The proposed Community Energy Centre (CEC) is an innovative heating plant that will produce domestic hot water and space heating for the new Southeast False Creek development, in Vancouver. The water will be primarily heated by a sewage heat recovery system, with peak loads met by low-emission natural gas boilers.

Our studio was retained by the prime consultant, Sandwell Engineering Inc., to turn the required emissions stacks into a community amenity. It seemed significant that the CEC will be heating people with existing body heat. We tried to honor this important aspect of the facility by investing the exhaust flues with a human quality. At the top of each finger-like flue (5-6 storeys high) is a finger nail-like LED light fixture, which will be activated by the operations of the facility. The stacks will become a gateway element into downtown Vancouver.

Vancouver, Canada
2007-ongoing