THE CAPTAIN’S
CABIN
By Laurie McBurney • Photos by Chris Jette
A
seasoned sea captain has found safe harbour in a snug 1,500 sq.-ft.
condominium in a converted warehouse near the Charlottetown,
P.E.I. waterfront. He’ll be surrounded by unique reminders of life at
sea in his new home, which he co-designed with architect Chris Jette
of architecture 360 inc. Features include special niches for reading
and eating, constellations, secret passageways and scenes of the sea.
“The place is intricately designed and detailed, with fabulous
materials and craftsmanship,” says Jette. “Because of the quality of the
workmanship, it’s like living in a piece of furniture.”
Invoking memories of Narnia or Harry
Potter’s castle/school, the moveable
bookcase provides secret passage to
another room—or maybe another
world? The bookcases are made of
lacquered and stained birch and maple
wood and crafted by several Island
cabinetmakers and carpenters. A ladder
and rail system allows access to every
book in an extensive collection.
Merca
The fireplace is “a masterpiece of craftsmanship,” says Jette. The copper hood
with its sand dollar motif was hand hammered and shaped by sheet metal worker/
artist Tony Morrison. The backlit alabaster and amber art glass and stained glass
sea-related vignettes were designed and created by Jette and his Canoe Cove
Studio partner Shelley Beckett. The curved woodwork was created by Raeford
Waite of RW Woodworking and Custom Milling in Hunter River.
The spiral staircase that winds up to the balcony features hand-forged
silver steel balusters that resemble the rope cables so necessary to life
at sea. Fanciful foliage also made of steel composes the front balcony
grill and, if viewed at the right angle, spells out the owner’s name.
This comfortable reading nook provides
a cozy hideaway to read or dream away
a stormy winter afternoon. The condo
features a breakfast nook, as well, and
a saltwater fish tank integrated into a
bookshelf. “[The owner] can look out
like Captain Nemo and imagine he is
on the ocean still,” says Jette.
The dropped wooden ceiling
in the dining room is a scaled
down replica of that found
in Charlottetown’s Province
House. Fibre optic lights
set into the ceiling create
the appearance of glowing
constellations, traditionally
used by mariners for night-time
navigation. “[The installation
piece] is perfectly true to the
northern sky,” says Jette.
BOM
Leve
L
68 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
ComP
A PLACE
TO CALL HOME
By Karen Moores
E
astern Health Corporation’s new 460-bed long term
care facility, slated for occupancy in Spring 2014,
is located close to picturesque Quidi Vidi Lake and the
Pleasantville area of St. John’s, N.L. Situated on 17.8 acres of
land, this impressive residential complex will also include
space for recreation therapy, physiotherapy, occupational
therapy, and spirituality. Its design incorporates modern
environments to address seniors’ health and social needs
while encouraging choice, independence and mobility.
Designed by Hearn Fougere Architects and constructed
by Marco Services Limited, this property encompasses
four buildings including two residential buildings (the
wings), a core centre block for support services and a utility
building. The facility has also been designed to meet the
requirements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Silver level certification. Artist rendering
of the proposed garden space, including special design
features for residents with dementia such as a wandering
path and an outside garden (accessible to residents, but
self-contained).
Year-round climate control will be made easier thanks to geo-exchange heat systems, the primary source of heat for the site. Some residential units will
also be equipped with in-floor heating. Reclamation of heat energy from exhaust air streams is an energy saving strategy woven into the property design.
Mercantile Center: Saint John
Somerset Square: Saint John
Brunswick House: Saint John
BOMA
Level 2
BOMA
Level 4
BOMA
Level 2
Red Rose Tea Building: Saint John
BOMA
Level 2
Commerce Place: Moncton
BOMA
Level 2
Landmark modern & historical properties; 24/7 tenant service,
plus a bit of goodness for planet earth....
There’s more to Commercial Properties buildings than just prime locations and top-knotch services...
We’re always looking at ways to ensure top environmental standards at all our buildings. From large-scale projects
like building Atlantic Canada’s first commercial LEED Gold Building at Somerset Square; to smaller things like making sure
our business cards are printed on recycled paper; we know that by thinking “green”, we CAN make a difference.
Our efforts are obviously paying off.... we now have five buildings that are BOMA BESt certified!
www.commercial-properties.ca
ComProp-RealEstatead-ABM.indd 1
13-05-28 4:45 PM
Floor-to-ceiling windows with
non-reflective curtain glass, an
exceptional view and a protruding
northeast corner with a direct
view to the Narrows and Signal
Hill provide an inspiring natural
workspace for occupants of
Fortis Place. Project management
support services were provided by
Stantec and Project Management
Services Inc.
GREEN, INSIDE
AND OUT
S
By Karen Moores
t. John’s architect Jim Case, principal of Sheppard
Case Architects, has fused mercantile history with
modern design in the new Fortis Place, a landmark
12 storey Class A office building opening in downtown
St. John’s during Q1, 2014. “Close attention to site
development considerations, the use of wood materials
in new ways, the subtle reintroduction of brick masonry,
the sweeping curves of the building to break down
the box, vertical service cores moved to the inside of
the building in an attempt to conjure height elegance,
burying the car park, and the study of city viewplanes
to preserve existing and create new ones … these are
the innovations of which I am most proud,” Case says.
A split-core concept with elevators, stairs and building services at two sides, in
opposite corners, ensures building access flows from bottom to top, offering
optimal safety and convenience. Construction partners include Pinnacle
Engineering Limited as well as elevator experts Morrison Hershfield.
70 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
262 tenant parking spaces, as well as secure bike
racks, will be located in the bottom of the building,
enhancing the focus on landscaping around the
property. Traffic congestion will be alleviated by a
circular parking system encouraging drop-off and
pick-up at the front of the building.
The project team is aiming for Gold LEED status,
and will incorporate 20 per cent landscaped
space into the property. Geothermal energy for
the heating and cooling systems maximizes the
energy efficiency of the site.
Fares’ ultimate vision for King’s Wharf:
a massive $500-million, 13-building,
mixed-use, 3,000-resident community
to be filled with apartments, condos,
office towers, a hotel, ribbons of
retail, parkland, public art space, a
marina, even a cruise ship dock, all of
it anchored by a 33-storey gleaming
glass tower condo rising from the
water and jutting, like a ship’s prow,
into the harbour.
FIT FOR A KING
By Stephen Kimber
W
hen a derelict 30-acre property on the Dartmouth
waterfront came up for sale—including its
rare, pre-Confederation water rights, which would
allow the new owner to build into the water 100 feet
beyond the shoreline—Francis Fares gobbled it up.
The developer in him had already seen and appreciated
the site’s potential: it was nestled in a quiet cove beside
a busy harbour, boasted spectacular water views in
all directions and offered a coveted sunny southern
exposure. His dream? To transform his new acreage
into a European-style, waterside urban village.
The first two buildings (a 12-storey condo and a 13-storey apartment
building), were filled almost before they opened. Demand for condos
was so intense that Fares quickly converted most of the other building’s
apartment units. The next two condo towers have already been 65 per
cent pre-sold even before construction begins in earnest this summer.
And 135 eager, wannabe buyers have put down $10,000 deposits just
to hold their space in the expected-to-be iconic harbour tower, whose
timeline and dimensions, Fares admits, are “still loose” with floors,
square footage and price all yet to be determined.
Francis Fares hired Margot Young’s Halifax-based
Environmental Design Management (EDM)
to translate his larger-than-life dream for this
dilapidated property into a manageable conceptual
design. He then brought in innovative Torontobased Architects Alliance to conceive the anchor
tower and Halifax architects Lydon Lynch to give
line and shape to the project’s first two Phase I
buildings. The most recent two buildings were
designed by Halifax-based Michael Napier.
Fares hired Halifax design specialists Norman
Flynn to give his interior spaces the right look and
feel. King’s Wharf’s airy, glassed-filled condo units
come equipped with granite kitchen countertops,
stainless steel Bosch appliances, Grohe faucets,
natural gas fireplaces, cooktops and balcony
hookups, even pre-wiring for an überhome youname-it control system that will do everything from
open your window shades at the first sign of sunlight
to play your favourite music when and in which
room you choose. Prices in the initial units ranged
from $250,000 for a one-bedroom to $870,000 for a
top-floor, three bedroom corner unit.
Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 71
BEAUTY ON A BUDGET
D
By Karen Moores
eanne Dawe (left), the owner of Tidy Solutions, offers custom house plans and
interior design from her offices in Bay Roberts and St. John’s, N.L. As a lover of
design (she studied at Humber College and College of the North Atlantic), she had her
heart set on building her dream home; as a new business owner managing the needs of
a growing business, she knew she couldn’t go over budget. Her goal: building a dream
home on less than $250,000, including the cost of land. Though it isn’t finished yet,
her dream home is well on its way to reality. Here’s how she’s doing it.
Dawe’s design expertise enables her to
select less expensive options without
changing the size or layout of her dream
home. As illustrated, she chose a gable
style roof instead of a hip style roof, which
would typically cost 30-to-50 per cent
more. Though the house outline is a basic
square (a simple and inexpensive shape
to build), Dawe is infusing it with warmth,
style and street appeal by incorporating
two peaks and overhang on each end of
the house. Dawe notes that, “Keeping the
foundation of the house square and in
increments of two inches is easier for the
formers and foundation crew, saving time
and labour costs.”
Keeping to the $250,000 budget was
partially possible due to the cost of land:
Dawe researched land costs and taxation
levels before electing to build in Bay Roberts,
just 40 minutes from the capital city of St.
John’s.
On the main floor, she’s cutting costs by
incorporating a corner pantry (as pictured
in the main floor plans), which will reduce
the amount of cabinetry required. This cut
$8,000 from her cabinet pricing.
Another money-saving tip: she’s subcontracting various aspects of the build
and avoiding expensive turnkey fees. Dawe
and her family are also doing their own dry
walling, plastering and painting—freeing up
$10,000 for other aspects of the build.
72 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
Parking is a must for new builds in St. John’s.
351 Water’s precast concrete/parking garage
is by Strescon (based in Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland), and American Steel & Precast
Erectors (from New Hampshire). The finished
facility will add 446 new parking spaces to the
downtown area, including 246 public spaces.
WATERFRONT
WONDER
D
By Karen Moores
eveloped by East Port Properties, with the
design influence of Stantec Architecture, 351
Water represents many firsts for Newfoundland and
Labrador: it’s a Canadian Green Building Council
LEED® Certification Candidate and is being constructed
to LEED® Gold standards. Managed by Trendex
Construction, the structural manager for the build is J.W
Lindsay, an Atlantic Canadian leader in infrastructure
projects. East Port believes in using rigorous planning
to build properties that adapt to their surroundings
and evolve with emerging technologies. Their goal is
to “future-proof buildings to nimbly adapt to change—
creating ‘buildings Darwin would love’.”
351 Water spans 168,000
square feet of prime retail
and commercial space
in downtown St. John’s.
Anchor tenants include
Husky Energy (occupying
two-thirds
of
the
building) and Subsea 7.
Newfoundland artist Will
Gill won a $100,000 juried
competition to complete
the art installation in the
main lobby.
Many Atlantic Canadian firms have been involved
in this landmark build: roofing was completed by
Newfoundland firm, Northshore, with steel sourced
and managed by Marid Industries Limited/FASCO,
serving Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Mechanical
services were provided by Life Safety Systems Inc.
(N.S.) and Tristar Mechanical (N.L.).
Located on one of the oldest streets in North America,
351 Water aims to utilize the area’s heritage historical
patterns and proportions, but with modern and
efficient technology and building systems. East Port is
harnessing tidal energy to heat and cool the building—a
first for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 73
THE TERRA
BERMA PROJECT
W
By Sarah Sawler • Photo credit: Jennifer Hannigan
hat has 1,500 tires, solar panels, and a water-purifying
indoor garden? That’s what Jay and Jenn Hannigan
have planned for the Terra Berma Project, an off-the-grid
residential build that’s being constructed on the Kingston
Peninsula, near Saint John. Inspired by a documentary
on sustainable housing, the New Brunswick couple has
embarked on an adventure that’s become an epic scavenger
hunt for reclaimed materials, an insurer, and experienced
experts. With its upcycled materials, sustainable energy
sources, and self-sufficient plumbing systems, Atlantic
Canada has never seen a house quite like this. The
Hannigans hope to move into their unique 2,000-squarefoot home in the Spring of 2014.
According to Jenn, they’re going to need plenty of wood for the inside of the structure.
They’ve found what they need by sourcing reclaimed lumber, including beams from an old
Saint John building. They also had help from Thane Jones, a local timber frame builder, who
was able to source larger beams that had been leftover from previous projects.
74 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
The head of New Brunswick’s tire recycling
program gave the Hannigans permission
to collect tires for their build. The couple
picked up about 1,500 tires by travelling from
dealership to dealership and transporting
them back to the build site. These tires, which
normally would have been wasted, will be
given new life in the walls of their home.
10,500 ft
The home will be efficiently heated
with a clean-burning masonry heater.
A Saint John mason named Brian Frost
will build the unit. The Hannigans were
able to find the exact hue they wanted
for their heater by sourcing masonry
stone that was taken from the site of
a demolished Moncton church. Frost
will be using hardware and supports
provided by Maine Wood Heat.
Business takes off At HALIFAx
Halifax stanfield international airport is the smart choice for moving
product. With our newly expanded 10,500 ft. runway, combined with
our proximity to major Canadian, European and U.S. markets & quality
service, we offer you a quick, cost-effective transportation solution.
our cargo team will handle the details. You set a course for growth.
Contact:
Andy Lyall 902.873.6300
[email protected]
FlyHalifax.com
Last summer, the Hannigans offered
a number of workshops, giving
volunteers the opportunity to help out
with the build while also learning more
about various environmentally-friendly
building styles. Picaroons Traditional
Ales sponsored the post-workday
beverages and, based on this photo,
they also contributed by helping to fill
the gaps between the tires.
Everything about this project is
efficient—from the temporary solar
power source needed for the build
(see above) to the compost toilets.
Even their water won’t go to waste—
all their “gray water” (waste water
from laundry, baths, and doing the
dishes), will be naturally filtered by the
plants in an indoor gray water garden
designed by environmental engineer
Eric Bell.
With nearly 50 years in the residential construction
industry, NuWay Kitchens is the leading manufacturer of
custom designed cabinetry in Newfoundland and
Labrador. Our reputation as a quality supplier with
competitive pricing has helped to secure residential and
commercial developments throughout Atlantic Canada,
the United States and Caribbean.
1328 Topsail Road • Paradise, NL • A1L 1P2
Phone: (709) 782-1711 • Fax: (709) 782-4710
www.nuwaykitchens.com
Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 75
AROUND
THE SEA
R
By Sarah Sawler
emember the last time you ordered
IKEA furniture? That’s exactly
how Steve and Stephanie Arnold’s guest
home arrived—disassembled and packed
in boxes. When the couple decided to
pair the contents of those boxes with
the platform for a rotating house, the
end result was incredible: a perfectly
round bed and breakfast that rotates 360
degrees in either direction, giving each
suite an amazing ocean view. Around
the Sea, which is situated in the Prince
Edward Island community of North
Rustico, offers a unique experience to
island visitors—stylish, modern suites
with seaside vistas and a private path to
the beach.
76 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
The Arnolds purchased the land a couple of years ago, intending to turn it
into a beach home. Instead, they purchased a Deltec house, fixed it to the
surface of a rotating platform from E Rotating Structures, and topped it
with a roof from the island branch of Classic Metal Roofing Systems. The
couple now lives on the upper floor and runs a four-suite bed & breakfast
on the main floor. Photo Credit: Around the Sea
The house is supported by a steel pole that
runs through the centre of the building, from
top to bottom. The plumbing and wiring was
ingeniously handled by Waite’s Electric and
Precise Plumbing and Heating. They loosely
coiled the wires and plumbing up the centre
of the home so that it rotates with the house.
Photo Credit: E Rotating Structures
There’s no way to let light in through
the interior walls, but Around the Sea
makes up for it with plenty of windows
in the exterior ones. As long as
enough external wall panels are used,
the Deltec product allows customers
to customize their window placement.
The Arnolds have maximized their
view by incorporating 12 patio doors
and 14 Polytech windows. Photo
Credit: Around the Sea
The 2,500-square-foot main floor is split
into four guest suites. Each suite features
a master bedroom, a full bathroom, and
an open concept living room/kitchen/
dining room combination. Every room
has an ocean view for part of the day
and, for an even better look, guests can
go for a spin on the wraparound deck.
Photo Credit: Zara Interior Design
FORTIS PLACE ON SPRINGDALE
Now that you’ve earned an office with a window,
don’t settle for just any view.
Working with the unusual room
angles created by the round walls
required some creativity from Zara
of Zara Interior Designs. Instead of
being perfectly square, the outside
wall of the main room is about 50 per
cent longer than the opposite walls.
Choosing the right furniture made the
room feel much more natural. Photo
Credit: Zara Interior Design
Now leasing Class A office space for Fortis Place on 5 Springdale Street in downtown
St. John’s. Designed to LEED standards for energy efficiency and integrating the most
modern building design developments in safety and security. Accessible underground
and surface parking, and within close proximity to restaurants, banks, Delta St. John’s,
the St. John’s Convention Centre and Mile One Centre.
www.for tisplace.com
709.739.6300
Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 77
INTO THE WILD
By Sarah Sawler
I
magine building a contemporary home, situated in a
beautiful wooded area peppered with flowers. But that
picturesque piece of land is a cliff, descending 100 feet over
the length of the property. And that property is in the middle
of Saint John. Architects Monica Adair and Stephen Kopp of
Acre Architects had their work cut out for them when they
began working on the two-year project they coined “Into the
Wild”. They rose to the challenge by designing a home that
complements its challenging surroundings and has a great
deal of thought behind every detail—from the panoramic
views to the rooftop patio.
Mackin and Moore are self-described
minimalists. They carefully curate nearly
everything that comes into the house,
creating airy spaces punctuated with
meaningful objects and art. The creative
use of wall space makes this easier for
them—note the vase perched on the
wall ledge. The flooring, which is the
same upcycled wood used for the siding,
is another interesting feature of this
room. Photo Credit: Mark Hemmings,
Hemmings House Pictures
Judith Mackin and Robert Moore’s 2.3 acre property is as challenging as it is stunning.
Despite the uneven land, Acre Architects made it work well by situating the home in
the centre of the hill. They also incorporated the rustic hue of the surrounding rock by
using upcycled wooden siding supplied by Centennial Wood and Corten steel from
First Choice Ventilation. Photo Credit: Mark Hemmings, Hemmings House Pictures
According to Adair, Saint John is full
of flat roofs. Acre took it one step
further by creating a rooftop deck and
a Xeroflor green roof with 12 species of
sedums (a low, blooming ground cover).
Not only does the deck provide extra
space for entertaining, the green roof
adds interest and provides an innovative
way to manage storm water. Photo
Credit: Mark Hemmings, Hemmings
House Pictures
Tuck Studio, Mackin’s interior design studio, is located
on level zero. Having her studio inside her home is
convenient—but it’s also the perfect place for her to show
off her modern sense of style. Adair says, “The studio
reflects the ideas that went into the project. It’s a great
framework for her because she lives in a contemporary
home.” Photo Credit: Kelly Lawson
78 | Atlantic Business Magazine | July/August 2013
Mackin and Moore are avid art collectors—but they love their
view. Adair and Kopp gave them balance by incorporating huge
windows and reserving wall space for art. Shown here is a sculpture
by Marie-Hélène Allain, a painting by Bruce Pashak (right), and
another by Doug Moore (left). The built-in wood storage saves
space while adding an earthy element to the room. Photo Credit:
Mark Hemmings, Hemmings House Pictures
LDS-HHC Sports Med 1/3pgVert-06-13_Layout 1 13
STRETCHING OUT
O
By Laurie McBurney • Photo credit: Vision Air, HIAA
FREEDOM
...determine yours!
n June 6, Cole International, a Calgary-based freight
forwarding company with a Halifax branch office, shipped
a load of video lottery terminals manufactured in Moncton to
a customer in Peru. The shipment left Halifax airport aboard a
fully-loaded 747 cargo plane—a flight that could not have been
accommodated at the airport prior to the runway extension. A Cole
International spokesperson told CBC radio that the company likely
would not have gotten the contract—worth hundreds of thousands
of dollars—without the recently opened runway expansion.
The project extended the main runway at Halifax Stanfield Airport
from 8,800 to 10,500-ft. Additions were made to both ends; 370-ft.
to the north and 1,330-ft. to the south. The longer runway allows the
airport to accommodate jumbo air freighters that have wider bodies
as well as new international carriers. Aircraft can now fly out of
Halifax with heavier loads which means local businesses (such as
the seafood industry) won’t have to ship their goods to other airports
like New York and Boston for international transport.
The total project cost of $28 million was
covered by the Canadian government
($9 million), the Province of Nova Scotia
($5 million) and the HIAA ($14 million).
Concept design was developed by HIAA
and its consultants while exp Engineering
and EBA Engineering provided engineering
design; Dexter Construction was awarded the
construction contract for civil and electrical
works; and NavCanada was contracted to
relocate their navigation services.
Your Partner in Sports Medicine
On January 21, at the official opening of Halifax International Airport’s megamillion-dollar runway extension, HIAA’s president and CEO Tom Ruth predicted
that, “The ability to handle the biggest cargo freighters, and also to add more
cargo to the larger passenger aircraft, will provide a ripple of prosperity through
the region.”
For a location near you,
please visit
lawtons.ca
Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 79