Cowichan based industrial, hospitality, civic and academic facilities were in the winners circle at the 12th Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) Commercial Building Awards held in Courtenay on April 4, 2019.
The Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn in Duncan was named best in the renovation category. The hotel underwent a $4 million makeover to refurbish 42 rooms and add an additional floor to boost the building to 64 rooms in total.
Another Cowichan Valley development, Parhar Business Park of Duncan, received a merit award in the industrial category. The business park features multiple business structures located on the highway. The business park is designed with energy efficiency in mind and extra safety measures are built into the site, including enhanced lighting, pedestrian walkways, and safe access for the public, students and workers. Parhar Group also received first place honors in the Industrial Category at the VIREB Awards, for its Herring Gull Warehouse in Parksville.
In the institutional category, Brentwood College Athletic Facility of Mill Bay won a merit award. This new state of the art athletic facility includes gymnasiums, a fitness centre, squash courts and office space, addressing a growing student population as well as diversity within the athletic program. The design continues the West Coast theme of the campus, sitting sympathetically with the existing infrastructure and natural environment.
Meade Creek Recycling Facility of Lake Cowichan won yet another merit award in the civic buildings category. The centre serves residents of Lake Cowichan, Youbou and surrounding communities with an accessible and convenient facility that features state-of-the-art weigh scale technology for recycling more than 650 products.
There were 40 finalist projects in the competition, which celebrates the best in commercial, community and industrial buildings north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island.
