Design Quarterly | Spring 2017

Showcasing BC & Alberta’s architects and interior designers

SPRING 2017 Vol. 17 No.4

d e s i g n q ua rt e r ly

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UBC Aquatic Centre Adèle Rankin, CHIL Interior Design | Kitchen & Bath | Flooring 2017 WoodWorks! BC Awards

UBC’s Earth Sciences Building practices what it teaches The Earth Sciences Building at the University of British Columbia houses the departments of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences, mathematics and statistics, as well as the office of the dean of science. The intent is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity among the faculties and help advance solutions to such pressing global issues as climate change and environmental degradation. With that focus, the new building itself had to both actively encourage teamwork – which it does through a variety of formal and informal meeting spaces, including extra-wide landings on the staircase – and also model sustainability and energy efficiency.

“We wanted this building to be a model of energy efficiency – not easy, when you consider it has 54 fume hoods that just eat up power,” says Craig Knight, Development Manager and Financial Analyst for UBC Properties Trust. Fume hoods are vital safety equipment intended to limit exposure to hazardous chemicals or toxic fumes, but one fume hood alone can use more energy than three typical B.C. homes.

“Scientific research is very energy-intensive by nature,” says Knight. “In addition to the fume hoods, there’s the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as the lighting that needs to be on many hours a day.”

To try to mitigate that energy-intensiveness, UBC made a decision early in the design process to participate in the BC Hydro New Construction Program, which resources to conduct an energy-modeling study that identifies energy conservation measures.

Our buildings will be more energy efficient for life if we design them right from the beginning,” Knight says. “It’s a win-win.”

Looking for new ways to build better?

Visit bchydro.com/construction or call 1 866 522 4713 to learn more.

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in this issue

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12 Features 06 Designer Profile

Adèle Rankin, principal at CHIL Interior Design, has been delivering unforgettable hospitality spaces for almost 20 years.

12 PROJECT Profile

24

The UBC Aquatic Centre successfully combines high performance training with the recreational needs of the surrounding residential communities.

18 Kitchen & Bath

▶ Multi-Tasking Solutions ▶ Designing Small Spaces

22 Flooring

▶ Flooring in workplace design ▶ Ceramic Tile Choices Abound ▶ Fashionable and Durable Floors

Departments ON THE COVER: The UBC Aquatic Centre is the latest striking addition to the university campus Photo: Ema Peter

04 From the Editor 28 IDIBC

▶ The Value of Renovations

30 News

Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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from the editor

Sunny Days

spring 2017 Vol. 17 No.4

www.designquarterly.ca

PUBLISHER Dan Gnocato dang@mediaedge.ca Managing Editor Cheryl Mah Graphic Design Tang Creative Inc. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sarah Caspick Ryan Fasan Doris Hager W.J. Muniak Ed Van Oene B.C./ALBERTA SALES Dan Gnocato 604.549.4521 ext. 223

PUBLISHED BY

It has been an unusually cold winter and an extremely wet spring in Vancouver. Thoughts of travelling away to catch some sunny days is no doubt on many minds. In addition to picking a destination, part of every getaway is finding the right accommodation and the hotel experience can make or break a trip.

Someone who has been designing memorable hospitality spaces for almost 20 years is Adèle Rankin, principal and lead designer at CHIL Interior Design, a hospitality studio of B+H Architects. Rankin has helped to grow the firm’s impressive portfolio of leading luxury hotels, resorts and mixed-use developments.

Sunny days also evoke thoughts of swimming at the beach or in a pool. And the latest addition to the UBC campus is well worth a visit. The UBC Aquatic Centre, on our cover, is a striking building form at the gateway to the university. It offers the unique combination of a high performance competition venue and community recreational amenities under one roof.

Finally, we have our annual features on flooring as well as the kitchen and bath. Flooring plays a huge role in the overall look and feel of a space. Whether it’s hardwood, vinyl, carpet or tile, picking the right flooring is key to aesthetics and durability. Experts share insights on some of the many options available.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

The purpose of Design Quarterly is to reflect and represent practitioners and professionals in the architectural, interior design and design resource communities throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

DESIGNER PROFILE

Unforgettable

Spaces

By Cheryl Mah

(Above) Hotel Arts, Calgary has a unique art-centred focus and the redesign of the corridors and guestrooms reflect this aesthetic.

(Right) Metrotown Element, Burnaby features bright and fresh spaces to create distinct guest experiences.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

DESIGNER PROFILE

T

Translating

a

luxury

hotel brand’s story into unforgettable spaces requires many skills, including good listening. And interior designer Adèle Rankin is a very good listener.

As a principal and lead designer at CHIL Interior Design in Vancouver, Rankin says collaboration and listening to the client are key steps to a hospitality project.

“The really exciting part is listening first and finding out where the client wants to go with the design,” she says. “It’s about looking for good design, not necessary a specific aesthetic. It’s about finding good solutions to the problems.”

Rankin has spent her whole career working at CHIL, a global hospitality design group, in different roles before becoming a principal in late 2015. With almost 20 years in the hospitality design industry, Rankin has helped to grow

the firm’s reputation and impressive portfolio of leading hotels, resorts and mixed-use developments. Today, the firm services a number of luxury brands including Shangri-La, Hilton, Fairmont, Starwood, Marriott Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

“I love hospitality design. No projects are the same which keeps it interesting,” says Rankin, who leads a team of 18 along with principal Paul Morissette. “We have an amazing team that is passionate, collaborative and enthusiastic about creating spaces that offer a unique guest experience.”

Interior design, however, was not Rankin’s first choice. Born in Scotland, she came to Canada when she was five-years-old. She spent time in Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa before coming to Vancouver for her last year of high school. She had early exposure to the development industry through her father

who is a project manager. But it took a couple of short stints at Capilano College and Simon Fraser University before she discovered her true calling in interior design.

She transferred to Kwantlen Polytechnic University and while she was still in school, she started working at Coordinated Hotel Interiors Ltd (which eventually became CHIL Design Group) in the summer of 2000 doing everything from “sample room clean up to board making.” She joined the firm full time after graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Design in 2002.

“I love the culture and the people.

At the time it was a small family run firm so we were provided with lots of opportunity to grow,” recalls Rankin.

In 2010, the firm was acquired by B+H Architects, a leading full service design firm with expertise in interior design, architecture and landscaping. The studio rebranded in 2015 to

Collaboration and listening to the client are key steps to a hospitality project.

CHIL Interior Design, a hospitality studio of B+H Architects.

“We are a boutique firm with

the resources and expertise of a large global architecture and design firm,” says Rankin, noting travel is a big source of inspiration that allows her to see how different cultures approach design.

Last year CHIL opened a Hong Kong office (repositioning of a former B+H office) to better serve the emerging hospitality market demand in Asia.

“We see many opportunities in Asia so it’s great for us to have an office there,” says Rankin, who

Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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DESIGNER PROFILE

manages the front end of projects, meeting with clients and setting design direction. “Setting up the office required lots of traveling and work for hiring and marketing — so it has been nice this year to put the focus back on designing.”

The firm is very busy in the design phase for several hotel renovation projects along with a few new builds locally and overseas. “We are very active in Vancouver right now — always nice when it’s in your own backyard,” says Rankin. “We’re heavy in design — the fun part.”

One current project is the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, which was actually the first project Rankin worked on as lead designer 16 years ago. “It was called Delta Sun Peaks in 2001 and now I’m revisiting the same hotel all these years later for a renovation,” she says, noting that was when she first met Morissette, who has been a mentor.

Arc Restaurant, Vancouver.

q 8

1565 West 7th Ave. Vancouver, BC 604-669-5525 www.commercialelectronics.ca

DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

feature PROJECT

(Left) CHIL Interior Design is active in Asia, including a number of luxury hotels in Cambodia.

(Below) Fairmont Waterfront involved the redesign of the guestrooms, corridors, the Gold Lounge, the fitness facility and the existing restaurant.

Other notable projects include Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Hotel YVR, Hyatt Regency and the Sheraton Guildford (all renovations) and a new Opus Hotel in Richmond.

The studio is also active in Calgary with two new builds: The Westin Calgary Airport and the Marriott Autograph.

“I’m really excited about Autograph.

It’s such a unique brand,” says Rankin.

“And the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is such a revered hotel... we feel privileged to be part of such a historic property.”

Overseas projects include a new luxury casino and five-star hotel in Macau and a number of luxury hotels in Cambodia. The firm also has a number of multi-residential projects in Calgary and Seattle While new hotel builds are rare, especially in Vancouver, renovation work (ideally every five to10 years) provides steady opportunities. Rankin says the challenge, however, is to make sure the design lasts until the next renovation cycle. Adding to that 10

DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

challenge is when hotels delay renovations as long as possible since any change is an expensive undertaking.

Hotel projects are also designed years before they are implemented.

Forecasting the future isn’t easy but good design is timeless, according to Rankin.

Delivering timeless and inspiring interiors has earned the studio many industry awards, including the prestigious IDIBC Robert Ledingham Award for Hotel Arts in 2015. Other award winning projects include Shangri-La Toronto, Shangri-La Vancouver and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre in Regina.

“The focus today is really about respecting the guest and providing an experience the guest will remember,” says Rankin. “Guests are very savvy now and expectations are so much higher.”

For example, public areas such as the lobby now have to be designed to incorporate multiple uses

— relaxation, social use and business functions. Accommodating technology and keeping up with technology are also key considerations, notes Rankin, adding Airbnb has also disrupted the market in many ways.

The Westcoast aesthetic is unique to Vancouver and has been well executed, but Rankin would love to see a brand push the envelope like they do in L.A. or Hong Kong.

“The natural beauty here definitely shapes our interiors and has been done well. Can we be more cutting edge? Yes,” she says. “I would love it if someone wanted to shake it up a bit. Unapologetically cool is lacking in Vancouver.”

As for the future, Rankin would like to expand their F&B portfolio.

“We’ve done some great restaurants like the Arc at Fairmont Waterfront but they tend to be embedded in hotels,” she says. “I always love to work on boutique hotels too — they don’t come along often.” DQ

feature PROJECT

Unique Aquatic Environment

By Cheryl Mah | Photo by Ema Peter

The new UBC Aquatic Centre is welcoming, accessible and transparent.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

T

The need for a high performance competition venue and community recreational amenities under one roof has resulted in a stunning new aquatic facility at the University of British Columbia.

The hybrid program for the UBC Aquatic Centre creates a unique aquatic environment that allows for Olympic-level training while servicing the growing residential neighbourhoods on campus.

The bright and open facility includes a 10-lane, 52-metre FINA competition basin, an eight-lane, 25-metre diving tank (designed for a future moveable floor), a warm-water leisure basin with a host of water features plus a hot tub. In addition, there is a 460-person mezzanine for spectators, universal and team

change rooms, and multi-purpose rooms.

Challenged by the complex program and tight budget, the architectural team of MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architcts (MJMA) and Acton Ostry Architects was able to deliver a thoughtful and well conceived building that is welcoming, accessible and transparent.

“We’re very pleased with it,” says Ted Watson, partner at MJMA. “I think we were able to create a very efficient, extremely well executed building that is bold, simple and clear.”

Located in the heart of the campus, the new $40 million Aquatic Centre is a much needed replacement for the existing facility which had reached the end of its useful service life.

“A massive renewal was required to bring the existing pool up to today’s standards and an extensive study was done to determine that the best cost effective approach was to build a new facility,” says Watson.

When the architectural team undertook the design of the 80,000-square-foot facility, the goals were primarily threefold or what Watson refers to as the “three C’s.”

“Campus, competition and community were the three things we needed to accomplish in this one facility, which is what really makes it unique. I can’t think of another facility with this kind of combination,” says Watson, whose firm specializes in sports and pool design.

Adds principal Mark Ostry, “It’s uncommon to have a successful

feature PROJECT

A continuous central skylight... is used to divide the space into two aquatic halls.

combination of competition and recreation where both sides feel served and not compromised. It was about finding that right balance of separation and combination and I think this project does it very successfully. We have only heard positive feedback.”

The siting of the project on MacInnes Field allowed the old pool to remain in operation while also helping to define public realm spaces and connections with neighbouring buildings. A new recreational field will replace the old pool site.

Given its location next to the new bus loop, the centre is considered to be a “gateway building” so it was important for it to engage the public realm and contribute to campus life, notes Watson. “Students arriving

can see into and through the space — see the activities within so this is a building that gives a sense of vitality and energy to the campus.”

The bleachers are accessible from the exterior of the building where students or the public can watch swimmers, eat lunch, study or even take a nap.

“Ramps on the exterior of each side get you to the top of the bleachers, part of it was managing the topography on the site but another benefit was it provides an alternative access than the lobby space especially if there is a swim event,” says Watson.

“We tried to make the bleachers as public as possible — to be an amenity space as well.”

The competing uses of the new Aquatic Centre posed a number of

technical challenges but also ultimately drove the final design solution. The plan is divided north-south into three basic “program bars” of change rooms, aquatics hall and bleachers, according to Watson.

A continuous central skylight, supported by Y shaped exposed steel columns, is used to divide the space into two aquatic halls.

“The idea was to get balanced light that drops in at the centre of the space,” says Watson. “A translucent screen creates a conceptual separation between the two spaces like a big central lamp shade, providing the different lighting levels required for the two sides.”

Acoustics were also another important consideration. Hunter Douglas acoustic ceiling tiles were

used to minimize excessive noise reverberation typical in swimming pools.

“The entire ceiling on the inside is acoustic fibreglass panels conditioned for a humid environment,” notes Watson. “The acoustics make a huge performance difference not just for comfort but for coaches to instruct athletes or swim classes.”

The building form is sculptural with a dynamic white metal roof and extensive ceramic-fritted glazing on cast-in-place concrete foundations. The soaring roof form was also designed to provide weather protection and solar control.

“The roof is one singular piece that floats over a glass ribbon,” describes Watson, explaining the height of the roof rises and falls to Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

13

feature PROJECT

Extensive glazing creates an open, transparent space filled with daylighting.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

accommodate the different programmatic requirements inside. “The lower space is really excavated space into the topography of the site. The impression architecturally is very muscular yet with a light roof that is floating on the glazing.”

Watson adds the building also takes some formal cues from its neighbouring buildings such as the War Memorial and old SUB building — sharing an “affinity in the way it meets the sky and the earth.”

Designed to achieve LEED Gold, the facility focuses on daylighting, innovative water reuse and air-quality strategies. UBC’s District Energy System is used to heat the building, pool and domestic hot water. The project is also part of UBC’s regenerative neighbourhoods initiative.

Ostry explains the concept of regenerative neighbourhoods challenges the norm of achieving sustainability at an individual building scale.

“What this project does is contribute to the precinct by assisting with stormwater retention and other

aspects on a broader scale — contributing to sustainability beyond its own footprint.”

A 1.3 million litre underground water cistern is shared with the new bus loop for stormwater management.

“To develop a larger cistern, costs were shared with the bus loop,” says Watson. “The big roof collects rainwater and retains it in the cistern separate from the stormwater tank.”

Water collected from the roof is used for plumbing, greywater flushing and topping up the pool.

Pools not only use large amounts of water, but they also lose water to evaporation.

“Pools lose as much as one and a half inches of water off the top every day. We are using the rainwater which goes through a filtration process to top up the pool water,” says Watson. “It required extensive work with AME Group, our mechanical consultant, and Acton Ostry to get approval from Coastal Health.”

The Aquatic Centre is also using regenerative filters rather than the

traditional sand filters, offering higher performance in terms of water efficiency.

To provide optimal air and water quality, a distribution system was designed where air flow is delivered from a central bench structure and returned within the upper edge of the perimeter pool gutters. This effectively “pulls a curtain of air across the top of the pool water,” says Watson, to remove chloramines off the surface.

Construction began in 2014 with Heatherbrae Builders achieving substantial completion in December 2016, two weeks ahead of schedule.

The pool officially opened to the public in January 2017.

“This project brings a huge amenity that serves students and faculty as well as the surrounding residential communities,” says Ostry. “To deliver the full program at this high level of quality, given the tight budget, required strong collaboration from the design team and all the stakeholders.” DQ

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kitchen + bath

Multi-Tasking Solutions

By Sarah Caspick Turn a kitchen sink’s false drawer into a functional storage space.

The kitchen is the heart of every home. Dishes are washed, lunches are packed and dinner parties are all prepped here — so it’s imperative to have a space that can adapt to many functions. Most importantly, this multipurpose hub of activity requires a whole lot of storage. Kitchens in older homes, trendy new “micro-lofts” or kitchens with plain old ill-planned layouts can often be lacking in this department. For kitchens that fall into one of these categories — creativity with space (and budget) saving storage solutions is key.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

For a homeowner who doesn’t like clutter, there’s a simple and practical resolution to this, that’s not only relatively easy to install, but also makes use of an otherwise inoperative space. The false panel in front of the kitchen sink can be made functional again by adding hinges that tilt to expose accessory trays that neatly tuck away post-use. They’re easily detachable so they can be popped into the dishwasher to clean. Brilliant?

We thought so too. (Try Richelieu’s plastic or stainless steel trays with soft-close).

Having a TV in close proximity to the kitchen is often a convenience and can also bring the party to the prep station, allowing the host or hostess to feel a part of the action, especially during sporting events.

It’s also a great way to keep little ones occupied ­— and at a close distance. But therein lies the issue of the unsightly “black hole” when the unit is turned off. A faux cabinet can be created to perfectly conceal the TV when not in use. Hardwired and hidden, it remains out of sight, out of mind (and creates a distraction-free zone) until its next use.

kitchen + bath

... multi-tasking gadgets are a must-have.

How to kick it up a notch: have the cabinet doors retract INSIDE the cabinet box for the ultimate viewing experience from any angle.

What about that awkward corner cabinet? Is the lazy Susan living up to its sluggish moniker? Or what about those hard to reach items way in the back? The Richelieu LeMans corner system is the ultimate space (and time) saver solution. When the door is closed, two (or more) kidney-shaped shelves recess fully behind the turn of the cupboard, occupying its full length.

When opened, the shelves pivot to

fully extend outside of the cabinet box — ensuring not only maximum storage, but also that every last item is within grasp. Not to mention, it comes in sleek finishes like chrome, grey and maple.

Soft-close drawers and touch latch cabinets have long-since become staples in the cabinetry department, but are seldom synonymous with one another. Enter Richelieu’s Servo Drive, the electronic soft-close door mechanism — a model of modern efficiency and convenience. This multi-use product can function as a hands-free garbage drawer (bump

it with a knee to open and close), or a flip-top upper cabinet (no more pushing, pulling or tip-toe reaching for that door). All the while never worrying about the dreaded finger-slam. For the kitchen that is go-go-go, multi-tasking gadgets are a must-have. The ability to move seamlessly from one action-item to another is key to cooking in a timely manner.

Last on the list, but certainly not least, is the appliance lift. We all have that one piece of kitchen equipment that is infrequently used, but weighs so much that

it is difficult to move it from its ingrained spot on the counter.

There it sits, hindering workspace and blocking views until the next time it is used. A quick fix for this kitchen hitch is to add an appliance lift — a retractable folding shelf that is housed within a cabinet of its own. One touch of a button or bump of the foot will release the shelf and its accompanying appliance to counter height.

Accessibility at its finest! Lose the heavy lifting and gain clear countertops — it’s a win/win solution.

Homeowners spend so much time in kitchens involved in a widevariety of activities, from social engagements to more mundane daily duties. Flowing from one task to the next should always be a breeze — fast-paced and efficient, just like our lifestyles. Try out these tips and tricks to help homeowners maximize utility while maintaining an appealing aesthetic. DQ Sarah Caspick for Jenny Martin Design, a boutique interior design firm located in Victoria, B.C. Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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kitchen + bath

Designing Small Spaces Mastering Storage and Style in a Small Bathroom

By W.J. Muniak

“It’s funny how more than once in the last year an entire home renovation has started with the master bathroom,” recalls Negar Reihani, the owner and principle designer at Space Harmony, an award winning boutique design studio in Vancouver.

“It seems that our clients simply can’t live with old, outdated, dark en-suites and I don’t blame them. At the end of a long day walking into your own personal oasis is just about the best reward for all of your hard work,” she says.

“Hence, let’s start with the master bath!”

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

kitchen + bath

Designing a small space is more demanding because designers need to really consider functionality first...

Even in the biggest most beautiful homes there will be some design challenges when it comes to renovation, issues like not being able to move a wall, raise the ceiling or change plumbing locations due to cost or site restrictions. Designing a small space is more demanding because designers need to really consider functionality first, but that doesn’t mean style has to be sacrificed.

Project Challenges This West Vancouver bathroom lacked style and storage. “The old outdated glass blocks and the under-utilized oversized bathtub took me on a scary trip down the memory lane when I first visited the site,” she remembers.

Dark and dreary, this was no modern retreat for the new homeowners. “With their young and growing family, their first requirement was storage then easy-to-maintain style,” says Reihani. “Unfortunately borrowing extra square feet from the adjacent room was not an option due to the load bearing wall so we had to work with the existing 15 x 5 space which was a less-than-perfect-start.”

Create Storage The first order of business was to remove the tub and the glass blocks above it; although they were unattractive they did provide some light in the space. “I designed a floor to ceiling storage on that wall and fronting the doors with elegant bevelled mirrors. The mirrors make the small bathroom look double in size and bouncing enough light that the window is long forgotten along with the blocks,” smiles Reihani and adds, “Now much needed storage is front and centre in the room.”

Introduce Functional Style Reihani designed a six foot vanity with deep drawers, exposed legs and an open shelf at the bottom for storing folded towels. The goal was to make the vanity look like a furniture piece so it adds visual interest to the space; the exposed legs make the large piece look airy and light, says the designer. Instead of two individual his-and-hersinks, Reihani aimed for one large dramatic trough sink over mount white quartz counter. “This makes the vanity look sleeker and more

modern while the quartz top is easy to main,” she says.

Reihani is a big fan of pocket doors for small spaces and this project was a perfect place to use one. “With a swing door you have to leave a lot of clearance while pocket door enables you to fully use every inch of the bathroom at all time,” she says.

Add Bling The most exciting part of the design was choosing the fixtures and finishes for the space. “Because the house is in West Vancouver, we wanted to keep a little of that classic feel (in case they want to sell the house in future) while making the design look young and fresh,” says Reihani. “The mix of light wood and marble was a tough sell as the clients were used to the common mix of marble with dark wood.”

The light-coloured rift cut oak vanity sits beautifully next to the luxurious statuarietto marble walls.

The wall tiles continue inside the shower and are paired with an elegant chevron patterned stone inside the shower base and shampoo niche for a touch of drama. To keep the design functional and low

maintenance around the kids, she used porcelain tile for the floors so the parents don’t need to worry about any stains.

“We colour matched the floor tiles to the marble walls of course,” says the designer. This light and contemporary colour scheme definitely makes the small bathroom feel crisp and fresh.

The oversize round mirror above the vanity provides a soft and classic contrast with the sharper lines of the modern wall mounted faucets and light fixtures. The chrome cabinet pulls and accessories add the final touches and a subtle “bling” to the space.

“This bathroom design — although small — was one of my most challenging projects to date but was also one the most rewarding ones,” says Reihani. “I think there is no better satisfaction for a designer than to see her hard work pay off in the form of a client’s love for his or her space.”

The design success ensured the homeowners tackle the rest of the house to bring it to the same level of beauty with an understated elegance. DQ Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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Flooring

Flooring in workplace design

Shaw Carpet Active carpet tiles interject bold energy and graphic motion into the workspace.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

We’ve all heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking” and studies show that the main environment for this sedentary lifestyle is not at home in front of the television, but rather in the workplace. Recent reports note that the average office employee spends nearly six hours a day sitting at a desk.

This sedentary workplace not only diminishes productivity, but greatly inhibits employee health, causing a myriad of health issues such as muscle fatigue, obesity, heart disease and

diabetes. With the amount of time spent at work on an annual basis, the importance of workplace design is crucial to the health and wellbeing of employees. Because workplace design often sets the precedent for other market segments such a hospitality and education, it’s crucial to understand the need and implement positive changes in the office environment.

Sense of Place A sense of place is increasingly

important to all individuals. And now, more than ever, employers are prioritizing workspaces that fit the lifestyles and enhance the productivity of their employees. The office is no longer seen as just a desk, but rather an extension of who we are; a lifestyle choice. Workplaces are being designed to “fit the employee,” rather than for the employee to adapt and fit into the space.

In today’s workplace design, movement and active lifestyle are

Flooring

… manufacturers [are exploring] new carpet tiles that promote the concept of wellbeing.

all buzzwords and the concept of wellbeing often emerges in interior design. According to a nearly twoyear study by Herman Miller, circulation space is one key way to foster connection and increase opportunities for movement within the workplace. When the infrastructure of a workplace is designed to encourage movement, employee activity becomes more prevalent. Items that promote health and wellness, such as standing desks and furniture

that encourages purposeful movement, continue to be incorporated in design. A study done by Gensler in 2013 shows functionality, comfort and adjustability of furniture have relationships to employees’ reported level of energy at work. Also increasing employee energy levels is designers’ clever use of daylight, ambient lighting and hints of colour.

Catalyst for Design In the past, flooring design was not

considered a part of the workplace design strategy, but this perspective has drastically shifted. Flooring design is now seen as a catalyst for the various ways of moving through a space. Current carpet collections feature styles that range in scale and pattern, but can be used alone or together to create movement, inject colour, assist in wayfinding, enhance the architecture and meet the overall design intent. Carpet tile remains a popular option due to the varied benefits it provides from maintenance, durability, cleanability and ease of replacement to comfort and variety of aesthetic.

As both carpet and hard surface products evolve into new dimensions of scale and movement, a simultaneous response from the design community emerges, pushing flooring manufacturers for options that do more within a space. Sophistication is trending, along with thoughtful workplace strategies that promote activity and wellness, and welldesigned flooring enhances both of these factors. This push by the design community to provide more flooring options has led manufacturers to explore new carpet tiles that promote the concept of wellbeing.

Activate your Space Shaw Contract designers researched the growing trend of workplace activity and studied colours, textures and designs prevalent in innovative athletic textiles. The Active collection, through its kinetic and graphic patterning, sparks shifts in density and scale, and keeps us activated and in motion. The energetic colours and charged patterning bring activity and movement to the workplace, extending fitness to the floor.

“Patterns in active wear are integrated to fit the form of an object or person. Our perspective was to envision how the synthesis of pattern, texture, shape and colour can be used to activate a space. Patterns that evoke movement, colour that exudes optimism and texture that exhibits efficiency were all attributes that represent well-being and fitness of mind and body,” says John Crews, senior workplace designer.

As designers and architects of the spaces where people spend the majority of their days, their roles are crucial in helping combat sedentary lifestyles. No single design element will implement change, but rather design as a whole will work together to increase workplace wellness. DQ Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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Flooring

Ceramic Tile Choices Abound

By Ryan Fasan

Technology and trends are marrying perfectly in 2017 for ceramic tile to be the flooring of choice for today’s consumer.

As global markets get bigger and more connected, we are faced with an amazingly eclectically driven consumer base that is highly knowledgeable and savvy. Further, demands are reaching for transparent industries with sustainably produced products that are safe and healthy for occupants — oh and they must also be on trend and have an engaging and relatable backstory.

Tall order for most but perfect for what’s happening in tile.

The ceramic industry boasts one of the most progressive and connected association networks across manufacturing, standards committees, distribution and contractors. With a multi-attribute environmental 24

DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

Flooring

standard like Green Squared in place covering both the product itself and all the setting materials, membranes and backer units required for a tile system and sector-wide Life Cycle Analysis Studies, the tile industry boasts one of the most transparent and comprehensive support structures to ensure customers can feel good about the products they put on their floors.

In aesthetics, the new advancements in digital decoration technology have created opportunities to deliver the most tactile and engaging product ever seen in ceramics and porcelain. Dynamic materials that have nuances seen only from certain angles or lighting conditions create reactive spaces with engaging and realistic experience for our spaces today. New inkjet printers can

apply not only colour but lustrous glazes, metallics and even texture in the decoration lines. Coupled with progressive three-dimensional scanners, the graphics and effects can now be aligned perfectly with the pressed surface structure of the tiles. What this technology delivers are the most realistic woods, stones and concretes we have ever seen with all the value-added benefits like ease-of ownership, hygienic surfaces and durable characteristics porcelain and ceramic has always been known for.

The advent of gauged porcelain (varying degrees of thickness from 3.7 to 20mm) has opened up new opportunities to flow tiles into outdoor spaces as sand-set or raised access paving systems and easily clad walls, furniture and even countertops in panels as large as 5 feet by 11 feet

— each with the perfect thickness to deliver the right performance for the task at hand. The 20mm pavers are an especially exciting opportunity to create a flow from interior to exterior spaces on grade, on in decking with the structural porcelain pavers being much easier to install mechanically in exteriors than traditional 8-12mm thick tiles that must be supported by a mortar bed.

Formats are getting larger also for flooring with sizes stretching to dimensions of 18x36 inches or even 24x48 inches in favour of the more traditionally accepted 12x24 inches used in North America for the past decade or more. These larger formats are giving rise to longer planks often offered in multiple widths for wood looks to create a style of wooden flooring exclusive to the ceramic industry.

Digital decoration methods even allow for multiple varietals of wood or stone to be mixed in a porcelain tile program so it’s possible to have the dynamic variation of multiple material veining structures within a harmonious colour palette. Classic geometric shapes are finding their way into some of the larger format programs to create interest in the form of chevrons and hexagons. In contrast to the larger formats, there is also a resurgence in traditional small format floors like octagon and dot, hexagon mosaics and encaustic cement look tiles to pair with the glazed subway tiles favoured in some designs for walls.

If you haven’t looked at tile in awhile, it’s time to reacquaint yourself with the new face of the industry. DQ

Classic geometric shapes are finding their way into some of the larger format programs to create interest in the form of chevrons and hexagons.

Ryan Fasan, creative development, at Bellavita Tile.

Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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Flooring

Fashionable and Durable Floors Woven vinyl flooring brings contemporary feel to spaces

By Ed Van Oene

Woven vinyl flooring offers many advantages over traditional nylon carpet tiles.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

Flooring is one of the most critical design elements impacting the overall look and feel of a space.

The entire space builds off of and should complement the flooring as it is the most expensive and difficult item to change in a business or residence. When replacing flooring it is important to stay ahead of the trends as the floor is often the longest wearing design element. Today there is a growing trend to modern, sleek and contemporary flooring to replace the hard flooring and carpet of the past.

One product that is looking for a new contemporary twist is carpet

tile. Carpet tile has been available for more than 50 years with minimal change or improvement since originally developed as a hardwearing alternative to broadloom carpet.

Carpet tile had become the flooring of choice for institutional and commercial applications due to the ability to replace tiles that are damaged or stained. Unfortunately, this process doesn’t account for the wear, tear and fading of the original carpet tile.

Woven vinyl flooring such as Wayflor offers many advantages over traditional nylon carpet tiles with great new designs being introduced.

The woven vinyl is very difficult to stain, easy to clean, has extraordinary strength and is easy to replace if damaged. In addition, woven vinyl tile is perfect for indoor and outdoor applications as it is waterproof, mold, mildew and fade resistant.

These new tiles strike the perfect balance between natural inspiration and modern day practicality.

The most compelling component of the woven vinyl is customers have the ability to create their own woven vinyl flooring design called Jacquard. The warp (vertical yarn) is offered in four base colours — black, brown, grey and beige. The weft (horizontal yarn) is available in 10 colours and can incorporate as many colour changes as desired.

The design can start with a purple weft yarn, change to white and end with blueberry on a base of grey warp yarn. The combinations are compelling, exciting, and endless.

Traditional woven designs further enhance the flooring application and include linen, twill, rattan, bamboo, herringbone, sisal, stripe, ellipse, streak, quilt and granite designs.

The piece de resistance is the offering of shape tiles — diamond, rectangle, puzzle, teardrop, boomerang and hexagon. These will easily add more colour and become the focal point in any flooring project.

Woven flooring is available in tile, shapes or rolls making it ideal for hallways and large spaces. Tiles produce less waste than other flooring types, particularly in awkward shaped rooms. With an outstanding acoustical value and slip resistance,

Flooring

To ensure the highest quality product, request the manufacturers test results...

this is the ideal replacement for carpet tile.

Maintenance and durability are two other factors to consider and there is nothing in the market that outlasts or outperforms vinyl. Vinyl flooring is water resistant so can withstand the wet mop and industrial floor scrubbers.

Vinyl has received some bad press in the past and in some cases, justifiably so. However, this flooring trend is here to stay so it is important to understand what is in the product.

Recycled sounds good; however, in vinyl flooring, recycled material is tied

to heavy metal, phthalates and phenol.

Wayflor is made only of virgin PVC to ensure excellent product and indoor air quality. The extended lifespan of the product addresses the sustainable component along with the ability to recycle when replaced. All flooring is required to meet standard tests and FloorScore is the baseline for air quality emission criteria in LEED and other healthy building programs; however FloorScore does not test for heavy metal or phthalates so is insufficient as a quality benchmark. To ensure the highest quality product, request the manufacturers test results,

which should be readily available, to ensure the purchases are to the highest standard of manufacturing.

Modern, sleek, contemporary, durable, easy to clean while enhancing commercial, retail and spa spaces everywhere, woven vinyl flooring is truly fashion for the floors. DQ Ed Van Oene is a certified technical representative and Bay Resource Group’s president and CEO. Bay Resource Group is Canadian based and since 1997 has specialized in the development and distribution of leading edge flooring products.

Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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idibc

The Value of Hospitality Renovations Interior designers can assist owners in determining budgets and space planning

By Doris Hager

Nando’s Restaurant before (below) and after (top)

Sooner or later, every owner of a hotel or restaurant must take a hard look at the fading paint, the tattered wall vinyl, the wearing carpet, at the slightly, or hugely outdated furnishings and make that financial decision. Is it time for a minor or major facelift to breathe new life into their hotel or restaurant or can it wait a bit longer? The timing question is easily answered if the establishment is a franchised one since most franchisors have stringent renovation requirements as part of their franchise agreement with their franchisees. Independent owners also regularly ponder renovation 28

DESIGN QUARTERLY | Spring 2017

issues, and must choose their timing just as wisely.

As an interior design firm, it has been our experience that a hotel or restaurant that undergoes a minor facelift can expect an increase in profit or sales of 10 per cent on average and 30 — 50 per cent for a full renovation. Effectively designed renovations protect current market share and hopefully gain new clients. As well they can decrease operational costs either through new or upgraded equipment, or improved space planning and flow for customers and staff which both contribute to the end profitability.

idibc

The Hotel Saskatchewan Lobby after and before

In a recent article, Lauren Keller and John Burke for Hotel News wrote on the financial impact of hotel renovations. They followed a hotel three years prior to renovation, the year of the renovation, and two years after renovation. The hotel underwent an extensive $9-million renovation and went from a 3.8 Trip Advisor Rating (its lowest ever) to a 4.3 after renovation. Additionally, the property benefited from a 33 per cent greater net operating income than prior to the renovation. The hotel not only increased its market value to justify the renovation costs but also outpaced the nearby competition.

Franchised hotels typically have Property Improvement Plans (PIP).

The purpose of a PIP is to ensure consistency within the brand, not only to protect the brand’s standards but also the investments of other franchisees. Some brand’s PIPs can be quite restrictive and owners can fall into default with heavy penalties or even lose the flag if they don’t comply within the allotted timeframe or negotiated agreement.

Improvements are triggered at various stages of a hotel’s life span. Some of the numerous factors dictating the type of renovation needed include: the overall age of the property, the

maintenance or upkeep, and the amount of foot traffic it has received.

For either hotel or restaurants typically, small renovations like carpet and soft goods replacement are required at the five-year mark. This is where the designer comes in. This includes carpet in hotels/restaurants, lounge seating in guestrooms or reupholstering booths and banquettes in restaurants. More extensive renovations like tile replacement, millwork or case good updates, and wall vinyl replacement take place after eight — 10 years.

Major renovations include bathroom upgrades and often consider new space planning and reconfiguration such as relocating bars, service stations, counters, and reconfiguration for larger or smaller suites or rooms. A qualified designer can assist the owner not only in FF&E selections but also in space planning and detailing that enhances the overall guest experience and flow of the facility.

Required renovations also apply to restaurant chains and fast food locations. For the food and beverage industry, these are required either by the franchisor or the landlord in the lease agreement. In cases where the franchisor is on the head lease, the franchisor enforces the landlord’s requirements in addition to franchise required renovations that protect the brand and provide a consistent offering to its customers. This ensures that if a customer visits a restaurant in Toronto and one in Calgary, there are not only consistencies in the food,

but also in the quality of the interior concept and operation.

There is resistance from franchisees and independent owners alike to spend new money when they feel they are finally getting ahead and have just recently paid off their last debt from either a new build or previous renovation. Since penalty fees or default terms don’t apply to independent owners, it may be especially tempting for them to think their establishment can continue as is without a decrease in revenue. It has been shown that an asset in need of renovations generally has a loss of continuous market share and profits that average 10 per cent per year compounded.

Each type of establishment and property is different yet is faced with the same challenges — when is the right time and how much to spend. The decision of when to renovate, beyond just maintenance is an essential one for every owner as it will have a lasting impact on the current income and success of the property, as well as the ultimate value of the asset. An interior designer can assist the owner in determining budgets or phasing of the FF&E replacement or renovations for proper planning of the needed renovation. DQ Doris Hager is the founder and principal of Hager Design International Inc. in Vancouver, an international interior design firm specializing in the hospitality industry.

Spring 2017 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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news

New Aga Kahn Garden Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects will design the new Aga Khan Garden, Alberta at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.

Set to open in 2018, the spectacular new garden was made possible by a contribution in excess of $25 million by His Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community. The gift arises from the long-standing relationship between the University of Alberta and the Aga Khan, highlighted by a Memorandum of Understanding first signed with the Aga Khan University in 2006 and an honorary doctorate given to His Highness in 2009.

The Aga Khan Garden is the first garden in Western Canada, the second in North America, and the 11th in the world to be supported by His Highness.

Dialog announces merger Dialog and newstudio architecture inc. are merging into one firm that will operate out of Dialog’s Edmonton studio, effective April 1.

Newstudio is a boutique firm of eight designers that share Dialog’s vision of improving the wellbeing of communities. Its portfolio includes a variety of multifamily residential, urban infill, smaller scale institutional, and re-zoning projects.

Among their projects are the renovations at the recently completed Agriculture Life and Environmental Sciences Atrium at the University of Alberta.

Newstudio leaders Dixon and Tai Ziola will be joining Dialog’s partnership, bringing additional strength to the firm’s leadership team, while the newstudio team will become an addition to its interdisciplinary practice.

“We’ve found a great partner with newstudio,” added Dialog’s managing principal, Jim Anderson. “Not only do they share our vision and live our values, but they also challenge us to engage with our community at a much deeper level.”

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Thomas Woltz, of award-winning Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, was asked by the Aga Khan to study other Mughal Islamic gardens while developing a design that also incorporates the plants and topography of Northern Alberta.

With secluded forest paths, wide, stepped terraces that change with the seasons, geometric water features that stream into wetlands and a spectacular orchard of local plants, the 4.8-hectare Aga Khan Garden will be an amazing experience for area residents and visitors alike. It will be situated around the existing Calla Pond at the heart of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden. An interpretive program will help visitors understand the featured plants and the art and design of the garden. Information about Islamic traditions, music, sound and poetry will also be provided.

D’Arcy Jones Architecture Recognized by RAIC The 2017 Emerging Architectural Practice Award by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has been given to a Vancouver firm, known for thoughtful, efficient and modern design, in both renovations and new building.

D’Arcy Jones Architecture (DJA), a nine-person studio, was founded in 2005 by D’Arcy Jones, MRAIC. A graduate of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Jones previously worked on his own from 2000 to 2005. Largely residential, the firm’s projects include housing, commercial spaces, art galleries, renovations, and interiors.

The Emerging Architectural Practice Award recognizes the principals of an emerging architectural practice that has consistently produced distinguished architecture. The award recognizes the quality of built work, service to clients, innovations in practice and public recognition.

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