Surrey speeds from sprawl to skyscrapers

There are over 200,000 Sikhs in the province (State) of British Columbia in Canada. Of these, most live in the Greater Vancouver area, specifically in Vancouver’s satellite city, Surrey. Surrey used to be one of Vancouver’s poorer country cousins, but not any longer. Vancouver architect Bing Thom, who died earlier in October, helped take Surrey from sprawl to skyscrapers.

Bing designed the City Centre Library, Guildford Aquatic Centre and Central City/SFU tower, which became the foundation for what is now downtown Surrey. Surrey also takes pride in being an age-friendly city and boasts of senior centres in several neighbourhoods, some of which have been designed by Bing.

The distinct features of Bing’s buildings are their green characteristics and sustainability. Perhaps, the best examples of this are the sustainable features incorporated into the design of the City Centre Library.

It is located close to public transport facilities to promote connectivity, ease of access and decreased use of automobiles. It also boasts of reduced heat island effect through the use of white roofing materials to reflect solar energy away from the building. Two-thirds of the roof is planted with a green roof that further reduces CO2 and captures rain water.

Low consumption features such as low flush toilets and metering electronic faucets have been installed. The building is designed to be integrated into the district energy grid along with the City Hall building constructed on the adjacent plot.

Strategically located sunshades control glare and heat. The windows have sealed glazing units to further reduce heat gain. LED lighting has been installed throughout the building. Lights switch off automatically if no one is using meeting rooms.

As for the environmental quality, strategic use of glass for the walls and skylight allows daylight to enter the building, reducing power consumption, and at the same time providing marvellous views. Also, there has been extensive use of wood for the millwork and furniture, instead of man-made alternatives.

Since it opened in the spring of 1997, Bing’s design for the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC has earned an international reputation for its striking design and stellar acoustics. Bing is remembered as one of Canada’s leading architects and urban visionaries — both at home and abroad — by those who knew him.