Joggins Fossil Centre Receives LEED Gold Certification

WHW Architects is pleased to announce that the Joggins Fossil Centre has recently been certified LEED Gold by the Canada Green Building Council.  The Joggins Fossil Centre is an impressive building situated on the reclaimed site of the Old Joggins No. 7 Coal Mine, overlooking the Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

WHW provided a broad range of services for this 13,000 square foot building between 2005 and 2008. LEED certification became a client goal only after the design was underway, however, as LEED principles form part of our design ethic, this was a relatively easy change to incorporate.

Green design features of the building include extensive use of natural light and insulated diffusive glazing; a green roof for rainwater buffering; rainwater use for toilet flushing; solar domestic water heating and the use of native or regionally sourced materials, minimal applied finishes and use of durable materials. 

For more information about the Joggins Fossil Centre please visit their website

WHW Wins!

The 2010 Lieutenant Govenor’s Awards for Architecture have been announced! WHW is excited to recieve citations for École Sécondaire du Sommet and Kings Mutual Century Centre.

Rewiring: Through Net Zero Energy Design

Rewiring: Fighting the Resistance through Zero Energy Design, a presentation by Miro Krawczynski, Intern Architect at WHW, addresses the challenges and rewards of Zero Energy Design in Nova Scotian homes, as well as the broader community implications.  

Miro has experienced living on and off the NS Power utility and believes integrated Net Zero Energy Design is the most effective way to transform the entire energy supply chain. He shares his personal experiences, outlines the challenges of building a zero-energy design home in Nova Scotia, explains the advantages of multi-building, collaborative systems as a part of a new energy distribution grid, and addresses how methods of energy harvesting and utilization are critical to whole building zero-energy design and how the grid interconnection method is vital to balance the energy use within the building site.  

New, emerging patterns of energy quantification called Measurement and Verification are the critical convergence of energy consumption, communication and human consciousness.   

Rebuilding White Point – Main Lodge Design Released

Tuesday February 14, 2012 – White Point, Nova Scotia – 3 months have passed following the devastating fire on November 12, 2011 that destroyed White Point Beach Resort’s Main Lodge. Owner Robert Risley along with his team at White Point beamed with pride today as they shared the design of the new Main Lodge to be constructed over the next several months and readied for opening in Fall 2012.

Inspired and energized by the overwhelming outpouring of support from White Pointers, Robert says he knew the new lodge would have to recapture that familiar, comfortable feeling of the White Point we remember so well. “As we had hoped, with more than 100 submissions online, White Pointers came forth with their suggestions for our new Lodge. It was reassuring to know many of the thoughts for the Lodge, reflected our own.” says Risley.

In early January, the Resorts Management Team joined by the local design team of WHW Architects, Design 360, and J.W. Lindsay Enterprises; gathered to get the planning underway leading to today’s announcement.

“It gives me great pleasure to present the design of our new Lodge.” says Risley, “It truly captures the essence of the former Lodge, yet is distinctive and original, a perfect tribute to be enjoyed for many generations.”

Like the original, the new lodge will be sustainably constructed with local, natural materials, such as wood and stone. With modern windows, insulation and efficient mechanical and electrical systems, the new lodge will have a smaller ecological footprint, using much less water and energy than the old building.

The building's internal features provide all the amenities of the original, and more. On the main level guests will be welcomed into a reception area with soaring ceilings and stunning views of the ocean. Everyone will be drawn to the lodge's new heart: the warmth of twin wood burning, stone fireplaces surrounded with comfortable seating for relaxing.

Accessibility enhancements will welcome guests on each of its two levels. Its orientation will maximize passive solar heating and provide wonderful views of the beach from all areas. Oceanside decks with overhead trellises will provide protected areas to relax and enjoy the beautiful oceanfront sights and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean.

The upper level includes a lounge, 3,000 square foot divisible meeting and convention room with a wood burning fireplace and a 3,000 square foot dining room also with a fireplace, both served by a new, modern commercial kitchen.

The lower level will feature an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna, fitness centre, games room and "kids' zone". Spaces also include a spa and two barrier-free guest rooms, all with signature White Point views.

The building pays homage to the original with hipped roofs and deep protective overhangs reminiscent of the iconic White Point beach umbrellas. The brightly coloured red roof with twin projecting stone chimneys will be a beacon for guests strolling the beach or teeing off on the 6th hole.

White Point’s General Manager, Danny Morton, echo’s Risley’s pride in presenting the new Lodge design. Morton says the new lodge design continues the great traditions of White Point. “The Design Team has done an amazing job capturing the essence of White Point while providing optimal flexibility of the spaces enabling us to meet the needs of our guests. Our White Point team looks forward to welcoming White Pointers back to the beach to celebrate and enjoy many more great days.”

With an anticipated opening in the late Fall of 2012, construction is expected to begin in early April at a cost of just over $4 million. For those interested in following the progress, the White Point Construction Webcam at http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/, and regular updates are provided at http://www.whitepoint.com/.

White Point is a favourite year-round oceanfront beach destination for vacationers and meeting delegates on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. While the 84 year old main property is closed until the Fall for the new Lodge construction, the eleven RCI Gold Crown Vacation Cottages and two Executive Vacation Homes are open throughout 2012.


Media Contact for White Point:Donna Hatt, Marketing & Product Development Manageremail: donna@whitepoint.comPhone: 902.354.2711 ext 369Cell: 902.521.7319
http://www.whitepoint.com/
www.facebook.com/whitepointbeachresort
www.twitter.com/WhitePointBeach

The Meadows Grand Opening

On October 28th, Laura Steele, Kylie Mosher and John Crace were on hand at The Meadows in Yarmouth to take part in the official opening of this beautiful 105 bed Long Term Care facility. Administrator Sandra Boudreau and her staff along with the residents, their friends and relations were treated to building tours, a delicious buffet lunch prepared on site and later in the evening a lobster supper. Congratulations to all who contributed to this wonderful project.

A Beginner's Guide to Permaculture

On Wednesday, November 02 WHW’s Sustainable Circus hosted a ‘Beginner’s guide to Permaculture’ workshop with our guests Stephan Hederich and Gerlinde Pilgrimm from Green Dragon Farm. Permaculture is based on designing human settlements and agricultural systems modeled on the relationship found in nature. We explored the ethics and design principles behind the diversity and creativity of the Permaculture approach with our guests and shared some great fresh food from their biodynamic farm, including fresh cheese from Billie. This connexion between architectural and agricultural strategies was fascinating and really helped expand and develop our culture of sustainability here at WHW Architects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture

Tideview Terrace

The Tideview Terrace (TVT) Long-term Care Facility is a 90-bed nursing care facility with 18 beds dedicated to residential care. The client’s goal with this replacement facility was to achieve improved and expanded services in a healthy and pleasant living and working environment. To support this goal, the new facility had to be highly functional – accommodating modern technologies, clinical education space, and an expanding community role - while also providing a warm and friendly atmosphere.

To create a more intimate and home-like space, the facility was designed as smaller, residentially-scaled ‘houses’, with each 9-bedroom ‘house’ having its own kitchen, dining room, living room, and laundry room. In addition, each resident ‘house’ is served by its own front door, and the covered porches, lanterns, and ship-lap siding contribute to that maritime house-like feeling.

Residents have on-grade access to the secure outdoor gardens and walking paths, which allows them to enjoy both the living spaces and the outdoors. The designers recognise that residents will spend the majority of their time indoors – due to lifestyle, inclimate weather, etc. – so the landscape areas are also structured to provide visual interest from indoors.

To ensure that the facility provides the care and service required of a long-term care facility, the resident ‘houses’ are physically interconnected through a background building. Informal nursing stations are incorporated into open-concept common areas between ‘houses’. Tideview Terrace also includes a commercial kitchen, commercial laundry, hair salon, multi-purpose rooms, meeting rooms, and administrative office areas.

The project is pursuing LEED Silver Certification and features energy-efficient systems including a geothermal energy plant, solar-heated domestic hot water, water savings devices and low water use irrigation, as well as sustainable materials, natural day-lighting that makes use of ‘light towers’, and natural ventilation

Tideview Terrace held their grand opening event on September 29th, 2011.