With the increasing population and employment in the False Creek Flats, Chinatown, and Northeast False Creek areas, as well as the addition of the new St. Paul’s Hospital and Medical Campus, the City of Vancouver identified an urgent need to upgrade the Thornton Park Pump Station. This upgrade includes replacing various pumps, pipes, and equipment, installing new mixers and a control system, and adding a new generator and electrical room.

Mass timber was chosen as the primary material for the structure of the addition. Although the project is relatively small in scale, it is essential to advocate for the use of renewable resources and to minimize our carbon footprint. Mass timber was also selected for its suitability in constructing a post-disaster building, natural noise reduction, sustainable performance, and its ability to improve the indoor work environment.

Additional considerations include a perimeter screen to conceal equipment from view within the park. This screen will also serve as a platform for public art, with a local artist selected by the City of Vancouver to create the installation. The exterior cladding for the upgrade will be robust and resilient, designed to withstand the site’s conditions. Glazed brick was chosen for its durability and its variety of colours and finishes, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding park.