CENTRE FOR ART,

ARCHITECTURE &
DESIGN

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WEST VANCOUVER

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February 18, 2013
TA B L E O F CO N TEN TS

WEST VANCOUVER SOCIETY FOR ART,

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN BOARD 1

EVOCATION by Gordon Smith 2

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COMMUNITY VISION by Merla Beckerman 3

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OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND 4

MANDATE 6

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LOCATION, SITE, RATIONALE 7

CULTURAL FACILITIES CONCEPT PLAN 9

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PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT 11

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SPACE PROGRAM 13

FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT AND PLAN 14

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 16
D E V E LO PM E N T B OA R D

Gordon Smith, Honourary Chair

Merla Beckerman, Co-Chair

Michael Evison, Co-Chair

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Eira Thomas

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David Negrin

David Heffel

Andrew Pottinger

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James McLean

Mayor Michael Smith, Ex-officio

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February 18, 2013
 E V OC ATI ON
by Gordon Smith, Honourary Chair
A city and country is both defined and
reflected by its arts.

West Vancouver is a sophisticated

community with many of its citizens

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actively engaged in and supporting
the arts. Our current facilities are
inadequate and it is time to recognize

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the great contributions that our citizens
have given to our community and
country as a whole by showcasing the
unique art, architecture and design that

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originated here.

A new Centre for Art, Architecture &

Gordon Smith
Design would make art and culture

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photo by Richard Montagna
accessible to all, from the serious collector
to the budding artist found in every school child. The new centre will attract business
and people, provide educational opportunities, enrich our society and be a place
where the community can discover and be inspired by art and design.

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In order to achieve its role as a cultural beacon for the community, the Centre for Art,
Architecture & Design needs to be highly visible in an architecturally distinguished
building. The centre needs to be well designed and staffed by experienced
professionals. It needs high level collections, exhibitions and educational programs.
Most importantly, however, it needs to be a place for people to gather and celebrate
the visual arts.

West Vancouver’s proximity to the ocean, its rugged slopes and dense forest
attracted many artists and architects who spearheaded the development of the
region’s art and design scene. The new centre would not simply look at the past,
however, but be a vital and forward-looking place that develops and fosters young
people through educational programs and challenges everyone with dynamic
exhibitions. West Vancouver continues to be a wonderfully fertile place to inspire
both young and old alike.

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COMMUNITY VISION
By Merla Beckerman, Co-Chair

There is a strong desire to participate,

learn, create and experience the arts in
West Vancouver. We are ready to build
improved arts facilities which will enable
the realization of this desire and support

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growth of the arts and culture into the
future.

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In conjunction with revitalized cultural
facilities, a new Centre for Art, Architecture
& Design will provide spaces for the entire
community—serving as a focal point for “West Vancouver has a unique
the community’s cultural life, and a social opportunity to bring the
heart around which more livable community
community together in how we
patterns can emerge. It will also activate
envision our arts and culture

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and vitalize the commercial core and the
waterfront as a community destination. future, while celebrating our
past achievements.”
Merla Beckerman
West Vancouver's Centre for Art, Architecture

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& Design will become a place that captures
our collective talents, aspirations, and
connections while maintaining and
strengthening West Vancouver's place as a
cultural leader in the region.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

CONNECTION TO NATURE

OPENNESS

SOCIAL EQUALITY

SENSITIVITY TO PLACE
Simon Scott Photograph of Smith Residence

EXPLORATION

CORE ASPIRATION
February 18, 2013
rts

ARTS IN AMBLESIDE Urban

Architecture • Urban Design
OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW
The District of West Vancouver (the District) is delivering on its promise to improve
arts facilities in Ambleside. Since 2006, the District commissioned three studies
which considered the creation of new and improved arts and cultural facilities in

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Ambleside. Council supports a new art facility on Bellevue's 1600 block, in the John
Lawson Parking lot. In 2013, a business plan and further development of a Centre
for Art, Architecture & Design (CAAD) are being advanced.

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BACKGROUND

In 2006, the West Vancouver Arts, Culture, and Heritage Facility Development Study

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produced by Aldrich Pears Associates, proposed the creation of an Arts Village along
the Ambleside Waterfront, incorporating existing Arts facilities on the waterfront as
well as a new Museum in Ambleside.

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In 2008, the West Vancouver Museum: A Vision for Ambleside Study was
prepared by Urban Arts Architecture for a new facility to be located in
Ambleside, with a mandate focused on the West Coast modern movement as
manifested through art, architecture and design and linked to current and future

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practice in these disciplines.

In 2011 the District engaged Urban Arts Architecture to prepare a Cultural Facilities
Strategy and a Design Brief for a new facility which considered coordinated Arts
Facilities operations and governance, delineated specific space needs, and proposed
a strategy for meeting those needs phased over time.

In 2012 the West Vancouver Society for Art, Architecture & Design was formed, and
the strategy was refined to the following report which focuses on the curatorial
gallery opportunity within the Centre for Art, Architecture & Design. A Board was
also created to support the development of the new facility.

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 T
C elebrate

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captivate children
Look

C reate

D RA L earn

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S hop

February 18, 2013 Connect

MA N DAT E

EXHIBITION • EDUCATION • COLLECTION

The West Vancouver Centre for Art, Architecture & Design

celebrates art, architecture, and design through programs,

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exhibitions and acquisitions that link local and international
practices in the past and present.

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Proposed Mission Statement

The Centre for Art, Architecture & Design will be a progressive contemporary place
that is a centre for innovation , community engagement, and

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dialogue .

The facility will:

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• E x hibit contemporary and historical art, architecture, and design.

• E ducate through a wide range of educational programs for both

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children and adults.

• E ngage through a range of public programs and activities.

• Collect and maintain West Vancouver’s cultural assets through the

preservation of works by prominent artists, architects, and designers.

• G enerate revenue through programming, membership, venue

rental, art rental program, a shop, and food services.

• C elebrate through the provision of a vibrant community place for

gathering indoors and out.

West Vancouver's Centre for Art, Architecture & Design will encourage a greater
appreciation of Canada’s artistic, architectural and design heritage and the
vital role and influence this community continues to play in the development
of an influential West Coast regional style and is a force for engagement on
contemporary issues that shape our society.

West Vancouver's Centre for Art, Architecture & Design realizes its objectives and fulfills
its mandate through a range of activities and programs from amateur to professional.
The Centre for Art, Architecture & Design will make cultural resources accessible
through exhibition and public education programs and preserve significant cultural
resources through its collecting and conservation programs.

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LOCATION, SITE AND RATIONALE

AUGMENT EXISTING CULTURAL SPACES

The proposed site and location of West Vancouver's Centre for Art, Architecture &
Design is Ambleside's 1600 block of Bellevue Avenue.

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Relocating and expanding the curatorial program currently operating out of the West
Vancouver Museum to the Centre for Art, Architecture & Design, District arts facilities
would be clustered in one area, strengthening and enhancing the arts presence along

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West Vancouver's waterfront.

MUSEUM

D RA A rt S tudios
C entre for A rt,
A rchitecture & D esign

P erformance E ducation
Community
A rts

A R TS I N THE PA R K

February 18, 2013

PROPOSED SITE: 1600 Block of Bellevue

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CAAD PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT

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 CULTURAL FACILITIES CONCEPT PLAN
DUCHESS AVENUE
The concept plan illustrates the diverse experiences along
DUCHthe
ESSenhanced waterfront.
AVENUE
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Public access, community engagement, exposure to creativity, and sustainability

are the core aspirations.

Create + Play

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Outdoor Stage Provide outdoor space to create art
Simple seasonal stage to support and display work
Centre for Art, Architecture outdoor performances and events
& Design 5

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Expanded exhibition, education,
and collection space CLYDE
Public Art AVENUE
Provide opportunities for public art
throughout the area MARINE DRIVE MARINE
DRIVE

AMBLESIDE LANE AMBLESIDE LANE

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STREET

STREET
STREET

AMB

STREET
LESID
E LA
SAFEWAY SITE NE
17TH

16TH

15TH
AMBLESIDE L
18TH

UE BELLEVUE AVENUE

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CAAD
BC HYDRO

ARGYLE AVENUE

JOHN LAWSON PARK

MILLENIUM PARK

Green Space
Preserve and expand green space

LAWSON STUDIOS MUSIC BOX

NAVVY JACK HOUSE SILK PURSE GODFREY'S HOUSE DISTR

Waterfront Path
Links all arts facilities together and to
the seawall and Ambleside Park

UILDINGS
February 18, 2013
ERITAGE BUILDINGS Silk Purse
NSPACE Performance and Community Arts
OPERTY

NT WALK
ACKS
PRECINCT

NTS
 HOLLYBURN SCHOOL

AVENUE
10

ART PARK DUCHESS AVENUE

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Arts on Argyle
Maintain scale + heritage

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Provide a pedestrian scale texture
and variety of activity to animate Interweave buildings and park,
this stroll keep scale intimate and maintain
key heritage buildings
5

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CLYDE AVENUE CLYDE Ambleside
AVEN UE
Landing
Plaza to allow a wide range of
community activities and gatherings

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RO

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STREET

STREET
STREET

LANE H
IT
KE

MAR
INE
AMBLESIDE LANE
15TH

14TH

13TH
DRIV
E

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1300
AMB BLOC
LESID K
E LA
NE

BELL
EVU
E
UE
AVEN
U E

ET
RE
ST

ARG
YLE
AVEN
H

MILLENIUM PARK AMBLESIDE LANDING UE

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BOX
E GODFREY'S HOUSE DISTRICT OWNED IN 2012 FERRY BOAT HOLLYBURN
BUILDING LAUNCH SAILING CLUB

Connect to the water

Conserve the natural beach and
enhance physical and visual
connection to the water

Education Studios 10
Flexible functional space to Community and Emerging Artists
make/create
A P R E L I M I N A RY A R CHI TEC TUR A L
CO N C E P T
An architectural concept for West Vancouver's Centre for Art, Architecture &
Design (CAAD) created by Urban Arts Architecture has been developed to test the
capacity of the proposed site.

The location for CAAD was determined after a lengthy evaluation of available sites in

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the Ambleside area. The proposed site is the 1600 block of Bellevue Avenue on the site
of a current District of West Vancouver parking lot.

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The 14,700 sq. ft. site is basically flat and is bounded by Bellevue Avenue to the north,
16th Street where it connects to Argyle Avenue to the east, the railway tracks and
right-of-way to the south, and the termination of 17th Avenue to the west.

Locating CAAD on the proposed site will require a building of three storeys with floor
plates of approximately 10,000 sq. ft.

The design concept, as illustrated in this document, organizes all the spaces along

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an east/west atrium that contains the lobby and circulation functions. This would
allow various program elements to spill out into the Lobby area to maximize their
capacity and create a truly dynamic and engaging place for the community.

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FULL EXPOSURE
This preliminary design concept is linear in form and has four sides available for public access.

February 18, 2013

COM M U N I T Y CON N E C TI ON S

This architectural concept for the West Vancouver Centre for Art, Architecture &
Design treats each face of the building as a positive public experience and supports
activity along its frontages.

The concept design has identified opportunities for community connections that

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will support CAAD in the following exterior public spaces:

1. A P L A Z A

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A Plaza will terminate 17th Street and provide a grand entrance to
John Lawson Park. The Plaza will accommodate gathering for
celebrations and entertainment and also function as a place for
people to stop and enjoy the sun and views to the water.

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2. A N I M AT E D B E L L E V U E AV E N U E
A Cafe, Shop, and Multi-purpose Education space will front onto

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Bellevue, animating the street. Accessed off Bellevue, the Loading
Bay is intended to be developed as a pedestrian friendly area that
supports the streetscape.

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3. A T E R R A C E
Located on the south side of the building along the railway easement,
the Terrace is imagined to be a place that supports pedestrian traffic
from the Park, a gathering space for the Centre during events, and as
a location for outdoor art.

4. A P O C K E T PA R K
The building has been set back on the east corner of the site to
preserve a significant tree. This creates an opportunity for a small
pocket park to be developed on this corner. It is conceived as a green
space that will accommodate through traffic from both the Terrace and
Centre Lobby as well as emergency egress from the building.

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SPACE PROGRAM SUMMARY CHART

1.0 GENERAL PUBLIC 4150

1.1 Reception/Lobby * 1000 Suitable for food service not allowed in galleries.
1.2 Reception/Control 150
1.3 Orientation Gallery 1500 Suitable for food service not allowed in galleries.
1.4 Arts Centre Shop 1000 Share reception as point of sale
1.5 Café/Catering Servery 500 Small café shared with Lobby for expandability

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2.0 MULTI-PURPOSE 1800
2.1 Education/Multipurpose 1250 100 seat capacity
2.2 Storage Chairs + Tables 250

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2.3 Community Meeting Room 300 20 seat capacity

3.0 EXHIBITION 8000 All exhibit areas to be Class A

3.1 Gallery D 2500
3.2a Gallery A 3000
3.2b Gallery B 1000
3.2c Gallery C 1000
3.3 Storage 500

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4.0 EXHIBITION SUPPORT 1555
4.1 Exhibition Preparation 700 Requires loading bay for semi-trailer w/ dock leveller.
4.2 Prep Office 100
4.3 Holding 215 All exhibit support areas to be Class A space.
4.4 Shipping + Receiving 215
4.5 Exhibition Workshop 325

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5.0 COLLECTION 3715
5.1 Storage for Collection 3500 Collections to be Class A space.
5.2 Collections Research 215

6.0 ADMINISTRATION 1725

6.1 Reception 80
6.2 Server/tech 50
6.3 Staff kitchen/lounge 150
6.4 Storage 100
6.5 Mail/photocopier/storage 120
6.6 Office A (150) x 2 300
6.7 Office B (100) x 4 400
6.8 Workstations (65) x 5 325
6.9 Library 80
6.10 Volunteer Office 120
Net Admin. 1,725
Circulation Admin 1:1.40 2,415

7.0 SERVICE 2200

7.1 Public W.C. 850
7.2 Staff WC/Showers 200
7.3 Janitorial 150
7.4 Mechanical 1000

SUBTOTAL 23,145

Circulation/walls ratio .22 5,092

TOTAL 28,237

February 18, 2013

FUN C T I O N A L L AYOUT

The program elements are proposed to be distributed as illustrated on the plans

opposite and in the conceptual diagram below.

M A I N F LO O R
• Lobby

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• Exhibition Gallery D and Storage
• Multi-purpose Education Room
• Cafe and Catering Kitchen

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• Shop
• Loading and Holding

S E CO N D F LO O R

A
• Public Viewing Deck
• Exhibition Galleries A, B, and C
• Preparation and Storage

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T H I R D F LO O R
• Community Conference Room
• Administration

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• Collection Vault
• Collection Research

COLLECTIONS. SECURE MEETING

COMMUNITY.
LEGACY. INTERACTIVE TRANSPARENCY.
VIEWS. INFORMAL
RESEARCH. STORAGE. PRESERVE. FLEXIBLE. VISIBLE.

EXHIBITION. LIGHT. GREAT

FLEXIBLE. CONTEMORARY.
LOBBY
HISTORICAL. ENDURING. OPEN.PUBLIC.
FLEXIBLE.VIEWS.
EXHIBITION GRAND HALL.
OPEN. INVITING. CONNECTED.
LOADING WELCOMING.
LIGHT.TRANSPARENT.
INVITING.

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 FU N C T I O N A L P L A N
STAFF
WCS

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS MECH. OPEN TO

VIIEWING GALLERY A
COLLECTIONS
DECK + RESEARCH BELOW
SCULPTURE
COURT
BELOW

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ADMINISTRATION
COMMUNITY
MEETING OPEN TO UPPER LOBBY BELOW

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T H I R D F LO O R F U N C T I O N A L P L A N

PREPARATION +
STORAGE

EXHIBITION EXHIBITION
GALLERY C EXHIBITION
GALLERY B
GALLERY A

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PUBLIC LECTURE
WCS CONTROL MULTI-PURPOSE

PUBLIC VIIEWING DECK JOHN LAWSON PARK

SCULPTURE COURT
LOBBY - GREAT HALL
ARGYLE

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BELOW UPPER LOBBY

BELLEVUE AVENUE S E CO N D F LO O R F U N C T I O N A L P L A N

LOADING LOADING BAY

STORAGE

CAFE SHOP
PUBLIC EXHIBITION GALLERY D LECTURE
WCS STORAGE MULTI-PURPOSE

CONTROL

MAIN
ENTRY LOBBY - GREAT HALL

LEGEND:
G R O U N D F LO O R F U N C T I O N A L P L A N
PUBLIC CIRCULATION/LOBBY

EXHIBITION SPACE

MULTI-PURPOSE

COLLECTIONS

VALUED ADDED SPACE

PREPARATION

ADMINISTRATION

SERVICE/WASHROOMS

February 18, 2013

D E V E LO PM E N T STR ATEGY
The new Centre for Art, Architecture & Design will have enormous benefit to the
community and the region.

Funding will come from a number of sources as outlined in the Funding Source
matrix below. Capital funds will be raised from donors, government grants, and
private philanthropy in a Capital Campaign.

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The District of West Vancouver’s primary contribution is the land, which will
remain District property and a community benefit. The bulk of the capital funds

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will be raised through private donations. Operating costs will be covered
through a combination of existing District funding to arts facilities, government
grants, donations, community partnerships and through the creation of an
endowment fund.

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DISTRICT • AMBLESIDE SITE • EXISTING
• PROPOSED ENDOWMENT

OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES • CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE • PROGRAM + PROJECT BASED

GRANTS GRANTS

BUSINESS + COMMUNITY • DEVELOPMENT AMENITY • PROGRAM + PROJECT BASED

PARTNERSHIPS CONTRIBUTIONS PARTNERSHIPS

PRIVATE • MAJORITY OF CAPITAL FUNDS • PROGRAM + PROJECT BASED

FROM DONATIONS DONATIONS
• ENDOWMENT FUND

CENTRE FOR ART, • RETAIL REVENUES

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN • EDUCATION PROGRAMS
• FACILITY RENTALS
• MEMBERSHIPS

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