Cover was engaged by the ʔaq̓am Band to carry out a feasibility study for the community’s Health
and Wellness Centre. The goal of the study was to identify an appropriate location for a vibrant health centre within the ʔaq’am community site, built to be operationally sustainable and meet the needs of the community. Public engagement sessions played a key role in ensuring that ʔa·kxam̓is ʔakikⱡuʔnam – spirit of community – was central to the development of the vision for the ʔaq̓am Health and Wellness Centre.
Cover developed a site plan incorporating existing buildings, new addition(s), required traffic patterns for guests and fire trucks, pedestrian circulation and functions. We identified functional and area requirements of NDYC and youth housing and provided a preliminary Schematic Design of NDYC including additional youth housing units on second floor and Code Analysis of preliminary proposed scheme.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) acquired the Campbell Field site from the South Slocan Sports Association in 2016. The RDCK is committed to maintaining it as a recreation site and turning it into a hub for the community. Public engagement throughout the region was aimed at providing diverse recreation programming and complimenting the services already available in the region. Cover worked with RC Strategies Consulting to synthesize the public input and create several concept options for the site, providing a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including a potential bike pump track, skate park, splash pad, field house and track and field.
Interior Health (IH) and Cover Architecture have worked in conjunction to develop a functional program for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) replacement and expansion at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). The purpose of the functional program is to provide IH with a comprehensive document that can be used as a tool to guide this future project at KGH. This study delivered an in depth analysis of the functional, operational and spatial needs required to support a new MRI Departmental layout. The functional program focuses on the following items: an overview of services, operations/ staffing and design criteria as well as space requirements including allocations, descriptions and relationships.
Kalesnikoff Lumber hired Cover Architecture to develop an office building using Mass Timber. The building would house their management staff for both the mill and forestry operations. It would also house the restored logging truck originally used when Kalesnikoff lumber was first starting up. The truck would be showcased in a a glass display room at the main entrance to the building which would also serve as a small museum that explored the history of logging and the lumber industry in the region.
The project was paused when Kalesnikoff embarked on their ambitious plans to build their own Mass Timber plant. Cover Architecture went on to be the Architect on that project, and the plant is up and running, providing employment and value added Mass Timber products to projects across North America.
Cover completed a condition assessment and design proposal for the Salmo Valley Swimming Pool in Salmo, BC for the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) in 2021.
The assessment provided an evaluation of the existing pool basin, circulation system, and buildings in order to understand the critical issues for immediate maintenance and repairs, as well as a longer term outlook of the modifications and renovations that would be required to extend the life span, usability, and sustainability of the building.
The proposed building renovation reimagines the change room spaces and prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity. A large Universal Change Area is provided which will better serve families, people with disabilities, gender diverse people, and increase privacy and safety, as well as efficiency. This forward-thinking design provides flexibility and is intended to serve the community needs well into the future.
This feasibility study addresses the proposed building envelope and energy upgrades for the Vernon Health Centre. As part of this study, various systems and assemblies were reviewed on site on October 1, 2020.
Living-stones Developments has described a vision for the 30th Ave North project that captures the best aspects of contemporary residential design. The nature of the project will be to encourage and support the co-location of inter-generational families in buildings that have some degree of adaptability.
This study will support Living-stones Developments in the analysis of site servicing and financial viability and provide a platform to enter into negotiations with the City should relaxations/variances be required.
The unit mix, compact unit sizes, PassiveHouse considerations, adaptability, and contemporary aesthetic design makes this project exciting and innovative, with the potential to become a precedent for multi-family medium to high density residential housing across the country.
We prepared this feasibility study on behalf of the Kaslo and District Public Library, Selkirk College and North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society. The project, known as the Kaslo Common Space Initiative (KCI), created a group of representatives from the three partners known as the Common Space Working Group (CWG).
The goal of this study, as a first phase of the initiative, is to understand the current situation of each partner, develop an understanding of their future needs and examine two site options for developing a joint facility. The first option is a “test-fit” and impact analysis of a potential renovation of the Kemball Memorial Building, with an addition described as the “annex”. The second option provides a contrasting option for an entirely new building on a theoretical generic site.
This project involved a tactical review of an envelope renewal for an early 1980s contemporary home. As part of a total envelope replacement, the investigation reviewed the measures needed to adhere to the Enerphit program requirements, along with energy modelling and options analysis for the implementation, and high level costing of different approaches to be considered.
ENERPHIT PROGRAM – PASSIVE HOUSE
Enerphit is a program through the Passive House Institute that is aimed at improvements on existing buildings to improve reductions in heating energy demand of up to 90% have been achieved in a large number of projects.
The Enerphit program is for certified energy retrofits with Passive House Components. This requires either a maximum heating demand of 25 kWh/(m²a) or alternatively the consistent use of Passive House components in accordance with the requirements for PHI certification of components. The heating demand calculated by the PHPP, and the quality of thermal protection of the individual components are indicated in the certificate.
ENERGY MODEL – 3 WEST
There are two possible compliance paths for an Enerphit home: the energy method (same as a regular passive house project) and the component method.
Three sites have been identified as potential locations for the new outdoor skating rink. One outcome of this study determined the best candidate, through an analysis of each site including variables such as, but not limited to, location within the community, land use and zoning, flood susceptibility, proximity to amenities, availability of parking, impact on local traffic, current use and future development.
The study also outlined three main options for construction types. The construction options are included in the images above.
516 Josephine Street is a proposed development on a site with an existing heritage building where the historic facade is to be maintained.
Cover studied this site on two different occasions to developed comprehensive reports that investigate a variety of functional arrangements and associated parking in relation to the parameters of the physical site, zoning and heritage considerations. Included in the reports were a functional program, massing models, high level floor plans and sections, order of magnitude costing, bylaw/code review and analysis for each conceptual option.
COVER Architectural Collaborative has created a new design improving on the capacity of Bosun Hall which is the heart of New Denver community life, providing space for events such as weddings, arts performances, children’s activities, birthdays, funerals, public meetings, and more. The current Bosun Hall is approximately 3100 sqft, split between three main components: hall, stage and kitchen. There is also an unused mezzanine and an unused crawlspace. Cover Architecture’s new design is expected to match the current size of the existing building while improving on the capacity, the design has the potential to meet the new Step Code 3 energy code, and fits aesthetically within the village of New Denver.
