SQUAMISH BUILDING BOOM

BY CHERYL MAH

A construction boom is underway in the District of Squamish. Renowned for its natural landscape, the once sleepy lumber town is undergoing a dramatic transformation with a long list of major projects and master-planned developments in and around the district.

Located on the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler, the appeal of Squamish is attracting investments, new industries, businesses and more residents. Squamish’s population is about 24,000 and is projected to reach in excess of 36,000 residents by 2040.

“ The district has been experiencing rapid growth and significant building activity for a number of years,” says Mayor Armand Hurford. “The community has logged average population growth of four per cent between the last two censuses, and development has increased to meet this demand.”

Housing

One of the largest developments set to change the waterfront is the long-planned Oceanfront Squamish by Matthews West, which will bring 2,500 new homes as well as retail, office, green spaces and an educational campus over 100 acres on a peninsula that was once a former major industrial area.

The design team includes Stephane Laroye Architect (SLA) in collaboration with AKA Architecture, Hotson Architecture and Perry + Associates Landscape Architects.

Construction on the site has begun with the 11acre Sp’akw’us Feather Park expected to open this summer. It will boast a water sports beach, recreation beach, open green spaces, slacklines, public art installations and trails linking the park to the surrounding community.

North Vancouver-based Naikoon Contracting is delivering the Oceanfront Presentation Centre and Public House, the first building on the site. The mass-timber building consists of

Housing Stats

The District’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment Report estimates the number of homes needed to be created across the housing spectrum and identifies where the district can focus policy and advocacy. The report estimates that a minimum of 6,840 new housing units are needed by 2031, at a range of affordability levels and sizes.

Affordable Rental Housing

(Non-Market):

385 units built since 2017

• 232 Westwinds

• 32 Centrepoint

• 45 Under One Roof

• 76 Spirit Creek

65 units currently under construction

• 55 Sea and Sky (Waterfront Landing)

• 2 The Wilfred

• 8 Garibaldi Springs (Phase 1)

Market Rental Housing

(purpose-built):

40 units built since 2017 (Northyards)

271 units currently under construction:

• 8 Garibaldi Springs (Phase 1)

• 140 Sea and Sky (Waterfront Landing)

• 38 Northyards (Phase 2)

• 18 Pioneer Way

• 67 Ashlu

Source: District of Squamish a three-storey presentation centre, and a twostorey public house featuring a restaurant and brewery. The entire building was prefabricated and constructed entirely out of glulam posts and beams and CLT floors, walls and roof.

“Naikoon is incredibly excited to have been selected by the owner to execute the first landmark building. The owner vision and commitment to mass timber and innovation is commendable and created a project perfectly prescribed to Naikoon’s strength, experience and passion,” says Naikoon president Joe Geluch.

Construction began in 2022 with the structure completed and topped off at the end of March.

As a result of careful planning and virtually building the structure multiple times before initiating the building erection, Naikoon was able to complete the entire building erection in 29 working days.

“ We are starting the below grade services, envelope, rough-in and exterior finishing phase now,” says Geluch.

Weather has been the biggest challenge on the project due to the location’s high wind conditions. During the foundation pour in December, the site received heavy snowfall, says Geluch. Substantial completion is scheduled for February 2024.

Closer to Highway 99 before the entrance to downtown is another massive masterplanned community by Bluesky Properties and Kingswood Properties called Sea and Sky (Waterfront Landing). When it’s fully built out, Sea and Sky will cover 55 acres and include approximately 900 homes with a mix of townhouses, four-storey rental buildings, retail spaces, waterfront homes and a 17,000-square-foot amenity centre. The development will provide access to the waterfront along Howe Sound inlet.

This development is also funding and constructing key transportation infrastructure projects in Squamish including the Clarke Drive Rail Overpass, Clarke Drive and Highway 99 Intersection improvements and the upcoming pedestrian lift bridge. 65 units are currently under construction.

Neighbourhood planning is underway in the Garibaldi Estates neighbourhood to develop a future vision that supports a diversity of housing options, employment space, transportation, and community amenities over the next 20 years. This follows development of a neighbourhood plan for the Loggers East area in Central Squamish. Finch Drive is the first project in that area and will offer net-zero homes. Phase 1 of Finch Drive is targeted to be completed in 2024. Other neighbourhood plans include the North Crumpit development and University Heights.

Affordable housing options are also needed and in April, more than 140 new affordable homes were completed in two projects — Spirit Creek Apartments and Ashlu. Both projects received funding through BC Housing. Eighth Avenue Development Group provided approximately $5 million in cash equity, as well as all construction and development costs for Ashlu.

“ There is an extreme shortage of rental apartments for middle-income households in the Sea to Sky corridor and Ashlu will provide 67 new rental apartments to the community,” said Ed Kolic, principal, Eighth Avenue Development Group.

Megaprojects

Over at the former Woodfibre pulp and paper mill property, major construction of the much delayed $5.1 billion Woodfibre LNG export facility is scheduled to begin in September with anticipated completion in 2027.

Graham Construction is currently undertaking final remediation work at the site with completion expected to wrap in late summer 2023.

Using renewable hydroelectric power, Woodfibre will produce 2.1 million tonnes of LNG annually with 250,000 m3 of floating storage capacity. Woodfibre LNG will be the first LNG export facility in the world to achieve net zero.

On ce operational, Woodfibre will be the lowest-emission LNG facility in the world, provid- ing more than 100 long-term operations jobs for the lifetime of the project, according to Woodfibre president Christine Kennedy.

“Alongside the leadership and vision set out by the province’s new Energy Action Framework, achieving net zero allows Woodfibre LNG to advance the global energy transition, furthering economic reconciliation and contributing to British Columbia’s standard of living,” she says.

A little bit further north is another megaproject — the proposed $3.5 billion Garbalidi at Squamish, which will be an all-seasons destination ski resort at Brohm Ridge. The project is targeting construction start in 2025 and will have 21 ski lifts on 130 developed ski trails with both private and commercial accommodations.

According to the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, the project would be built out over at least 20 years, investing more than $3.5 billion in the city during construction and employing 4,000 people.

Municipal

With developments and construction showing no signs of slowing, the district is working to keep pace with its own infrastructure and civic projects to meet the needs of a growing community. Many of the district’s facilities are at end of life and need replacement or renovations.

A challenge area is in the renewal of municipal facilities as the district works to im - plement the Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan. Work to upgrade two new fire halls and the public works facility has been the first priority. The new Squamish Fire Rescue headquarters and Emergency Operations Centre opened last year. Work has begun on the Tantalus Fire Hall, which is targeting net-zero energy.

R ecreation infrastructure is also a key focus, according to Hurford, with the Brennan Park Recreation Centre recently receiving a grant for $11.7 million. And the near-capacity Squamish Wastewater Treatment Plant will be getting a much needed $10-million upgrade.

The district is undertaking a review and update of its Community Amenity Contributions policy that will help to address community needs due to population growth.

“ Squamish has seen a dramatic increase in interest over the past eight years, particularly from Lower Mainland residents. This is largely due to the interest in the Squamish lifestyle, improved highway access, Squamish’s changing perception, Squamish’s ideal location between Vancouver and Whistler and until recently, the difference in pricing between housing costs compared to the Lower Mainland,” says Hurford. “The District is fortunate to have professional and experienced staff working hard at planning for a future of success for Squamish amidst the growing pressures.”