San Diego entrepreneur and architect Douglas Austin leads AVRP Studios and delivers building solutions that incorporate innovative modular systems. One unique project by San Diego’s Douglas Austin is The Wedge, a $50 million commercial and residential tower in Victoria.
Set for completion by early 2023, the 15-floor British Columbia downtown development has a distinctive cantilevered design that extends two additional feet outward each level, beginning with the second floor. This provides a distinctive cantilevered look, as the building increases in density toward the top and appears to balance on its foundation. One major reason for this design is to enable the preservation of a landmark chapel that inhabits the corner of Vancouver and Johnson Streets and was conceptualized in 1955 by local architect John Di Castri. The chapel has long been valued by community members, and the cantilevered design provided a way of retaining and repurposing it. The angled design is a first for Victoria and requires navigating shoring challenges and using custom-made steel formworks that ensure structural integrity. The result will be an eco-friendly building that achieves the equivalent of LEED Platinum Certification and incorporates on-site power generation, a heat recovery ventilator, and a water conservation system.
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