tul’al’txw: Student Housing Commons, at North Island College at 2300 Ryan Road in Courtenay, was the Award of Excellence winner in the Community Institutional category as well as receiving Judges Choice at the 19th Vancouver Island Building Awards.
NANAIMO – tul’al’txw: Student Housing Commons in Courtenay was named the Judges’ Choice Best Overall Winner at the 19th Annual Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards Thursday, April 30 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
A near record 50 finalists were recognized in the celebration of the best of commercial, industrial, institutional and revenue-producing properties north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island that were completed in 2025.
Simba Investments was the Platinum Title Sponsor of the event, with Gold Sponsors being Coastal Community Credit Union, Bevan A Living Workplace and REMAX Commercial Camosun. Category sponsors were WA Architects, IWCD, Edgett Excavating, RBC Royal Bank, International Impact and Kinetic Construction, and Yellow Sheet Construction Data and SW Event Technology as Media Sponsors for the event, which was organized by Business Examiner News Group.
“It was again an honour to host so many of the Island’s development and construction sector leaders at this year’s Commercial Building Awards,” says John MacDonald, Publisher of the Business Examiner News Group. “This is our 19th year producing the event, with the number of Finalist projects speaking to the growth of the region and its future potential.”
tul’al’txw: Student Housing Commons, at North Island College at 2300 Ryan Road in Courtenay, was also the Award of Excellence winner in the Community Institutional category, sponsored by WA Architects. Urban One Builders was the General Contractor, HDR Architecture the Architect/Designer, and Houle Electric the Electrical Contractor.
In the project, 217 beds are arranged across three four-storey wings that surround a central outdoor space, that promotes belongingness. A rich mix of unit types responds to a diversity of student profiles. Gathering spaces, large and small, formal and informal, are distributed vertically and horizontally bolster interaction and activity among residents.
The Civil Contractor of the Year Award went to Stone Pacific Contracting, the Commercial Electrician of the Year to DenMar Electric, Engineer of the Year to Rocky Point Engineering, Finishing Sub Trade of the Year to Current Millwork, and General Contractor of the Year to Kinetic Construction.
Other Award of Excellence Winners In Each Category were:
Affordable Housing
The Award of Excellence in Affordable Housing went to Cedarwood Citaapi Mahtii of Port Alberni, sponsored by Coastal Community Credit Union.
Cedarwood Citaapi Mahtii – 4210 Cedarwood Street, Port Alberni. Owner: Citaapi Mahtii Housing Society/Ahousaht, General Contractor: IWCD, Architect/Designer: DYS Architecture, Electrical: Osprey Electric.
This is a four-storey, 35-unit development designed to provide safe, stable, and culturally supportive housing. This woodframe building offers a mix of studio, accessible one-bedroom, two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes to accommodate diverse households. The project primarily serves members of the Ahousaht First Nation with low to moderate incomes.
Green & Sustainability
Tlowitsis Carving Studio received the Award of Excellence in Green & Sustainability, sponsored by IWCD.
Tlowitsis Carving Studio – 3220 York Road, Campbell River. Owner: Tlowitsis First Nation, General Contractor: Lacasse Construction, Architect/Designer: Raymond de Beeld Architecture.
The carving/ wood working studio is the first permanent public building in the new self -sustaining community of Nenagwas. The facility includes the main workshop plus office, storage, accessible washroom, and utility room with dust collection, and treed rear exterior room for traditional hand carving outside that traditionally was done in the outdoors.
Hospitality & Tourism
Fairwinds Landing was the recipient of the Hospitality & Tourism Award of Excellence, sponsored by Bevan.
Fairwinds Landing – 521 Dolphin Drive, Nanoose Bay. Owner: Suncliff Properties Group, Architect/Designer and General Contractor: Omicron Architecture Engineering Construction Ltd., Electrical: Mazzei Electric.
Fairwinds Landing involved the construction management of a comprehensive 2,500 sq. ft.
interior and exterior renovation to transform a vacant, two-storey office shell into six oceanfront hotel suites and a 1,000 sq. ft. real estate Discovery Center. The CM team was responsible for managing all phases of construction within an active waterfront environment.
Mixed Use
574 Cumberland Road received the Mixed Use Award of Excellence, sponsored by Remax Commercial Camosun.
574 Cumberland Road – 574 Cumberland Road, Courtenay. Owner/General Contractor: Simba Investments Ltd., Architect/Designer: Carson Jensen Architect, Electrical: ABL Electric Ltd.
574 Cumberland Road is a contemporary four-storey, West Coast-inspired mixed-use development located in the heart of downtown Courtenay. The project delivers 52 purpose-built residential rental homes integrated with ground-floor commercial space, supported by underground parking, controlled building access, and secure bicycle storage that enhance functionality, resident convenience, and security for residents.
Multi Family Condominium
The Mint of Nanaimo received the Multi Family Condominium Award of Exellence, sponsord by Edgett Excavating.
The Mint – 6320 Sentinal Drive, Nanaimo. Owner: Mint Developments, General Contractor: Westmark Construction Ltd., Architect/Designer: Salehi Architect Inc., Electrical: Osprey Electric.
Mint Nanaimo is a brand new condominium building comprised of 66 units with high-end finishings, and ocean and mountain views from select from units. With studio, one, two, two bedrooms plus den and 3-bedroom units, the Mint is an excellent space to find a new Nanaimo home. It is conveniently located near many local amenities and outdoor recreation including Woodgrove Shopping Centre.
Multi Family Townhome
Fisher Landing of Campbell River won the Multi Family Townhome Award of Excellence, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank.
Fisher Landing – 444 Fisher Road, Campbell River. Owner: Fisher Landing Ltd., General Contractor: D. Akers Property Solutions Ltd., Architect/Designer: Helm Residential Design & Drafting, Electrical: Drewry Electrical Ltd.
Fisher Landing is a thoughtfully executed strata community. Comprised of two-storey fourplexes, the development delivers 16 residences designed to help bridge the affordability gap between renting and single-family home ownership. The vision for Fisher
Landing was to create attainable, high-quality homes where buyers would not have to compromise on comfort or performance.
Office
We Wai Kai Admin Building of Campbell River won the Office Award of Excellence, sponsored by Coastal Community Credit Union.
We Wai Kai Admin Building – 2025 Eagle Drive, Campbell River. Owner: We Wai Kai Nation, General Contractor: Ketza Pacific Contracting, Architect/Designer: WA Architects Ltd., Electrical: Osprey Electric.
The We Wai Kai Nation Administrative Building represents a significant achievement in culturally grounded community infrastructure. It beautifully translates the Nation’s heritage, governance needs, and long term vision into an enduring architectural expression. Conceived as a five storey, 116,229 sq ft hub, the building was designed to strengthen connection between the Nation, its members, partner agencies, and the public.
Purpose Built Rental
Edgewater Seniors Living of Nanaimo, won the Purpose Built Rental Award of Excellence, sponsored by Simba Investments
Edgewater Seniors Living – 4979 Willis Road, Nanaimo. General Contractor: Avenir Development, Architect: Finlayson Bonnet, Interior Designer: BC Interior Design Group, Electrical: Mazzei Electric.
Edgewater Seniors Living Resort was designed for seniors seeking a community that supports an active and socially connected lifestyle within an environment reflecting the elegance of coastal resort living. The objective was to create an immersive interior experience that enhances the human experience while communicating luxury, comfort, and vibrancy.
Renovations & Tenant Improvements
The Award of Excellence in Renovation & Tenant Improvement went to Manana Resort & Marina.
Manana Resort & Marina Revitalization – 4760 Brenton Page Road, Ladysmith. Owner: Raven Point Project Ltd., General Contractor: FMC Holdings Ltd., Architect/Designer: BJK Architecture Inc., Electrical: Alt Electrical.
This represents the revitalization of a historic Ladysmith Harbour waterfront property into a vibrant destination for marine tourism, hospitality, and community connection. The vision behind the project was to thoughtfully transform the aging marina and resort into a modern boutique waterfront destination while preserving the character and spirit of Vancouver Island’s coastal culture.
Retail
Duncan Hyundai won the Award of Excellence in Retail, sponsored by Bevan.
Duncan Hyundai – 2801 Roberts Road, Duncan. Owner: Duncan Hyundai, General Contractor: IWCD, Architect/Designer: Alan Lowe Architect Inc., Electrical: DenMar Electric.
The new Hyundai dealership in Duncan was a renovation and expansion project – driven by the need to meet evolving manufacturer standards while positioning the dealership for long-term growth. With direction from Hyundai Motor Company to upgrade the facility, the project became more than a compliance exercise – it was an opportunity to reimagine the customer experience and modernize the space from the ground up.
AWARDS OF MERIT
Community Institutional
Ems Aye – Our House Cultural Facility – 5194 Highway 101, Powell River. Owner: Tla’amin Nation, General Contractor: Dawn Construction (2018), Architect/Designer: Mackin Architects Ltd., Electrical: Osprey Electric.
Green & Sustainability
Qualicum Beach Skatepark Reconstruction – 747 Jones Street, Qualicum Beach. Owner: Town of Qualicum Beach, Architect/Designer and General Contractor: New Line Skateparks Inc./Building Skateboarding.
Mixed Use
East Village – 136 Second Avenue, Qualicum Beach. Owner: Kelland Properties/Windley Contracting, General Contractor: Windley Contracting, Architect/Designer: Daryoush Firouzli Architect, Electrical: Davies Electric.
Multi Family Condominium
Lumina – 45 Haliburton Street, Nanaimo. Owner: Principle Property Group, General Contractor: Parkshore Projects, Architect/Designer: Matthew T. Hansen Architects, Electrical: RB Engineering Ltd.
Purpose Built Rental
Salish Sands – 1165 McMillan Street, Parksville. Owner: Canargue Properties Inc., General Contractor: Saywell Contracting, Architect/Designer: D Architecture, Electrical: Osprey Electric.
Uptown Residence – 7110 Edgehill Crescent, Powell River. Owner: Veyron Properties Group Ltd., General Contractor: Crowne Pacific Developments, Architect/Designer: WA Architects Ltd., Electrical: Wired Electrical & Design.
Renovation & Tenant Improvement
Midland Tools Renovation – 2230 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay. Owner: Ryan Johns, General Contractor: Lacasse Construction Ltd., Architect/Designer: PHI Architecture Inc., Electrical: Progressive Systems.
The Souvenir Book featuring all the finalist projects, photos and descriptions, is available through: https://www.calameo.com/read/00688551780bddc6fdd37
