Congratulations to Vancity for their first LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors for their Mount Tolmie community branch in Victoria on Vancouver Island.
The project involved the relocation of Vancity’s Hillside branch to a new building, The Paragon, at 1590 Cedar Hill Cross Road in Saanich. RATIO acted as the prime consultant and was responsible for the planning and design of the of the 5000 square foot space. The branch design includes a community room, engagement centre, commisioned public art in the member’s space, eight banking offices along with life insurance and teller services. The new branch is filled with natural light, entering the building through large windows on all exposures. RATIO worked to ensure that all member and staff areas had access to natural light and in most cases, direct views to the outside. External consultants, part of the project team, ensured the highest possible energy performance and savings through a centrally controlled lighting and HVAC system with daylight and occupancy sensors in offices and meeting spaces. Additionally, each branch area – including individual offices – can be controlled independently, ensuring that energy is used only as required.
This project was another opportunity for Vancity to build a healthy, productive, community-minded space with a reduced environmental footprint. We are proud that our work on Vancity’s Mount Tolmie branch resulted in a LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors rating.
RATIO works with Vancity on all branch projects, delivering effective workspace planning and retail design solutions. In recent years, we’ve worked with Vancity on a number of branches that have achieved LEED ratings including Lynn Creek in North Vancouver, Burnaby Heights, and Shaughnessy Station in Port Coquitlam. At least two other branches are expected to achieve a minimum Gold rating next year.
About LEED Canada for Commercial Interiors from the Canada Green Building Council:
“LEED®Canada for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market. It is the recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain, and have a reduced environmental footprint. LEED Canada-CI gives the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers, who do not always have control over whole building operations.
The LEED Canada-CI rating system is applicable to tenant improvements of new or existing office space. It is important to note that LEED Canada-CI applies to both tenants’ and base building owner’s work associated with the commercial interiors improvements project.”
Vancity’s Mount Tolmie branch received LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors with the help of our consultants: Prism Engineering, mechanical and electrical consultants, and Advicas Group Consultants Inc for LEED documentation.
RATIO has deep expertise in working with credit unions. Our team has provided architectural, interior design and planning services to credit unions for over 50 years. Recent and ongoing projects include: integrated consulting on all Vancity branches, Island Savings Branch of the Future, award winning design on the downtown branch of Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union, refresh of Greater Vancouver Community Credit Union’s brand and branch template, and the forward-thinking branch concept for First West Credit Union through their Envision Financial brand.
