2013 EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR OFFICE
This new development houses the FortisBC regional operations centre and fleet vehicles and is a replacement facility for their previous leased building. Since the majority of their staff lived in the vicinity of Langford, the owner decided to build their new facility 14 km east of the previous location to help shorten staff commutes. The main uses of the building and site are as an office space for staff to receive and report their work, which is performed in the surrounding community, a warehouse to fix and maintain company fleet vehicles, and a secure yard to store the fleet. The total site area is 56,371 sq. ft. in a neighbourhood of light industrial and retail buildings. The 21,808 sq. ft. building is comprised of a two storey office component connected to a one storey warehouse component. The warehouse portion houses light manufacturing of components required for natural gas services. There is also a seminar and training area within the one storey area. VAROC is a great example of a sustainably designed light industrial building with a focus on energy efficiency. As FortisBC is a publicly owned energy and power supplier in BC, the company wanted to incorporate new and alternative technologies, including geothermal exchange loops, sunshading, solar hot water and natural ventilation, to act as a demonstration project for the community. Under the LEED New Construction 2009 rating system the building has received a Silver rating.
