Millenium Water-Parcel 4 Canada House
Athletes Way, Vancouver
Part of the Olympic Village, Canada House was home to Team Canada athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics that Vancouver hosted. Canada House features a subtle twist in design, east at the back and west at the front that reflects practical as well as aesthetic considerations. The taller height of the West building would have blocked a public garden from the sun at certain times of the day. To solve this problem, the architects bent the west side in and then counterbalanced it by leaning the east side in on the opposite side for earthquake safety. The combined effect produces a striking twist most visible from the north side of False Creek.
The shape of Canada House resembles a bulging square with a façade of alternating horizontal glass and steel panels. These metal panels even change colour as they reflect the sun’s movement, producing a stunning “sequential sunset” when driving over Cambie Bridge at the right time. A stack of vertical balconies rising at an angle on the north and south sides creates a balanced structure. The roof-line steps down toward the seawall, offering units breathtaking views of False Creek while preserving light and air intake for the buildings behind it.
Atlas analyzed the building and its various structures with the Architect and relevant professional partners. The solution required an assortment of standard and custom equipment used in unique applications of fall protection work to allow for roof top, exterior building maintenance and window washing operations.
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