Celebrating Catholic Faith Through Built Form

JCA worked with the Canadian Carmelite Charitable Society to fulfill their vision of a Spirituality Centre that provides a retreat and year-round facility to accommodate faith-based meetings, events and prayer situated at the base of a hill (reflects Mount Carmel) that celebrates the magnificence of this rural Alberta landscape. The campus is located one hour west of Edmonton and occupies a rare sloping prairie site. The Retreat Centre offers 40 private guest suites, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a multi-purpose dining and meeting space, underground parking, 250-seat chapel and a sky bridge that links the campus facilities so that users can access the facilities internally during winter months. All the structures are made of prefabricated Cross Laminated Timber panels making construction possible during the winter months. Waste wood products are harvested from the local area for use in the biomass wood chip boiler that provides domestic and heating hot water, reducing the use of fossil fuels. Water conservation has been considered throughout with drought resistant plantings, low volume fixtures, and secondary sewage treatment which returns processed bacteria-free wastewater to the aquifer.

JCA’S ROLE: PROJECT ARCHITECT, MASTER PLANNING & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PROJECT SIZE: 72,000 FT2
PROJECT VALUE: $40M
THIS TWO-PHASE PROJECT BEGAN IN 2016 & WAS COMPLETED IN 2024

After nearly 60 years in a 1920s converted warehouse, the Archdiocese of Vancouver needed a new permanent office and home. A new site for the administrative headquarters of the Catholic Archdiocese was found on the “Campus of Care” being developed by Providence Health Care. The new site involved several major user groups and long-range planning for future hospital and seniors care, a complex rezoning process, and a comprehensive plan that embodied a sense of reverence, faith, and welcoming; a “Domus Dei” that represents sacrifice, giving, hard work, stewardship and guidance. The JCA team worked closely with Archbishop Miller, the archdiocesan finance committee, building committee, finance council, project manager and office management to determine the unique needs of the new Pastoral Centre. The six-storey, LEED Gold John Paul ll Pastoral Centre and Housing was completed in 2015. The centre serves a staff of 100, includes a chapel, auditorium, state-of-the art archives facility, meeting space, offices, and nine independent housing units for retired priests.

JCA’S ROLE: PROJECT ARCHITECT
PROJECT SIZE: 70,676 FT2 TOTAL OFFICE AREA & 30,138 FT2 OF UNDERGROUND PARKING
PROJECT VALUE: $25M
THE PROJECT BEGAN IN 2012 & WAS COMPLETED IN 2015 (ON SHEDULE & ON BUDGET)

The original school building (1959) required replacement and the existing science wing (1988) and heritage building (1932) were to be incorporated into the overall campus plan. The project posed many design challenges including a sloping site, urban construction logistics, and safety protocols and allowances to maintain a 600-student high school adjacent to the construction site. To develop a campus that inspires learning, faith, community and a nurturing environment, the project underwent extensive consultation with the school’s Principal, John Campbell, faculty, the building committee, archdiocesan finance committee, parish and parent user groups. Based on LEED Gold certification, the design includes various open integrated spaces that are multi-functional, taking advantage of natural light and implementing the latest technologies in energy savings. The design includes gathering spaces both indoors and outdoors to encourage student pods that foster group interaction, comfort and a sense of belonging. Cultural sensibilities were also a consideration on the project, as the site is adjacent to Squamish Nation Traditional Territory. JCA assembled, managed, and directed the large multi-disciplinary consultant team, and was responsible for all municipal affairs, presentations to City Council, zoning reviews, building permit, site reviews, analysis, and consultation with planning departments and building inspectors.

JCA’S ROLE: PROJECT ARCHITECT
PROJECT SIZE: 70,676 FT2 TOTAL OFFICE AREA & 30,138 FT2 OF UNDERGROUND PARKING
PROJECT VALUE: $25M
THIS PROJECT BEGAN IN 2012 & WAS COMPLETED IN 2015 (ON SCHEDULE & ON BUDGET)

To expand the Carmelite’s presence in Western Canada, the Little Flower Monastery site in Deroche, BC was chosen for its rural location, accessibility to Vancouver, and mountain setting – a distinct reference to the biblical Mount Carmel in Israel. The project consists of a meeting hall, study facilities, 19 guest rooms, a chapel, three apartments, commercial kitchen, and a 250-person multipurpose meeting/dining room.
The Little Flower Monastery is situated at the base of a mountain with backyard access to The Way of the Cross Trail. To inform the rustic and heavily forested nature of the site, the monastery was designed to mimic the verticality of the forest and strength of the rocky geology. The entire structure is a premanufactured Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) building, delivered to the site and assembled in less time than conventional construction. This project utilized site materials and natural resources to reduce environmental impact including; trees milled on site were incorporated into project finishes and landscaping; a biomass boiler for domestic and heating hot water through local wood harvesting; and an on-site gravel crusher produced high quality gravel from excavated large boulders and other rock materials.

JCA’S ROLE: PROJECT ARCHITECT, MASTER PLANNING & PROJECT MANAGER
PROJECT SIZE: 28,400 FT2
PROJECT VALUE: $16M
THIS TWO-PHASE PROJECT BEGAN IN 2016 & WAS COMPLETED IN 2020 (ON SCHEDULE & ON BUDGET)

• St. Josephs’ Elementary, Vancouver, BC – feasibility study to re-build a 250-student elementary school in a densely populated neighborhood facing several zoning challenges and physical site constraints. The study provided three development options and solutions for temporary classrooms and alternate traffic provisions for drop-off/pick up.
• St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Vancouver, BC – feasibility study and concept design of gymnasium and rectory.
• St. Helen’s Elementary School, Burnaby, BC – feasibility study and City Bylaw negotiations.
• St. Andrew’s Elementary School, Vancouver, BC – feasibility study and concept design.
• Notre Dame Regional Secondary School, Vancouver, BC – feasibility study, concept design and team leader (project start-up) during the City and Building Committee process.
• Immaculate Conception Parish Centre and Elementary School, Vancouver, BC – feasibility study and Architect for school gym and parish centre.
• Holy Cross Regional Secondary School, Surrey, BC – Feasibility study for additions and renovations.
• St. Paul’s Parish Centre and Elementary School, Richmond, BC – design of school gym and parish centre.
• Notre Dame Regional Secondary School, Vancouver, BC – gymnasium and theatre renovations.
• St. Josephs’ Elementary, Vancouver, BC – renovation and classroom expansion.
• St. Helen’s Church, Burnaby, BC – feasibility study and design.
• Holy Rosary Cathedral Site, Vancouver, BC – analysis to review the feasibility of expanding the Holy Rosary Cathedral Site.
• St. Teresa’s, Vancouver, BC – elevator addition.
• Poor Clare Monastery, Matsqui, BC – addition/renovations.
• Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery, Surrey, BC – mausoleum planning and property development concepts.