Mountain Culture Group, the digital property of Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine, has featured The Confluence building that is being constructed in Castlegar for completion next year. The article, called “Meet the Newest and Most Exciting Building in Castlegar”, discusses the role of Cover Architecture in designing the new structure and the fact state-of-the-art building practices will be used in its construction.
The article states, “The new landmark Chamber of Commerce building for the City of Castlegar is an exciting development with tremendous architectural innovation as it is targeted to be Passive House Certified and of mass timber design.” It also includes a futuristic modelling fly-through video that showcases both the exterior and interior of the Confluence.
The Confluence will be located at 1995 6th Ave, in the heart of the city, and within its 7,800 square feet will house The Chamber of Commerce, a greatly expanded reception/display area for the Visitor Centre, a large bookable conference room, and a “business incubator” (rental office space) with both enclosed and open work areas.
The article goes on to include a list of unique features of the Confluence, including it’s multiple roof lines, meant to represent Castlegar’s surrounding mountain peaks, as well as its plethora of overhangs, which “provide a feeling of being under an overhanging cliff face and helps shade building openings.” Given the high percentage of rock climbing cliffs around Castlegar, the design makes sense.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Confluence, though, is the fact it’s being designed to achieve Passive House Certification, one of the first for this type of building in the country. “To support local manufacturing industries, the structure will be largely built from mass timber, provided by Kalesnikoff Lumber Company,” the article states. “The Confluence is set to be a stand-out building within the city of Castlegar, while also fitting itself comfortably within its existing context and surrounding landscape; it will invite multi-use by the community and incorporate sustainable and thoughtful building systems.”
For more information about the Confluence and to read the article in its entirety, visit mountainculturegroup.com.