Non-profit organization Soroptimist International of Vancouver and Vancouver-based developer Purpose Driven Development have partnered on an innovative redevelopment project that will bring 135 affordable rental homes to workforce women, senior women and women-led families. Demonstrating the leadership of women in a male-dominated sector is the first development project in Western Canada being developed, designed and delivered by a team composed entirely of highly qualified women. 546 West 13th will help to close the glaring gap in the housing needs of women by providing affordable “Housing for Women By Women”.
Williams Engineering (WE) is providing the electrical consulting services for the Soroptimist (SIV) Redevelopment, located in Vancouver, BC. This project involves a 13-storey redevelopment that offers 135 units, with a combination of compact studios and 1-, 2-, and 3- bedroom units, 47 vehicle parking spaces and 250 bicycle parking space.
Our team is coordinating with local utilities (BC Hydro, Telus and Shaw) for on-site services to the new development. The preliminary design of exterior lighting concepts were provided in coordination with the client, architect, and landscape architect, and based on the landscape layout and luminaire specifications.
Our team is providing construction document services which included the coordination with both the client and architect to finalize the power and low-tension system layout. We are designing the Back-of-House lighting and lighting control systems, which consists of the lighting and control layout, luminaire specifications, and lighting photometric calculation in parking, service rooms, storages, and stairs. We are also coordinating the Front-of-House (Main Entry Lobby) lighting layout with the interior designer. This includes a review of the interior designers lighting layout and specifications to verify the lighting load for ASHRAE compliancy and incorporate it into the electrical drawing set. Lastly, we are coordinating the lighting layout for the residential suites and common areas with the interior designer.
It is well-demonstrated that women face glaring challenges when seeking secure, affordable housing, due to their over-representation in low-wage work, an overall gender pay gap and the impacts of gender-based violence. COVID-19 has amplified these impacts. Soroptimist and Purpose Driven are leading this project, to solve these challenges alongside a team of women leaders in design, development and construction.
This project is currently under construction.
