Commercial Wood Design
BC Ferries Departure Bay Passenger Facilities | Nanaimo, BC
Clive Grout Architect Inc.
  
  
  
  
    
This BC Ferries’ project consists of a 28,000 sq ft building which includes ticketing and arrivals hall, baggage pick up and drop off, departures/arrivals corridor, retail shops, food court, washrooms, waiting lounge and escalator connection to the ship’s load/unload gangway. The project also includes an exterior courtyard and children’s area. Retail and food facilities are accessible to both foot and vehicle passengers.
Wood was an excellent choice for ceiling and exterior fascia material as the architects desired to introduce a signature material to the landside facilities symbolic of the land and mountains of coastal B.C. as a contrast to the experience of the sea on the ships. In creating an image for the new passenger facilities, the architects selected the warmth and comfort of wood expressed on the ceiling, leaving the floors for utilitarian finishes and the walls for full glass to integrate visually with the spectacular setting on the edge of the water. The dramatic shape of the building and its roof, dictated by the site planning constraints, is enhanced by the prominence of the wood panels.
The architects took two key steps to ensure the long-term durability of the fir veneer in coastal B.C.’s sea air and rain environment. The fascias are designed to slope sharply from the edge, keeping them out of the line of the direct rain. The entire assembly was initially rigorously and successfully tested by Forintek Canada for boiling water emersion, dry peel and room temperature delamination, giving the client and architect confidence in the application. Specific tests one year after installation of the exterior fascia indicate absolutely no deterioration of any component.
Wood materials used:
- Exterior wood sloped fascia panels
1219 x 2438 x 19 mm panels manufactured from marine exterior grade platform core with ¼-cut vertical grain book-matched fir veneer finish, sealed on all edges with fir veneer. Installed with butt joints on concealed stainless steel fastening and suspension system. - Interior wood ceiling panels
1219 x 2438 x 19 mm panels manufactured from composite wood core with ¼-cut vertical grain, book-matched fir veneer finish, sealed on all edges with fir veneer. Installed with butt joints on concealed stainless steel fastening and suspension system. - Interior wood slat ceiling
Horizontal 60 x 20 mm solid fir at 60 mm centres suspended on concealed fastening system.
Owner:
BC Ferries Services Inc.
1112 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
V8V 4V2
250.978.1386
Project Manager:
SNC-Lavalin
2500-1075 West Georgia
Vancouver, BC
V6E 3C9
604.299.8860
Architectural:
Clive Grout Architect Inc.
1684 West 2nd Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6J 1H4
604.736.6005
General Contractor:
Knappett Projects Inc.
501 Kelvin Road
Victoria, BC
V8Z 1C4
250.468.6681
Structural:
Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
202-388 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 3X2
604.730.1422
Envelope Consultant:
Read Jones Christoffersen
206-155 Skinner Street
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 5E8
250.716.1520
