News
Wood First Champion, Vancouver Convention Centre West
February 2010. DA Architects + Planners are very pleased to have been presented with the recognition award for the use of wood on the Vancouver Convention Centre West. This recognition is from the Government of British Columbia. It recognizes vision, leadership and innovation in promoting wood as the preferred choice for building design, construction and daily living.
New Hospice and Support Centre Opens in Delta
2010 Opening
February 2010. The Delta Hospice Society has opened the new Delta Hospice which has 10 suites in the Hospice Residence and an adjacent Outreach Support Centre for supportive care for members of the community including resources, counselling and consultation. The Delta Hospice is in Delta, BC and is adjacent to the Delta Hospital.
By surrounding the Delta Hospice with ‘garden pavillions’, both the buildings and the surrounding landscape provide a nuturing and warm atmosphere.
DA Architects + Planners feel privileged to have been able to work on this project for the Delta Hospice Society.
Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Vancouver BC
January 2010 - Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver BC is now OPEN !
DA are pleased to work with Okabe North America Inc and Coast Hotels and Resorts on their new flag-ship hotel. This beautiful hotel achieves a high level of sophistication and warmth in a downtown urban setting. “We designed a port-cochere that accommodates car and bus which is contemporary and inviting. The 6 meter high space has a glass ceiling of green, blue and yellow coloured backlit glazing that extends down the two storey wall between the two lobby entrances offers a wonderful welcome to the arrival experience.”, Mark Ehman, Partner Architect.
DA Architects Receives Award for the Vancouver Convention Centre West
Vancouver Convention Centre West
November, 2009 - DA Architects + Planners are very pleased to be one of several recipents of the 2009 BC Steel Design Award - Krentz Awaqrd - from the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. This award was for ‘Outstanding Steel Structure’ and was bestowed as a special recognition of an extraordinary design solution in the field of steel construction that demonstrates unique application, successful collaboration and sustainable principles for the benefit of society, the industry and associated professions.
Some building facts:
223,000 square feet of exhibition hall (or 5 football fields)
60,000 square feet of meeting rooms
55,000 square feet of ballroom (larger than one football field)
90,000 square feet of retail space
400,000 square feet of walkways, bikewayks, public open space and plazas
6 acres of living roof
for more information please see http://www.da-architects.ca/projects/vancouver-convention-centre/
River Rock Resort and Casino’s $30 Million Renovation Opens
On November 19th, River Rock Resort and Casino celebrated the unveiling of their $30 million renovation. Randy Knill, Partner, DA Architects + Planners was the architect responsible for the design and he was on hand to enjoy the evening.
After 18 months of renovation, the spectacular new Grand Lobby welcomes guests to the casino. This newly renovated space also supports two impressive spiral escalators which cascade down from the hotel check in to the casino floor. These escalators are only the fifth to be installed in North America and were supplied by Mitsubishi. As well, there is an elevated walkway which links directly to the Canada Line’s platform.
The River Rock Show Theatre now has specialized private suites offering unobstructed views to watch a performance. Time to go see Bill Cosby, Craig Ferguson and more …
Campbell River’s Spirit Square Welcomes the Olympic Torch
Campbell River Spirit Square
The Campbell River Spirit Square opened November 2nd, 2009, in time for the Olympic Torch to arrive in the afternoon. The square was opened with dedication and blessing ceremonies by We Wai Kum First Nations singers and dancers, as well as by visiting Tibetan monks. It was an amazing turnout by the local community with almost 3,000 residents celebrating the arrival of the Olympic Torch. The square is in the heart of the city’s downtown.
This plaza was a recommendation of a planning study for the downtown by DA Architects + Planners in 2006. The intent of the plaza is to define and strengthen the existing cultural precinct with opportunities for festivals, public performances and to showcase spectacular events such as the arrival of the Olympic Torch to downtown Campbell River, BC.
This project came in under budget, on time and cost roughly $1.7 million to construct.
DA Celebrates 40 Years In Architecture
In October, 2009 Partners Ron Beaton, Mark Ehman and Randy Knill celebrated with their team, colleagues, and friends 40 years of architecture. A memorable evening was brought together at the Vancouver Convention Centre West with over 140 attendees. The event celebrated world architecture and featured world music with DJ Mark Fournier, incredible local and oceanwise food prepared by the outstanding VCCW Chef and showcased a 40 foot banner spanning the decades of thoughtful architecture. Founded in 1969 in Vancouver, BC, DA Architects + Planners specialize in private and public sector work, including hospitality, educational, industrial, and commercial building types.
Contributing to Vancouver’s vibrant cityscape, DA Architects have been involved in major projects like the new Vancouver Convention Centre West, River Rock Casino Resort, and the Vancouver Public Library. The firm has also been active in the residential sector, producing three residential towers at Bayshore Gardens Development, the Cielo, and several of the iconic towers in the post expo Yaletown redevelopment, all major Vancouver projects.
Current work includes the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in downtown Vancouver, Delta Hospice and several large mixed use projects that combine residential uses with office and retail.
With an enthusiastic team of 25+ professionals and newly renovated office space occupying a full loft floor in Yaletown, DA Architects + Planners are poised for the next 40 years !
Randy Knill, Partner Earns LEED accreditation
April, 2009. Congratulations to Randy Knill, Partner, B. Arch, C.P., MAIBC, LEED© AP for successfully achieving his LEED accreditation.
Randy has earned the designation as a LEED Accredited Professional by demonstrating a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and principles and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources and processes.
DA Architects + Planners extend congratulations to Randy.
With the global awareness of sustainability issues on all levels, DA Architects are very pleased to have nine Staff that have demonstrated their thorough knowledge of green building practices.
Opening Ceremony - Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project
The Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project is nearing completion after 8 years of design work including our VCCEP architect team relocating to a project office in close proximity .
A spectacular waterfront venue utilizing all modern technology including a ‘Living’ roof which compliments and enhances the waterfront scene.
The Opening Ceremony will be on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 1pm for the ribbon cutting event.
200M Chateau Blanc, Big White Ski Mountain
Construction has commenced this summer on a privately-owned, luxury 200-million hotel designed by Vancouver architects DA Architects + Planner, Vancouver, BC. The developer and owner is Ralph Berezan, Berezan Management. The ‘Chateau Blanc’ will be the first 4 diamond hotel and conference facility on the popular ski mountain in central British Columbia. Some of the hotel’s luxury features include; 600 guestrooms, a full-facility conference centre, several restaurants and a variety of retail uses. The resort itself will offer a ski-up facility, world-class spa, health club and swimming pool.
There will also be a new Day Lodge which will replace the old facility. The new lodge is adjacent to the 6-person chair lift now operating on the mountain. The ‘Snow Ghost Express’ is a state-of-the-art $7M six-passenger chairlift, that is located at the base of the popular Ridge area. It has increased the hourly lift capacity to an impressive 28,000 riders per hour. Big White has built its world-renowned reputation on providing guests with some of the shortest lift wait times in the industry, in order to provide the best available on-slope experience. Big White boasts the second-highest skier visits in BC and the third-highest in Canada.
Randy Knill, partner with DA Architects + Planners, says, “…our team is truly pleased with the design concept. With the construction of the first phase underway, focus can shift to the final design of the world-class spa, health club, conference facility, swimming pool and restaurants.
The projected completion is scheduled for the 2010 season.
© 2010 DA Architects + Planners | SITE INFO
