Qualicum Beach Fire Hall

Client: Town of Qualicum Beach Location: Qualicum Beach, BC Size: 18,000 sf Budget: $5,500,000 Status: Completed in 2015

Protective / Emergency Services

Qualicum Beach Fire Hall

The Qualicum Beach Fire Hall was designed in response to the community’s need for shortened emergency response times, a new emergency operations centre, and the requirement to apply green building principles to the new structure. The fire hall not only improved the area’s fire suppression coverage but was also awarded a Green Municipal Fund grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for meeting or exceeding sustainability and innovation in design criteria.

This project applied leading-edge materials and building design, including the use of solid mass timber in the form of laminated veneer lumber (LVL)—the first post-disaster building project to do so in Western Canada. Solar panels, radiant heating, LED lighting, gender-neutral washrooms and dividable, multi-use rooms are just some of the approaches that provided immense energy, financial and space efficiencies.

Sustainability
72% reduction in the energy usage of the ASHRAE 90.1 (2010) standard

Awards

Firehouse Station Style Design Award (Bronze)
F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Award (Recognition)
VIREB Institutional Project of the Year
Green Municipal Fund grant of $464,467 for accomplishing a 72% reduction in energy usage over BC Building Code regulations

Although nearly six times larger than its predecessor, the new fire hall uses much less energy.

The building provides comfortable quarters for 40 career and volunteer firefighters. A large training room can be divided into two small yet functional spaces. Kitchen and dining facilities can accommodate an influx of EOC workers and a large plaza outside the building doubles as a place for the media and public to congregate, ensuring that EOC operations can take place unimpeded.

Incorporating economy into sustainability

Highly economical, the Qualicum Beach Fire Hall was built at a cost of just $303 per square foot.

Innovative design solutions informed the project from start to finish. Timber removed from the site in the pre-construction stage was used in the interior design. The project aimed to exceed LEED® water conservation requirements. High-efficiency toilets and faucets reduce water consumption. The use of LVL wood panels and other solid mass timber applications provide flexibility, stability, energy savings and an efficient use of forest resources.

JDa Team

Kimberly Johnston—Project Architect
John Botelho—Job Captain

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