The Infinity Dimension

 

Cost and Payback Analysis: 

 

Financing information is confidential.

 

Process and Results: 

 

Predesign
It could be said that the pre-design process took place over several years and involved multiple attempts by the provincial government to determine the best process under which to provide the much-needed expansion to the convention center. It included a design competition, a public/private partnership approach, and a provincial lead team approach—until finally the right process emerged.

 

As a participant in those earlier approaches, the design team clearly understood the challenges of providing the program, reaching the sustainability goals, and successful integration of this building into the Vancouver waterfront. Because the success of this building was so important to so many (the provincial government, the federal government, Tourism British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Convention Center operators, the surrounding neighbors, and the citizens of Vancouver) it needed a design process that reached out and engaged everyone. Early on, the environmental performance of this building was placed front and center in the pre-design process. With Vancouver being a very green community, it seemed very appropriate to form a Sustainable Advisory Committee (SAC) to help shape the goals. That group was led by a green specialist from the education, design, development and construction community. Through the process of meeting with the SAC, the broader community goals and objectives were engaged.

 

Design
The design team continued to gather input from many different stakeholders throughout the process. During the design, most of the early interaction was with the City of Vancouver Planning Department. From that process sprang forth several design review meetings and presentations. Additionally, there was a series of public meetings and open house events designed to inform and solicit input across the city.

 

In addition to the planning process, there was coordination with the client to engage and invite participation of several other stakeholder groups, from neighborhood community groups to the Department of Fisheries and First Nations Indians. All were asked to participate in reviews and provide input along the way. As an additional review component to achieving our environmental goals throughout the design process, the owner engaged several specialty sub-consultants to do over-the-shoulder peer review at various progress points through design and documentation.