Optimizing operations and efficiency
The District of Sechelt is located on the lower Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, just 50 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. With more than 11,000 residents, Sechelt is a small but steadily growing coastal community.
To improve the delivery and effectiveness of its municipal services, the district decided to construct a new Parks and Public Works Operations Building that would consolidate four existing locations into a single facility.
The new 9,030 sq. ft. operations centre features six vehicle storage and work bays, an equipment bay, and mezzanine, office and workstation areas, as well as meeting and training rooms for municipal departments including those responsible for wastewater, sanitary collection, roads, pathway, parks and playfield infrastructure.
Designed to comply with BC’s new Energy Step Code requirements, anticipated future expansions, and net zero energy usage, the new facility offers the district’s Parks and Public Works staff optimized work and storage spaces.
To improve efficiency, the District of Sechelt consolidated four of its Parks and Public Works buildings into a single location.
The 9,030 sq. ft. facility meets BC’s new Energy Step Code requirements and net zero emissions target.
By adding an RV sanitary station, the district can better serve and continue to contribute to tourism along the Sunshine Coast.
Reconciling project costs
The District engaged our project management team to deliver the new public works building from its inception through construction and occupancy.
With construction scheduled to begin in 2021, the project was subjected to supply chain disruptions and a rise in construction costs resulting from the pandemic. To ensure the project stayed on track, we supported the district by seeking out approved funding to help reconcile rising project costs.
We began by conducting a market analysis and holding a series of workshops with the district’s user groups to validate the project scope. These workshops enabled our team to navigate and finalize the Design-Build contract, ensuring the building would meet the district’s needs while working within the available budget.
Part-way through the design phase, the district decided to include an RV sanitary station as part of the project. The site’s sloping driveway, however, needed to be leveled for RV parking while also maintaining access to the works yard. We worked closely with the Design Builder and Civil Engineer to develop a feasible and affordable solution.
The district completed its new Parks and Public Works Operations Centre in summer 2023 and greatly improves its ability to organize and respond to the needs of its community. Additionally, the inclusion of the RV sanitary station provides a much-needed recreational element to a facility that supports the district and Sunshine Coast’s vibrant tourism industry.
