LEES+Associates completed the landscape design for the new 3500 square meter Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) Community Hub building in Whitehorse, Yukon. Retained by Manasc Isaac Architects and the KDFN, the design envisioned blending a traditional plaza with a more park-like design approach, this public landscape will serve as a multi-functional gathering and events space.
This landscape design works to link the Yukon River and traditional territory of Kwanlin Dün to the site of the new community hub building on a plateau up above downtown Whitehorse. Water is central to the landscape design, with a dry riverbed feature running along the front face of the community hub building that visitors to the building cross as they enter.
This riverbed will be fed ephemerally with snowmelt and rainwater at key points. The “headwaters” of this water feature are located outside the windows of the healing room where water cascades down a series of basalt columns. Bridge elements cross over the riverbed at entry points to the building.
There are different scales of gathering spaces woven throughout the plaza, ranging from informal space that can double as commercial space, to a central ceremonial gathering space. These spaces are delineated by a series of planted islands, inspired by the channels that are carved through the landscape over time as a river becomes braided. At the heart of the central space is a fire pit, serving as a year-round community gathering point.
LEES+Associates was commissioned by the BC Buildings Corporation to undertake the planning, consultation and design of a memorial garden on the site of the cemetery at the Woodlands Institution for the Developmentally Disabled.
Headstones that had previously been removed were collected, catalogued and cleaned. Much work was done by a group of volunteers, including past residents of Woodlands, representatives of the BCACL (British Columbia Association for Community Living) and students.
LEES+Associates was initially asked to guide a concept development process. This work extended over several years and included the dedication of many individuals that gave generously of their time and ideas. A concept was approved, design development undertaken and a contractor hired to build the garden. The Garden was officially opened on June 22, 2007 at a ceremony hosted by the BC Ministry of Labour and Senior Citizens.
LEES+Associates was commissioned by the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society to create a master plan to guide the next 15 years of garden development. The master plan sets out a phased, high-level design for the forty acre site and detailed design for the first phase of development.
Priorities and possibilities were explored during an intensive design charrette with experts, designers, Sunshine Botanical Garden staff, board members and stakeholders. Building on strong consensus, the master plan design clarifies site circulation and structure, enriches visitor experience and celebrates the importance of culture, people and plants.
LEES+Associates worked closely with LSCR Staff to develop the first trails strategy in 2004 and has been working on an updated trails strategy (2016-2018) to guide trail improvements over the next 10 years.
The 2004 trails strategy included a multi-phased consultation program, visioning exercise, and trail-by-trail evaluations and recommendations. An innovative trail head survey that applied qualitative research methodologies (first developed in front and backcountry wilderness areas in the U.S.) provided data to support short and long term trail, amenity and infrastructure decisions.
The 2018 trails strategy repeated the trail head survey methodology, providing valuable data regarding changes in trail use trends and patterns, engaged stakeholders and staff, and compiled data from staff trail evaluations to develop new recommendations and to set priorities for spending.
Challenges that were identified included mitigating environmental impacts of trail use in sensitive ecosystems, balancing the needs of different users on a multi-use trail system, and developing strategies to provide increased access to backcountry trails safely and within fiscal constraints.
In 2013, LEES+Associates led an inter-disciplinary team in a route options analysis and detailed design for the Sheep Paddocks Trail between Mundy Creek and Pitt River Road in Colony Farm Regional Park. Despite its popularity, the existing trail had been closed due to erosion and sinkholes resulting in impassable, unsafe conditions. Consequently, the new trail required the design team to address a variety of issues including: public safety for pedestrians and cyclists, user experience, environmental protection, sustainability, and long-term operations and maintenance.
Working closely with AquaTerra Consulting Ltd., an environmental assessment was undertaken to determine sensitivities along five proposed trail alignments, and to identify potential impacts due to trail construction. Stakeholder groups were involved as part of an open house process which helped inform the choice between river and inland routes.
Trail qualities such as the user experience while riding/running/walking, and the interaction of the trail with environmental features such as unique trees, vistas, or special natural elements were also considered throughout the design
Following the completion of the physical master plan for Elk Falls Cemetery by LEES+Associates in 2016, a series of priority projects were identified including the creation of a green burial section.
Construction of the green burial section was completed in 2017. This and other new interment and memorialization services will be offered to Campbell River families and area residents.
In 2018 the City retained LEES+Associates to:
- Provide guidance on key elements for the operation and management of the proposed green burial service, and
- Update the existing cemetery bylaw so it complies with relevant parts of the Cremation Interment and Funeral Services Act (CIFSA), best practices, and incorporate the new interment and memorialization services.
To this end, the LEES Team led a workshop to provide City management and operational staff with an overview of the philosophy and ethos of green burial, as well as practical considerations for the smooth and professional operation of a green burial service. Recommendations were summarized in a Green Burial Memorandum for Staff to incorporate into cemetery administration protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP’s).
LEES+Associates led the consulting team (including Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects and Jennifer Wilson Consulting) in the development of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of White Rock.
The project included a comprehensive public engagement program with a statistically valid phone survey, online surveys, open houses, and focus group sessions. The engagement results highlighted the importance of improving parks and trails in the City, the need for better connectivity with the iconic waterfront, and the desire for more outdoor recreation programs.
Our team also completed site visits to assess the City’s parklands and recreation facilities providing concrete and site-specific recommendations.
LEES+Associates collaborated with Bowen Island Staff to develop an updated Parks Plan that provides a community-supported vision for Bowen Island’s parks, trails and beaches including connecting and protecting natural areas and marine environments, improving eco-tourism, encouraging stewardship and increasing recreation potential. The plan was informed by consultation with Cultural Advisor Sheryl Rivers of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) as well as with an extensive public and stakeholder engagement process that included:
- A visioning workshop;
- A statistically valid phone survey;
- An open-access on-line survey;
- Two open house events;
- Two farmer’s market pop-up events;
- Focus groups with youth and elders;
- Stakeholder workshops, and
- An online questionnaire to review key recommendations from the Draft Parks Plan.
The implementation plan identified high priority recommendations and provides planning, capital and operational cost estimates. The Parks Plan will provide guidance to municipal staff, the Parks, Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee, and Bowen Island Council over the next 10 years.
The Bowen Island Parks Plan was adopted in principle by Municipal Council in October 2017.
LEES+Associates provided detailed design for the Woodlawn Cemetery expansion. Commissioned by the City of Welland, the detailed design offers cemetery beautification, as well as a variety of interment options to provide Woodlawn Cemetery with the necessary inventory to sustain its growing needs in the coming years.
This ensures that the City of Welland will have capacity and site amenities required to effectively meet future interment and community needs for the foreseeable future.
A concept plan was developed, followed by detailed design and construction drawings. A range of interment options in the form of traditional burial lots, columbaria, family vessels, a scattering garden and memorialization options are part of the new design.
LEES+Associates was engaged by the District of Summerland to complete the Powell Beach Park Management Plan. As a popular local park, the LEES team had to balance recreation and conservation design, tasked with enhancing recreational opportunities, restoring ecological functioning and providing flood management strategies and designs for future protection.
Ecological enhancements included shoreline/riparian ecosystem restoration, the creation of a conservation zone and flood restoration work, while recreational design such as playground concepts and universally accessible design were essential to the Management Plan.
The LEES team was responsible for creating management objectives and strategies for the park, delineating management zones, and developing policies/ principles and actions for each zone. The plan included visual base maps and graphics to supplement the plan and gain project support from the public.
