Three new Langley structures, each at the core of their respective neighbourhoods, are being recognized for excellence in building.
Timms Community Centre, the Coulter Berry Building, and OpenRoad Exotics clinched top honours last Thursday.
The accolades were bestowed on the owners, the builders, and the architects of these buildings during the sixth annual Fraser Valley Commercial Building Awards – aptly held in Langley – last week.
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CAPTION: Timms Community Centre
Timms Community Centre, the new civic facility added on to Langley City hall last year, was crowned as the best community institutional building in the Fraser Valley.
This facility, located at 204th Street and Douglas Crescent, was designed by HCMA Architecture & Design, and built by general contractors at DGS Construction Company.
It isn’t just a recreational centre, but a cultural hub that blends the existing City hall and Fraser Valley Regional Library with a new community centre – all under one expanded building in the centre of the City.
Langley City Mayor Ted Schaffer spoke at the awards evening, describing Timms as a focal point of the community, a hub that can bring the community together with special amenities such as the indoor walking/running track that offers a safe and friendly environment for people of all ages to come together and keep fit.
He applauded the past and present council members, but particularly credited the staff, the architects, the builders “who made it all possible.”
“It’s, overall, just a wonderful place for people to recreate,” commenting on the meeting rooms, the library, the City hall amenities, and the recreational options that have been “all wrapped up into one.”
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CAPTION: Coulter Berry Building
Likewise, the new Coulter Berry Building erected – albeit amid much controversy about size – along Glover Road in Fort Langley, was also lauded.
This structure, designed by Keystone Architecture & Planning and realized by general contractors from Integrated Construction Concepts, was recognized in the mixed-use category.
Coulter Berry is a three-storey, 45,000-square-foot building, but with four primary uses: retail and a restaurant on the ground floor, corporate offices and personal services on the second floor, and nine residential rental apartments on the third floor.
And OpenRoad Exotics earned top marks for its multi-purpose building on Collection Drive. This “unique building design” dreamed up by Christopher Bozyk Architects and realized by general contractors from Ventana Construction was added to the luxury automall that has been developing along the Langley Bypass and Glover Road over the past several years.
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CAPTION: OpenRoad Exotics
Awards of merit were also given to a number of projects last week, including one in Langley.
The Valley Driving School in Aldergrove’s Gloucester Estates was given the honourable mention in the industrial category, noting how a small business can create an educational facility in a multi-use building.
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CAPTION: Valley Driving School
Each building – be it institutional, commercial, industrial, multi or single-family, recreational, or renovation project had to be completed between January 2015 and August 2016, and were judged on a number of criteria.
The judges had their work cut out for them, as there were “so many excellent buildings” submitted this year, said Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner and coordinator the event.
“They based their decisions on whether the building complemented the surrounding properties and area, is it aesthetically pleasing, unique architectural features, level of finish/choice of construction materials, does it answer a specific development need within the community, does it contribute to a healthy, sustainable community, and does it have any environmentally friendly or green elements,” MacDonald elaborated.
Georgie contenders
While honours were given out last week to those behind commercial building in the region, the focus is now shifting to the best builders in the strictly residential construction industry.
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of B.C. (CHBA BC) announced it finalists for the 2017 Georgie Awards, and Langley plays prominently.
The Foxridge Homes project called Willoughby West was shortlisted twice in the best single-family homes of up to 2,300 square feet and under $500,000.
The Infinity Properties Heritage project is in the running for the best multi-family townhouse development.
South Ridge Developments’ Life Above project is shortlisted in the best single-family kitchen valued at less than $100,000.
My House Design & Build Team was shortlisted twice in the best residential renovations valued between $100,000 and $299,999 for its Let There Be Light and Tall Timbers projects.
Homestar Building Corporation’s Yimin renovation got them into the running for the best residential renovation valued between $300,000 and $499,999.
Versa Homes was shortlisted for its Cave a Vin project in the best renovation (of any room) category.
Hayer Builders Group, an associate company of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing, is in the running for the best interior design display suite category (for single and multi-family homes) the best landscape design (new or renovation), and the Grand Georgie Awards for residential community of the year for its Exchange project in Langley.
Infinity Properties is also up in multiple categories, best project identity, best advertising campaign, best corporate/project website, and the Grand Georgie Award for marketing campaign of the year for its Woodland Park development, as well as best sales centre for its Heritage project.
The shortlist of semi-finalists was revealed today (Nov. 22). The winners will be announced on March 11, at the 25th anniversary Georgie Awards in Vancouver.
There were hundreds of entries from across the province, and it’s an “accomplishment in itself to stand out as a finalist,” said Neil Moody, CEO of the CHBA BC.
“The high-calibre and inspiring projects submitted each year by CHBA BC members is a large part of why the Georgie Awards program has thrived for 25 years,” he added. “We are pleased to have another strong year of entries and finalists, and we look forward to announcing the winners at the gala.”