May 21, 2008

The Whistler Sliding Centre (above) took home two Connie Awards. One was for public works and the other was the Century Award. The Sunset Community Centre (below) also took home a pair of Connies. It was deemed the best tilt-up structure and won the Grand Award.

Best concrete projects in B.C. recognized at Connie Awards

Bradley Fehr

editor

The Sunset Community Centre and the Whistler Sliding Centre were the big winners at the Connie Awards gala hosted by the B.C. Ready-Mixed Concrete Association.

The 3rd Annual Connie Awards were handed out on May 15 to the best concrete construction projects in the province at an awards ceremony in Vancouver.

Three finalists in each category were named before the gala, but only one took home the top prize.

“They (this year’s entries) really show the diversity of concrete,” said Carolyn Campbell, executive director of the BCRMCA.

The community and sliding centres each took home a pair of awards and were the only projects to win more than a single Connie.

The Sunset Community Centre in Vancouver was named the best tilt-up structure and also took home the Grand Award, which is given to the project that best exemplifies the use of concrete as a primary construction material.

All eight Connie winners were considered for this award.

“The Sunset Community Centre is really elegant,” Campbell said about the LEED Silver certified structure made from 46 uniquely shaped panels.

The judges also were impressed with what they saw.

They noted that it evoked an ability to expand how people perceive a conventional construction practice and how it was visually striking, dynamic in feel and technically proficient.

It was designed by Bing Thom Architects Inc and the structural engineer was Fast & Epp Structural Engineers.

The general contractor was Haebler Construction Ltd. and the ready-mixed concrete supplier was Ocean Construction Supplies Ltd.

The Whistler Sliding Centre was the other big winner and will be a sporting venue for the 2010 Olympics. It took top honours for public works and an additional award was created to honour its innovation.

“It was a hell of an engineering feat,” Campbell said.

The sliding centre is a combined bobsleigh, luge and skeleton venue with a 1,700 metre concrete track made up of a 150mm thick reinforced concrete thin shell structure.

“The Whistler Sliding Centre competed at a different level,” Campbell said.

“It was its own type of construction project.”

It is one of only 15 sliding tracks in the world.

The judges unanimously agreed that a brand new category should be created to recognize this engineering achievement. They said that the likes of such a project only comes along once in 100 years and hence, the Century Award was born.

Bentall 5 – Phase 2 was named the best cast-in-place concrete building. It was Vancouver’s first vertically phased office tower. The first phase included building 22 floors and Phase 2 added another 12 floors to the project, without disturbing the tenants on the first 22 floors.

For architectural concrete, Simon Fraser University Arts and Social Science Complex – Module 1 took home the Connie. It is an 81,000 square foot first phase of a 200,000 square foot project.

Exposed concrete is the primary material expression for the building.

Tapestry was named the best multi-family residential.

It is located at the south east corner of the Vancouver General Hospital Campus. The two buildings accommodate 230 residential suites as well as community facilities.

For mid to high-rise construction, The Hudson in Vancouver was the top dog. It is a 33 storey high rise containing more than 220,000 square feet of parkade, 86,000 square feet of commercial space and 423 residential units.

The ITB West Chevron Expansion project was named the best special application of concrete.

It was part of the Vancouver International Airport’s $200 million expansion project. Highlights include the creation of a man-made stream through the centre of the building.

However, some other projects earned consideration as Dawson Creek Whitetopping and the Swartz Bay – Berth #2 Pontoons both earned certificates of merit in the same category.

The Pearson residence was named the best for single-family residential.

Campbell said she likes how sustainable building practices have become an integral part of construction and the Connie awards.

The 2008 Connie winners are...

Cast-In-Place Concrete:
Bentall 5 – Phase 2

Public Works & Grand Award:
Whistler Sliding Centre

Architectural Concrete:
SFU Arts and Social Science Complex – Module 1

Tilt-Up Structure & Grand Award:
Sunset Community Centre

Special Applications:
ITB West Chevron Expansion
Certificates of Merit:
Dawson Creek Whitetopping
Swartz Bay - Berth #2 Pontoons

Multi-Family Residential:
Tapestry

Mid to High Rise:
The Hudson

Single Family Residential:
Pearson Residence

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