Dance

dancers conviction

When Coronavirus hit, dance studios across the world closed, performances were cancelled, and stage debuts were put on hold

Here, at The Arbutus Club, all of our dancers had to take their jetes and pirouettes home. While this unforeseeable pandemic disrupted our lives causing heartache and disssappintment, our dancer's conviction and dedication to their art form remained steady.

Strength, Stamina & Passion

Turning inward to focus on strength, stamina and passion, dancers who are truly committed to their art continued practicing at home.

Dancers modified their workouts to fit confined spaces like bedrooms and kitchens. Often relying on a chair instead of a bar, a living room instead of a studio, and a backyard instead of a stage, dance continued in the most surprising of spaces.

Preparation, Focus & Training

The amount of preparation that goes into a dancers body before it gets moving is deeply understood by dancers. They turned to online sessions to help them focus on targeted strength and technique training.

Continued Growth in the Studio

We are excited to be back in the studio this fall. While things look and feel a little different, we know our dancers are ready to showcase their continued growth at the Club.

We are amazed by our impassioned twirlers, who (even in the craziest circumstances) remembered that dance is often what we need the most during times of adversity.

PROJECT COMPLETION GROWING OUR TOMORROW

Building upon our roots, the Arbutus 2020 infrastructure and expansion project is officially complete, providing world-class, functional spaces that will meet the present and future needs of our membership

billie mitchell room In the late 1950s our founding member, Mrs. E.V. ‘Billie’ Mitchell, had a vision to create a familyfocused, multi-purpose recreation and social facility that the city of Vancouver seemingly lacked at the time. Billie’s idea garnered interest from local community members and enough memberships were sold in order to embark on construction for a 57,700 ft2 private members club. The doors to The Arbutus Club opened on February 11, 1965 and has since then evolved to create a home away from home for many families.

After nearly 2 years of construction, Arbutus 2020 has officially concluded and the general response has been overwhelmingly positive. “The modern lines of the design and functionality of refurbished spaces were needed at the Club," says member Myra McCloy. "Now that renovations are complete, we have just that – a beautiful, clean, and uncluttered club."

McCloy's comments echo the intentions that the design and engineering firm,

Arbutus 2020

Stantec, set out to achieve from the project’s beginnings. “The central ideas that informed our conceptual design approach were connectivity, cohesiveness, accessibility, and functionality,” details Stantec Senior Associate, Jo Ellen Kelly. “The Arbutus Club presented a challenging opportunity to our Stantec design team. We wanted to provide a fresh, timeless design that would seamlessly fit into the existing aesthetics of the club knitting all the spaces together into a cohesive language.” The design team was able to successfully create functional spaces, while establishing an aesthetic bond between the indoors and our natural environment.

new spaces

With a growing membership and shifting demands for functionality, the Arbutus 2020 plan looked to repurpose existing areas to increase the space for a more diverse array of programming and member needs. The improvement and expansion project saw the creation of a new full-size gymnasium and toddler play area in the decommissioned curling rink. The new facility provides a multi-functional space complete with room dividers, acoustic panelling to minimize noise between activity areas, 2 ceiling mount basketball hoops, portable basketball hoops, and weather proofing between the Mini Rink and the South Gymnasium. With the growing popularity of our exercise facilities, fitness programs, personal training, and weight training, our Fitness Centre increased in size from 7,600 ft2 to 11,550 ft2. To provide ease of access, Physiotherapy and Wellness has been relocated to the Fitness Centre, allowing our therapists to utilize the fitness equipment and workout space during treatments. The careful reconfiguration of the Billie Mitchell Room and administrative offices allowed for the creation of Arbutus Studio 3, providing a multipurpose space, complete with stunning views of neighbouring Arbutus Ridge.

south gymnasium

above & below: club reception

physiotherapy & wellness

boardroom

family activity space in the south gymnasium

corridor to the north gymnasium & elevator

“We wanted to provide a fresh, timeless design that would seamlessly fit into the existing aesthetics of the club. - jo ellen kelly ” senior associate, stantec

The renovation also expanded the size of our pro Shoppe, boardroom, spa, and massage rooms. Refreshed facilities, including Club Reception, the Shaughnessy Room, and Squash Lounge. And, the relocated Billie Mitchell Room creates a serene atmosphere for those wanting a quiet place to socialize, work, or study.

improved accessibility

The spatial footprint of The Arbutus Club has grown and changed many times since our inception. With a wonderfully diverse membership of all ages and abilities, Arbutus 2020 put an emphasis on ensuring all members have safe access to every space. In addition to the relocation of Physiotherapy & Wellness, the project also saw the necessity to increase accessibility in the North Wing.

One of the most ambitious and time consuming facets of the Arbutus 2020 project was the installation of the new North Elevator. Connecting the basement to all floors of the Club, the elevator allows for interconnectivity between the Adult Changerooms, Spa, Fitness Centre, the new Recreation Services offices, and the North Gymnasium corridor.

The improved access between facilities and new Recreation Services offices has received a warm welcome by members and the Recreation Services team alike. “The close proximity to the

Arbutus 2020

left: shaughnessy room “Following the Club’s family-first philosophy, Arbutus 2020 has improved the club experience for all ages alike and equipped the Club for the future. - brent elkington ceo, the arbutus club ”

pool, fitness centre, squash courts and the North Gymnasium has made it so much easier for us to provide personalized service,” says Sue Snow, Recreation Services Manager.

sustainability

The integration of old and new poised an opportunity for Arbutus 2020 to reuse, repurpose, and identify ways in which we can make the Club more environmentally conscious. The Construction Committee and Board of Directors recognized the opportunity to increase the building’s seismic resiliency. This included the reinforcement of the entire South Gymnasium and Mini Rink to a level 4 upgrade as well as the restraint of non-structural elements in the North Gymnasium, including the north and west concrete walls. Renovations also positively impacted our ability to be more right: spa at arbutus energy efficient. The Stantec design team incorporated windows and transparent separations between activity areas, permitting more natural light to filter into the building's interior spaces. The project also saw the installation of LightEmitting Diode (LED) bulbs, which are 80% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lighting. Further, additional recycling stations have been introduced in many of the refurbished areas of the Club, helping us reduce our environmental impact.

“Construction is never easy, but the result has made it all worth it, as the facilities look absolutely amazing,” remarks CEO, Brent Elkington. “Following the Club’s family-first philosophy, Arbutus 2020 has improved the club experience for all ages and equipped the Club for the future.” The Arbutus 2020 improvement project illustrates that while we are firmly rooted in our history, we are also growing for a successful tomorrow. ■