New Office in Kelowna

Berry Architecture has a new office in Kelowna! We were bursting at the seams at our co-working space, and it was time to get our own digs. At the beginning of January, we moved into a beautiful new space that’s all our own, just a block away from the old one in downtown Kelowna. We now have over 2,200 ft², with space for a boardroom/meeting rooms, individual offices, large open workspace for the technologists, kitchen, private washroom c/w shower, as well as an outdoor deck that runs the entire length of the suite. It is wonderful to be able to spread out and have private meeting space for both online and in-person meetings. There’s lots of room for expansion which will be helpful when Cassia returns from maternity leave in March. We are also looking forward to being able to have barbecues and host events on the patio soon! If you are in the Okanagan, stop by for a visit to check in with us or discuss your next project.

Project Update - Calgary Mixed-use Residential Conversion

An interesting project we have been working on is a conversion of a second-floor office space into housing units in Calgary. We are working with Swift Builders on this Design-Build project, which involves converting an existing second-floor office space into eight bachelor-style rental units. The main floor consists of existing retail which will be unchanged. Located on 14^th Street in Calgary, just south of SAIT and the Alberta Academy of the Arts, these suites would be ideal for students. The exterior façade will also be upgraded, enhancing the unique slanted wall structure around the upper portions of the second-floor. This type of mixed-use conversion is a great way to introduce housing, especially small-unit housing, into urban areas where this usage is very beneficial. Building Permit drawings have been completed, and project is awaiting approval of next stages.

Project Update - Spirit River Seniors' Apartment

The new seniors’ living apartment building in Spirit River, Alberta is progressing well. This affordable apartment will provide 26 units of independent living over four storeys, with a mixture of one and two-bedroom units. There are also several amenity spaces, including a multi-purpose room/fitness space, common dining area, laundry rooms, and gathering spaces on each floor. The apartment is located on the same site as the Pleasant View Lodge which we completed in March, 2024. Both properties are part of the Grande Spirit Foundation’s senior housing portfolio and provide excellent housing opportunities for Spirit River and the surrounding area. The exterior is almost complete and the interior is at the drywall stage. Final completion is targeting the end of March, 2025. Here are a few construction photos.

Here are some things we've been up to:

Carlos Gamez Ruiz celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the firm on January 5th! He has accomplished so much in the last ten years, progressing in his roles from Intern Architect to Registered Architect to Associate Partner and Manager of our Kelowna office. He is also a Building Envelope Specialist and Certified Passive House Designer. Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and commitment to constantly learning and improving your skills.

Berry Architecture is working on a new project with Red Deer Polytechnic to design a sonography training space for their new program. Angela Flinn and representatives from RDP went to Vancouver and Victoria on January 7 - 8 to tour the sonography program spaces at BCIT and Camosun College. The trip was very informative, and the team came back with excellent intel for the upcoming project. 

Did you know?

Lowering your thermostat by just one degree can save you money on your heating or cooling bills. The exact savings depend on factors like climate, insulation, and the efficiency of your HVAC system, but it's estimated to reduce energy costs by around 1-3% per degree for each 8-hour period. Over the course of a year, this can add up to significant savings!

Source: thomasgalbraith.com