Bears Den

Additional Info

Award Winner : Northgate Industries Ltd.

Architectural Excellence : The Encana Oil and Gas “Bears Den” project located in the Cold Lake Weapons Range in north eastern Alberta is a 538 bedroom facility combining workforce housing, a 12,960 square foot commercial kitchen, dining and administration facility and a complete modernized recreation facility. The concept design was limited to the available large site where the facility is spread out more than is comfortable for minimum travel to any one part of the facility. The solution was the three points of entry to the facility that eliminate any occupant from travelling more than half of the actual overall layout. Permanent workforce housing has grown to become suite type of living space and this was achieved by offering semi and private washroom facilities in order to move away from the traditional dormitory style of accommodation. The entire facility is designed to function as one through the common theme of similar accents and accessories.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : The Bears Den Facility Lake is a presentation of environmental friendly construction materials coupled with the installation of energy efficient appliances. The client requested the use of Green Council approved materials without affecting the occupancy target date and that was accomplished in over 70% of the utilized building materials. The factory built completion point is that all architectural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems are complete in each module eliminating the need for basic system installation in the field constituting tremendous cost saving. The domestic heating supply is comprised of high efficient fixtures generating a 90% efficiency rating. All domestic water system fixtures and appliances are low volume water use while all electrical fixtures chosen for their power saving properties.

Occupied Date : 8/31/2007

Production Start Date : 5/17/2007

Project Location City : Cold Lake

Project Location State Name : AB

Technical Innovation : One day your employer approaches you and asks you to take six weeks out of every eight and go work in the most isolated, cold and barren territory you can imagine. What would you answer, yes, maybe no? What if your employer said you can have a an architecturally designed suite, satellite television, high speed internet, gaming areas, relaxation rooms, physical fitness equipment, technologically advanced cooking equipment being used by certified chefs, coffee stations, soda fountains, deli stations, all available 24/7. You would say yes. This is the advantage of providing the most advanced facility available in this day and age. Employee attraction and retention are the goal by utilizing this technology.

Total Square Feet : 112710

Category : Permanent: Institutional or Assembly: over 5,000 sq. ft.