: Brentwell Construction. Architect: Prime Building Design. Perched on a gentle slope, rising just above home roof sight lines, the lake and exquisite panoramas, sit a contemporary collection of elegant luxury homes. This parcel was tucked inside a beautiful community in Cold Stream. We could not have envisioned a more perfect location. Steps away from treasured Kalamalka Lake.
Landmark 7 was the recipient of the Award of Excellence in the Office category. Left is Mikhail Ortlieb of sponsor, Orion Construction, presenting the award to Stoke Tonne of Meiklejohn Architects Inc.
Office: Landmark 7 at 1700 Dickson Avenue, Kelowna.
Developer: Stober Group. General Contractor: Al Stober Construction. Architect: Meiklejohn Architects. Nestled in the heart of the city, the Landmark District is Kelowna’s foremost business and lifestyle hub. With swift access to Highway 97, five minutes from downtown, and 20 minutes from Kelowna International Airport and the UBC Okanagan Campus. Office spaces in the Landmark District are designed to foster employee engagement, drive collaboration, and facilitate learning and mentorship for high-performing teams.
The Arbour – Phase 2 won the Purpose Built Rental Award of Excellence sponsored by Hero Security. Presenting the award is (left) Harjit Toora, of Hero Security to (center) Cameron Costley, GM of Whiteworth Holdings and Mahik Toora of Hero Security.
Purpose Built Rental: The Arbour Phase II at 4131 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna.
Developer: Whitworth Holdings. General Contractor: Sawchuk Developments. Architect: Meiklejohn Architects. The Arbour – Phase II is a 73 Suite Project, comprised of Studio, One, Two, and Three Bedroom Suites and Townhomes. In addition to ample surface parking, there is also an internal concrete Parkade with 73 stalls. These include a number of EV charging stations. Built specifically with the rental market in mind, The Arbour – Phase II replaced an old, 26 unit motel style rental on the property.
Sweláps Market won Award of Excellence in the Retail category.
Retail: Sweláps Market at 302 Yellowhead Highway, Unit 100, Kamloops.
Developer: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. General Contractor: Bird Stuart Olson Industrial. Architect: SAHURI + Associates Architecture. Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc envisioned owning a Grocery Store that would offer better access to groceries for community members. The development of a Grocery Store on-reserve was a goal within their Comprehensive Community Plan. The Project is part of the Chief Louis Centre Master Plan Development, a culturally significant development for the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc.
Merit Awards for runner-up buildings were:
Community Institutional: Kelowna International Airport Childcare Facility at 1-5533 Airport Way, Kelowna.
Developer: Kelowna International Airport. General Contractor: TKI Construction. Architect: Station One Architects. YLW and the City of Kelowna partnered with the YMCA of Southern Interior BC and KF Aerospace to build a new licensed childcare facility on the YLW campus. The project will support families who work at YLW, KFA, the city’s largest employer, and the surrounding community by providing access to 87 new quality, affordable and inclusive childcare spaces.
Hospitality & Tourism: Four Points by Sheraton Expansion Kelowna at 5505 Airport Way, Kelowna.
Developer & General Contractor: Argus Properties. Architect: BlueGreen Architecture. The expansion of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel is in response to the growing demand for accommodations, the management team embarked on this project to enhance their service offerings. The initiative successfully introduced 54 additional guest rooms, significantly boosting the hotel’s capacity and improving its ability to serve both business and leisure travelers.
Industrial: Mountain Lake Industrial at 2045 Matrix Crescent, Kelowna
Developer: CHIP Developments. General Contractor: Bartek Construction. Architect: BlueGreen Architecture. Mountain Lake Industrial was crafted to boost both its visual allure and practicality. Initial plans for the building took the form of a straightforward, rectangular shape with a uniform facade and sparse decorative elements. Recognizing the untapped potential of the structure during the planning phase, we embarked on a series of targeted enhancements aimed at significantly improving its exterior appearance.
Silver Stream at 325 and 329 Silver Stream Road, Kamloops.
Developer: Cedar Coast Capital Corporation. General Contractor: Orion Construction. Architect: Architecture Panel Inc. Silver Stream exemplifies a successful design-build collaboration that overcame significant environmental and logistical challenges. Spanning 10 acres and consisting of two buildings totaling 196,000 square feet, this project strategically capitalizes on its prime location just off the Trans-Canada Highway. It serves both local businesses and those requiring a distribution or logistics facility in the BC interior.
Multi-Family Condominium: Willow Park at 235 Hollywood Road North, Kelowna.
Developer/General Contractor: Argus Properties. Architect: New Town Services Architecture & Engineering. The Woods at Willow Park redefines affordable urban living with a modern twist, nestled in the heart of Kelowna’s vibrant Rutland neighborhood. This stunning building is enveloped by lush greenery and features a carefully curated selection of bright and stylish studio, one, and two-bedroom suites, totaling 95 homes. lockers, along with suites that boast full and Juliet balconies to enhance the living experience.
Retail: Kelowna Mercedes Benz at 108-889 Vaughan Avenue, Kelowna.
Developer: RJS Holdings. General Contractor: Fillmore Construction Management. Architect: HSEA Architecture. The first new Mercedes Benz prototype for Canada, and second in North America. Main challenges’ were taking the concept developed in Europe and applying it to North America as ACM panels sizes, specialty glass availability are quite different resulting in modifications to fit the product availability in North America. Dealership is three levels.
The official program for the event, which includes photos and descriptions of each building, is available for viewing at:
https://www.calameo.com/businessexaminer/read/0068855170062655d91eb