Healthyway Natural Foods
Conversion and two storey addition to a former Arby's restaurant into a health food retail store and yoga studio.
Concept:
To provide a retail outlet that reflects the corporate image of a local, healthy, and sustainable food business. West coast style architecture featuring wood post and beam exterior, stone base, fiber-cement and wood cladding, daylighting, extensive urban planting, and rain protection.
Site Layout:
Existing building retained and upgraded on corner of site with two storey addition along Cedar Street to increase continuity of streetscape. Public oriented activities along 11th Avenue with indoor and outdoor cafe seating, bicycle parking, and adjoining multi use urban plaza. Cafe/ juice/ smoothie bar preparation activities visible from street to add interest and eyes on the street. Existing 11th Avenue building access maintained for pedestrian use, with the main entry located close to 11th Avenue but on the west building facade for traffic safety and proximity to parking/ plaza activities.
Parking/ Loading:
Parking and loading provided internally screened from adjoining streets. Flush curbs provided throughout site for ease of carts/ strollers/ accessibility. While located across the street from a bus stop, secure, covered bicycle parking provided to encourage alternate transportation means.
Exterior Form & Materials:
Pedestrian canopy provided for outdoor seating, bicycle parking, weather protection between entry and parking, outdoor display, and weather protection/ solar shading of building facade. A colourful nature inspired colour scheme is provided for visual interest and corporate image. Increased daylighting and window glazing provided compared to traditional food stores. Sloped two storey roof incorporates metal panels for future rain water collection. Mechanical equipment located on rooftops and screened from public view.
Landscaping:
Hard and soft landscaping used to enhance the public realm streetscape and site uses. An urban plaza is provided at main entry for outdoor display/ demonstrations/ special events. The plaza also accommodates portable container gardens for community garden demonstrations. Fruit trees are incorporated to promote urban gardening initiatives. South facing roof top patio provided for staff use, outdoor recreation, and future mini green house(s).
Sustainability Features:
Green canopy expresses sustainability values as well as practical contributions towards reducing urban heat island effect, delayed water run off, wildlife habitat, prolonging life of canopy membrane, improved air quality, reduced electromagnetic radiation, and weather protection.
Parking lot drainage incorporates underground water permeability with perforated drainage piping to reduce storm water runoff into City infrastructure.
Vegetated vehicle parking overhangs to reduce hard surface parking area and increased permeable soils for vegetation.
Upper floor south glazing incorporating exterior solar shading.
Energy efficient equipment, building heating/ ventilation/ air conditioning systems, and lighting. Heat recovery of refrigeration equipment.
Increased insulation levels beyond building code requirements.
Durable building materials and details.
Low or no VOC paint finishes. Natural non toxic, lifetime wood finish (natural aged coloured wood).
Urban garden elements such as demonstration gardens, fruit trees, future roof top green house, etc.
Reuse and rehabilitate existing building reducing landfill, and embodied energy.
Use of natural daylighting to supplement artificial lighting.
Interior framing incorporates engineered wood products to maximize efficiency of wood products. Wood products used to provide environmental benefits and support the local economy. Large span wood products provide a structural system that allows for future adaptability of interior spaces.
Secure, covered bicycle parking and staff showers to encourage non vehicle use.
2016 VIREB Commercial Building Award of Merit
Consultants
General Contractor: Max Kunz
Architect: Raymond de Beeld Architect
Structural: Home Structural Inc.
Civil: Highland Engineering & Surveying
Landscape: Outlook Land Design