The Winston at South Oak is in the Marpole area on the West Side of Vancouver, close to essential amenities, including transit, world-class schools and recreation, YVR airport, and shopping at Oakridge Centre and Marine Gateway. This 8-storey mixed-use residential/commercial development has two levels of an underground parkade, a 2-storey retail/residential podium structure which includes double height office spaces, retail areas, and several 2-level townhomes. The remaining six floors will house one, two and three-bedroom residential strata units which will include amenity services and have access to a common kitchen, lounge room and roof top patio. Williams Engineering’s (WE) general design philosophy for the mechanical and electrical systems is to provide a safe, healthy, comfortable environment for residents all while maintaining the budget and meeting LEED® Gold requirements for certification.
WE provided schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration services for the Oak Street and 67th Avenue mixed-use development. The electrical distribution system was designed to comply with high-rise building requirements including a generator to provide emergency power for life-safety and stand-by loads. The building’s electrical system includes a 1.5 MVA unit substation with the distribution divided to service the house loads, residential suite loads, amenity loads, and office/CRU tenant loads. Power, Data, and A/V infrastructure was provided in the suites to accommodate low voltage controls for music speakers, thermostats, and lighting control. Life safety systems include a central alarm and control facility and fire alarm speakers with voice communications. The lighting was designed to match appropriate interior design themes and finishes. Data/Tel/CATV/Enterphone were coordinated and provided to suites, tenants and administrative areas. Exterior lighting for façades and surface parking was also designed by WE using IESNA recommended practices and lighting calculations. Finally, security rough-in requirements were provided in consultation with the client.
The buildings mechanical systems design includes a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system that provides heating and cooling for the residential suites, office and amenity areas through dedicated fancoil units. The VRF system provides simultaneous cooling and heating with heat recovery allowing for better zoned thermal control of the building and greater overall energy efficiencies. Continuous ventilation is provided at corridors by a high efficiency gas fired air handling units and ventilation at suites is provided through dedicated HRV units. Domestic hot water is generated by a central gas fired high efficiency boiler and storage tank system.
