DA Architects + Planners was asked by the District of West Vancouver to renew the century-old heritage building.  Prominently located in Ambleside Park, the Ferry Building Rehabilitation will preserve the history and culture of the significant landmark. This once terminal building for ferry service across English Bay is currently used as a community art gallery.  The four major objectives of the project were to rehabilitate the existing building using best practices of heritage conservation; raise the building above the established flood control; upgrades to the seismic, mechanical and electrical systems of the building; and to accommodate two gender-neutral public washrooms.

Because of the modest size of the existing building, the solution to accommodate the public washrooms was by an addition.  The addition is a straight forward, low, rectangular form that references the colors of the heritage building.  This simple appearance belies the rigor involved in developing the solution.  Following heritage conservation best practices, the location, massing, and architectural expression of the addition was developed to be visually compatible, but subordinate to and distinguishable from the heritage building.