Certified Passive House Designers at LHRA
We’re pleased to announce that principals Paul Hammond and Christopher Rowe, and senior architect Selena Kwok, have just received their Certified Passive House Designer credentials from the Passive House Institute in Germany. LHRA currently has two projects on the boards seeking Certified Passive House status, and four others designed with Passive House principles. Passive House is rapidly becoming the ‘gold standard’ for energy-efficient design and construction, and LHRA are now one of the leading Vancouver Island firms with the expertise and real-world experience in this new paradigm for sustainable buildings.
Glenlyon Norfolk House Junior Campus – DPs approved
After a 17 month approval process, we are happy to announce that the development permits for the revitalization of Glenlyon Norfolk School’s Junior Campus on Oak Bay’s waterfront have been approved by Oak Bay Council. These included a Heritage Alteration Permit and Shoreline Development Permit. LHRA are now preparing construction documents for the first phase of the work. This will include the construction of two new buildings for junior kindergarten and kindergarten, the restoration of Francis Rattenbury’s boathouse for GNS’s Marine Adventure Program, and the relocation and restoration of the Rattenbury’s garage and associated Coach House as the new Music Room.
Glenlyon Norfolk School Scott Fitness Centre opens
LHRA are very happy to have had the opportunity to assist Glenlyon Norfolk School with a number of long-term and short-term projects on their two campuses. Over the past year we have been working with the School and Denford Construciton Management to transform the former 1931 Norfolk House School gymnasium into a modern, well-equipped fitness centre for students and staff. The old gym, once a stand-alone building, has over the years become embedded in numerous additions. It remained a rather dingy and cold space for middle school phys ed until this project opened up new windows, removed an old stage proscenium, and introduced insulation (!), a stack-effect heat recovery ventilation system, LED lighting, and new finishes. The Scott Fitness Centre was recently officially opened by GNS and has been greeted with great enthusiasm by both students and teaching staff as the first of a series of projects to renew and update the campus.
LHRA appointed architects for Glenlyon Norfolk School Junior Campus redesign
We’re very happy to announce that Low Hammond Rowe Architects has been selected by Glenlyon Norfolk School to undertake the complete redesign of their Junior School Campus on Beach Drive in Victoria. Originally the home of noted Victoria architect Francis Rattenbury, the property became Glenlyon School in 1932. Our work will seek to preserve the special character of Rattenbury’s oceanfront house, coach house, boat house, and grounds, while helping the School create a unique learning environment for kindergarten to grade 5 children.
Staff announcements
We were very sorry to see two talented members of our team recently depart for home in the British Isles: Tadhg Nihill has returned to his home in Ireland (technically part of the British Isles!), and Leigh Merrigan is back home in Suffolk.
We’re pleased however to announce the imminent arrival of Tim Kindrat, Architect AIBC, Howard Kim, Intern Architect AIBC, and Wil Wiens, Architectural Technologist AIBC – all of whom join us in October. More about them later!
Nanaimo North Library grand opening
The Nanaimo North Library had its grand opening on Saturday 12 July. Over 500 people from the community, along with members of the Vancouver Island Regional Library board and numerous local politicians, turn out to see the new facility, celebrate its completion, or just make use of the facilities. We were gratified to see all the multipurpose spaces in the branch being put to good use by children’s entertainers, science demos, and a jazz trio. Click here to see more photos of the building and the event.
1825 Bowen Road commercial project nearing completion
Our small retail/office strata project at 1825 Bowen Road in Nanaimo for Windley Contracting Ltd is nearing completion – tenants should be in by the end of August.
LHRA participate in Harbour Dialogue Technical Workshop
Henry Kitchell and Christopher Rowe recently had the pleasure of being part of a charette team for the City of Victoria’s Harbour Dialogue Technical Workshop. Over the two day event we were privileged to work with some very committed city and marine stakeholders with passionate positions about the harbour’s potential, and we helped develop some interesting and achievable suggestions for waterfront revitalization. We look forward to seeing the City and its harbour partners take some concrete steps to improve the use of this immensely important public land on the water’s edge.
Thanks to all our friends from Team One for a great couple of days of invigorating discussion and idea generation, to the AIBC Vancouver Island Chapter for putting our names forward, and to Robert Batallas from the City of Victoria for including us in the event.
LHRA win BC Library Association 2013 Building Project Award
Low Hammond Rowe Architects’ designs for the Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Cowichan Lake Library and Cumberland Library have been recognized by the BC Library Association with their 2013 BCLA Building Project Award. This is now the second time that LHRA projects have been recognized by the BCLA – our work for Camosun College at the Lansdowne and Interurban campuses received the Building Project Award in 2011.
The BCLA Awards Committee “felt that both the Cowichan Lake and the Cumberland projects showcase the leadership provided by VIRL in the development of a strategic plan identifying key building characteristics for your projects overall. Both libraries incorporate elements of community design and involved strong community involvement and champions. We commend you on the excellence of both the Cumberland renovation and the Cowichan Lake libraries. It is clear that your communities value and support library service which is a testament to your excellent work.”
LHRA is very pleased to be able to support the VIRL in reaching its ambitious goals for the renewal and expansion of library service on Vancouver Island.
Both projects are now open and operating; Low Hammond Rowe Architects’ project for the Nanaimo North Library is currently under construction and scheduled for completion for the end of May 2014.
http://virl.bc.ca/branches/cowichan-lake
http://virl.bc.ca/branches/cumberland
Cumberland Library project page
LHRA collect three 2014 VIREB Awards of Excellence and the Judge’s Choice Award
Three projects by Low Hammond Rowe Architects received top awards at the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board’s 2014 Commercial Building Awards, held April 24 in Nanaimo. The Cumberland Library and the Cowichan Lake Library each received the Award of Excellence in the Community Institutional category. The Nanaimo Golf Clubhouse received both the Award of Excellence in the Hospitality category and the Judge’s Choice Award. Low Hammond Rowe Architects would like to thank our clients the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Nanaimo Golf Club, and Rideout Construction for providing the opportunity to work on their projects, and contractors Heatherbrae Construction and Windley Contracting Ltd for their implementation.
Welcome Julia Roemer, interior designer
We are very happy to announce that Julia Roemer RID LEED AP has joined the firm to help develop our interior design capabilities.
Julia is a registered interior designer with 15 years experience in commercial and residential interior design. Having worked on large commercial projects to small renovations Julia adds value to any project type. She has designed for various design and architecture firms internationally and locally, small and large, as well as running her own business for 8 years.
Julia strives to be creative, innovative and youthful in her approach to design while always being mindful of our environment with her recommendations. Focusing on facilitating the design process she researches client needs and desires and identifies how to achieve these requirements. What gives Julia the most enjoyment in her line of work is building relationships and collaborating with a great client consultant team.
She holds a degree in interior design, is a registered interior designer and is LEED AP accredited.
Welcome to our new website
We’ve managed to get our new website launched in the last few days and we’re working on adding more content on a regular basis. Please check back in the near future for more news and more of our extensive portfolio.
New name, new leadership
Jackson Low, Paul Hammond, and Christopher Rowe are very pleased to announce the latest chapter in our firm’s continuous 29 year history. Effective Monday 24 March 2014, the firm name changes to Low Hammond Rowe Architects Inc. This reflects the retirement of founder Sid Chow and the introduction of new partner Christopher Rowe.
With our long history and stable continuous leadership, we’ve built an energetic and experienced team of 21, including 9 licensed architects. We’re now one of the largest architectural offices on Vancouver Island.
First established in 1985 by partners Sid Chow and Gary Fleischauer, the firm became Chow Fleischauer Low Architects Inc when Jackson Low became a full partner in 1996. With the retirement of founder Gary Fleischauer and the addition of partner Paul Hammond in 2006, the firm became Chow Low Hammond Architects Inc.
Christopher Rowe has practiced architecture in Victoria since 1986. He was a founding partner of de Hoog D’Ambrosio Rowe Architects in 1992, principal of his own practice Idealink Architecture Ltd from 1996 to 2003, and a design and sustainability leader with international A/E firm Cannon Design from 2003 to 2010. His project list includes the Selkirk Waterfront masterplan and Arc Building, the Vancouver Island Technology Park regeneration, the Broad Street Revitalization Project, Mermaid Wharf, Oswego Hotel, Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon, the Centre for Athletics Recreation and Special Abilities at UVic, Telus World of Science in Vancouver, and the Whistler Blackcomb Peak to Peak Gondola Terminals.
Our clients and collaborators can continue to count on the partners’ enthusiastic hands-on involvement with every project, and our entire team’s focus on providing imaginative, versatile and responsive design, thorough technical execution, and personal service dedicated to our clients’ success.
For more information please contact Jackson Low, Paul Hammond, or Christopher Rowe at 250 472 8013.