Monday, November 15, 2010
Certiwood
Certiwood owned by the Canadian Plywood Association was at 735 West 15th Street. "CertiWood™ is Canada's Most Experienced Engineered Wood Products Testing and Certification Agency." (See Link 2.) The buildings unique multiplaned roof sat in the center of the City of North Vancouver and juxtaposition to the greenery of Mosquito Creek Park across the street.
Adjacent to the main building was also the Certiwood CanPly Plywood House, another building of unique design. (See photo below.) The business moved on June 28, 2010 and an application for rezoning to allow for the building of 60 dwelling units housed in three three-storey buildings on the 1,026 acre lot was filed.
There is no listing of the 735 West 15th Street address in the Building Permit Book or the 1950 or 1960 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives. In 1971 the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (laboratory) with A. J. McGraw as manager is listed in the City Directory. The headquarters of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. was at 1055 West Hastings St. in Vancouver with the President being G. L. Draeseke. The 735 West 15th Street address continued to be listed under the ownership of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (See Link 3.) until the present time. In 1995/1996 it was further explained to be a "B.C. plywood tech centre". The Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. headquarters is now at 700 West Pender Street in Vancouver.
"Landmark plywood centre has had its day/City approves 60 townhouses, by Benjamin Alldritt, North Shore News July 7, 2010.
"The CertiWood building, at 725 West 15th St., was opened in 1962 as a dedicated testing centre for plywood, a new building material at the time. The building features a unique multi-faced roof that was intended to show off the structural uses of plywood. It was designed by architect Ron Thom, who went on to build several private homes on the North Shore as well as numerous university and college buildings in Eastern Canada. He was named to the Order of Canada in 1980.
"But the Canadian Plywood Association has long since finished their tests and wants to move their offices into a more appropriate building. The CertiWood structure is not on any of the city's heritage lists, although staff had been considering it.
"The developer, Adera Equities, has taken a few stabs at a plan for the lot. In October of 2009, they brought forward a plan for a building with a floor surface ratio of 1.4 times the lot size, considerably larger than the 1 FSR settled on for the area by the recent Marine Drive planning study.
"Adera also managed to irritate several councillors by trying to drum up neighbourhood support for the larger design after it was rejected.
"The plans that were unanimously approved at city council June 28 call for three three-storey buildings with a total FSR of 1, as required by council. The developer also got approval for another 5,586 square feet of building in return for a range of environmental features. The townhouses will be the first residential building in British Columbia to be built to a LEED platinum standard. The project will include solar water heating, waste water heat recovery, and a particularly effective heating envelope.
"Although he voted in favour of the project, Coun. Rod Clark said he was unconvinced the city was getting enough in return for the density bonus. "It seems like a lot for environmental benefits," he said. "I don't see these as city benefits so much as for their marketing brochures. If we're giving up 12.5 per cent, I want to see benefits.
"This is a good project," said Coun. Craig Keating. "It adds to the neighbourhood. It's a beautiful building."
balldritt@nsnews.com
"But the Canadian Plywood Association has long since finished their tests and wants to move their offices into a more appropriate building. The CertiWood structure is not on any of the city's heritage lists, although staff had been considering it.
"The developer, Adera Equities, has taken a few stabs at a plan for the lot. In October of 2009, they brought forward a plan for a building with a floor surface ratio of 1.4 times the lot size, considerably larger than the 1 FSR settled on for the area by the recent Marine Drive planning study.
"Adera also managed to irritate several councillors by trying to drum up neighbourhood support for the larger design after it was rejected.
"The plans that were unanimously approved at city council June 28 call for three three-storey buildings with a total FSR of 1, as required by council. The developer also got approval for another 5,586 square feet of building in return for a range of environmental features. The townhouses will be the first residential building in British Columbia to be built to a LEED platinum standard. The project will include solar water heating, waste water heat recovery, and a particularly effective heating envelope.
"Although he voted in favour of the project, Coun. Rod Clark said he was unconvinced the city was getting enough in return for the density bonus. "It seems like a lot for environmental benefits," he said. "I don't see these as city benefits so much as for their marketing brochures. If we're giving up 12.5 per cent, I want to see benefits.
"This is a good project," said Coun. Craig Keating. "It adds to the neighbourhood. It's a beautiful building."
balldritt@nsnews.com
© Copyright (c) North Shore News (See Link 4.)
Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.
Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.
