UBC Okanagan Nechako Commons, built by Sawchuk Developments, and designed by SAHURI + Partners Architecture, won the Award of Excellence in the Community Institutional and Judges choice Award. Left to right: Parm Saini of UBC Properties Trust, Shannon Dunn of UBC Okanagan, Katie Simpson of UBC Properties Trust, Gord Sandrin of Sawchuk Developments and Walt Moreno of the sponsor of the award, Horizon Contracting Group
KELOWNA – UBC Okanagan Nechako Commons of Kelowna was named the Judges Choice Best Overall Winner at the 11th edition of the Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards , presented by Freedom Capital, September 15 at the Coast Capri Hotel.
The event featured 33 finalists from Kamloops to Osoyoos, as independent judges decided the top commercial, industrial, institutional and revenue-producing buildings completed in the period between January 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022.
Sawchuk Developments Co. Ltd. of Kelowna built the UBC Okanagan Nechako Commons building, which also won the Award of Excellence in the Community Institutional category and BX Elementary School Expansion of Vernon in the Renovation, as well as two other awards during the celebration, including the Safety Award and Construction Company of the Year Award.
The Hatching Post of West Kelowna was the recipient of the Award of Excellence in Hospitality/Tourism. Left to right: Mark MacDonald of the Business Examiner, Kaelynn D’Amico and Annabel Fairweather of ROV Engineering Consultants.
The Nechako Housing Commons is a 137,000 square foot, 6-storey facility, housing a 220- bed residence, associated support and social spaces, together with a comprehensive “Commons Block” program providing social, study and administrative support and facilities to the residents of this and other existing and planned residences on campus as well as seasonal hotel and conference guests. The building houses a 500-seat dining hall and associated support spaces, which can serve approximately 3,000 students per day.
“Once again, the quality of the buildings was excellent, and we think it gets better every time these awards are held,” says John MacDonald, Publisher of the Business Examiner News Group, which has coordinated the event since its inception. “It was fantastic to have so many companies and organizations out to celebrate their fine accomplishments and buildings from all over the Thompson Okanagan region.”
Radio personality Tamara “TJ” Lindsay was Master of Ceremonies.
Here are the winners and runners-up in this year’s event:
Awards of Excellence (Category Winners):
Kris McLaughlin of sponsor RE/Max Commercial (MCL Real Estate Group), right, presents the Award of Excellence to the Canadian Flight Centre, received by Peter Schlieck President and CEO of the Canadian Flight Centre.
Affordable Housing, sponsored by Green Sheet Construction Data Ltd.: CMHA Vernon – Albert Place Expansion of Vernon – Owner: CMHA Vernon Albert Street Expansion; Developer: Terra Housing, General Contractor: Katawa Construction Ltd.; Architect/Designer: Lake Monster Studio Architecture + Design.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Vernon has expanded the existing grounds of their facility, “Albert Place”. This project has three double-stacked row housing buildings designed around a central courtyard that links to an existing building. The concept behind this expansion was to foster community engagement by creating moments for children and families to engage with seniors or other tenants of the facility. Through the placement of street furniture, eating areas, playgrounds and community gardening elements, tenants are encouraged to interact with one another within this active public space.
Community Institutional, sponsored by Horizon Contracting Group: UBC Nechako Commons – Owner/Developer: UBC Okanagan Nechako Commons; Architect/Designer: Teeple Architects and Sahuri + Associates Architecture Inc.; General Contractor: Sawchuk Developments.
Construction Company of the Year, sponsored by Pushor Mitchell LLP Lawyers: Sawchuk Developments.
The Award of Excellence in the Multi-Family Condominium, sponsored by the Green Sheet, went to Cawston of Kelowna. Left to right: Aman Dhindsa and Carla Sulina of Green Sheet Construction Data, Megan Bowers, Paul Pasutto, and Jeff Burton of Innocept Developments.
Hospitality/Tourism, sponsored by Business Examiner News Group: The Hatching Post of West Kelowna – Owner/Developer: Jason Parkes Customs; Architect/Designer: Lake Monster Studios; General Contractor: Bronag Contracting Ltd.
Sponsor, Pushor Mitchell lawyer Eric Ledding (left) presented the Construction Award of Excellence to Gord Sandrin of Sawchuk Developments.
The Hatching Post is located along West Kelowna’s wine trail to provide an authentic,down-to-earth brew-pub experience as a reprieve from the wine tasters palate. The western genre is hammed-up with found materials from the inside out while featuring a solid exterior rain screen package along with a classic western-facade and elegant wood windows that celebrate the rustic views of Mount Boucherie. One can watch the sun go down on the western courtyard or people-watch along Boucherie road on the eastern deck while sipping local beer made on site. As a small site surrounded by agricultural land, the design intent was to acknowledge the wine trail while making our own inclusive experience.
Industrial, sponsored by RE/MAX Commercial: Canadian Flight Centre of Kamloops – Owner/Developer: Canadian Flight Centre; Architect/Designer: Project Green Architecture; General Contractor: DW Builders.
Creek Side Terraces of Kelowna took home the Award of Excellence in Multi-Family Townhouse, sponsored by Westeck Windows & Doors. Left to right: Donna LaPlante of Novation Architecture, and TJ Robertson of Westeck Windows & Doors.
Canadian Flight Centre has a 10,000 square foot footprint aircraft hangar/offices for aircraft maintenance and flight school. 6,000 square feet of solar panels provide sufficient power to operate the building, level 3 DC super charger for EVs as well as future electric planes. Architecturally designed for optimized solar efficiency.
Office, Sponsored by Sun Life-Financial Dream Solutions Inc.: Siwoski Professional Building of Vernon – Owner: Siwoski Holdings Ltd.; Developer/General Contractor: Chriscan Construction; Architect/Designer: GTA Architecture.
The Siwoski Professional building is a 10,000 sq. ft. ultra-modern steel, concrete and glass designed building with two leasehold units. It also features a rooftop patio with free standing paving stones and aluminum pergola. The second floor houses a 5,000 sq. ft. state of the art dental clinic with wall to wall glass and modern inviting design. The 12 operatories in the dental clinic allows for a large number of patients to be seen and their dental needs taken care of.
Multi-Family Condominium, sponsored by Green Sheet Construction Data Ltd.: Cawston of Kelowna – Owner/Developer: Innocept Developments; Architect/Designer: Bluegreen Architecture & Interiors; General Contractor: Pasutto Contracting.
Siwoski Professional Building of Vernon won the Award of Excellence In the office category which was sponsored by Financial Dream Solutions. Left to right: Neil MacDonald of Financial Dream Solutions, Lee Findlay of Chriscan Construction, Carlos Ponce of GTA Architecture, Dr. Arek Siwoski of Siwoski Dental, Jim Kitchin of Chriscan Construction.
Cawston is a boutique condominium project in downtown Kelowna that offers urbanites a way of life that prioritizes healthy and mindful living. From an architectural perspective, Cawston is influenced by the clean lines, rectilinear forms and crisp minimalism of modern design. Wherever possible, environmentally-friendly choices were made and high-end finishing’s come standard, allowing the quality of the material to speak for itself.
The Award of Excellence in the renovation category, sponsored by Black Press, went to BX Elementary School Expansion of Vernon. Left to right: Roxanne Mackintosh of Black Press, Gord Sandrin from Sawchuk Developments, and Karen Hill of Black Press.
Multi-Family Townhouse, sponsored by Westeck Windows & Doors: Creekside Terraces of Kelowna – Owner/Developer: LEcv8 Developments Ltd.; Architect/Designer: NOvation Architecture Ltd., General Contractor: Aesthetic Designs Construction Ltd.
This project features high end custom townhouses built on a sensitive redevelopment in fill site with numerous environmental challenges surrounding it, such as The Bellevue Creek riparian zone, McClure spring catchment area and riparian zone. These Townhomes were designed with concrete (ICF) party walls, and rooftop terraces complete with built in rooftop garden and irrigation systems.
Renovation, Sponsored by Black Press: BX Elementary School Expansion of Vernon – Owner/Developer: School District 22; Architect/Designer: MQN Architecture and Interior Design; General Contractor: Sawchuk Developments Co. Ltd.
The Award of Excellence in Retail, sponsored by William Wright, went to AADMI Commercial/Retail of Kamloops. Nick Renton of William Wright Commercial (left) received the award from John MacDonald of the Business Examiner News Group (right).
The BX Elementary project included a 17,400 square foot addition, along with the renovation of the existing library and music room. The addition added 10 new classrooms and 240 much needed seats to the overcapacity school. Before the addition, BX Elementary was operating at nearly 150% capacity, with many students spending their entire days in portables, and enrolment is expected to grow. The addition allowed 3 double wide portable to be removed from the property, making for more green space for the kids.
Retail, Sponsored by William Wright Commercial Real Estate Services: Aadmi Commercial/Retail of Kamloops – Owner/Developer: A&A Construction; Architect/Designer: JM Architecture Inc.; General Contractor: A&T Project Developments.
Aadmi is a single storey retail project housing generally food service providers such as Starbucks – Pizza Pizza and KFC. The project comfortably fi dts into the corner lot with drive-thru access and surface parking. Notable materials include James Hardie siding and stucco. Distinctive features include roof-sloped accent bays and drive-thru trellising. A strong pedestrian scale and access to the neighbouring community is note worthy.
Kamaljit Toora (left), and Harjit Toora (right) of Hero Security, presented the Safety Award of Excellence to Gord Sandrin of the Sawchuk Developments team (middle).
Safety Award, Sponsored by Hero Security: Sawchuk Developments Co Ltd.
Judges Choice (Best Overall Entry), sponsored by Freedom Capital: UBC Nechako Commons – Owner/Developer: UBC Okanagan; Architect/Designer: Teeple Architects; Sawchuk Developments Co. Ltd.
Awards of Merit (Category Runners-Up)
Affordable Housing, sponsored by Green Sheet Construction Data Ltd.: The Lightwell of Kamloops – Owner/Developer/General Contractor: Total Concept Developments Ltd. and Tri City Canada Inc.; Architect/Designer: Blue Green Architecture.
Community Institutional, sponsored by Horizon Contracting Group: Hank Grenda Middle School of Lake Country – Owner/Developer: Central Okanagan Public School; Architect/Designer: Station One Architect; General Contractor: Maple
Reinders Constructors Ltd.
Industrial, sponsored by RE/MAX Commercial: 996 Crowley Avenue of Kelowna – Owner/Developer: Emil Anderson Properties; Architect/Designer: Lime Architecture Inc.; General Contractor: Gerry Enns Contracting.
Multi-Family Condominium, sponsored by Green Sheet Construction Data Ltd.: Sole Rutland of Kelowna – Owner/Developer/General Contractor: Live Edge Okanagan Builders; Architect/Designer: MQN Architects.
Renovation, sponsored by Black Press: SRD K9s of BC of Kamloops – Owner/Developer: Cooper Companies; Architect/Designer: MacKinnon Architecture Inc.; General Contractor: Wrabel Brothers Construction Ltd.
The official Awards Book, featuring photos and details of all finalists, can be viewed at: https://en.calameo.com/businessexaminer/read/006885517797b745caab4
