Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Energy Centre

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Project Manager/Landscape Architect - with Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg

VGH’s leaking power plant was expanded and relocated beneath the ground making way for a newly envisioned community park. The plaza provides a natural buffer for the residential neighborhood immediately South while remaining accessible to users and staff throughout the VGH campus. Service access to the power plant is highlighted in the plaza; the working machinations of which are further incorporated via a kinetic art installation. Stainless steel columns wind through a reflective pool camouflaging two large combustion stacks serving the underground power station below. These are further integrated with the use of fastigiate tree planting and a patterned topographical ground plane. Pressure-sensitive concrete planks are integrated within the plaza and provide a surprising release of plant-generated steam when depressed. A choreographed release of water provides white noise further improving the visitors audible experience within the park as well as a soothing backdrop or focal point for those that linger.

Role:

• Designer / Project Manager

• Design, detailing, production

• Bidding review, specifications, construction administration