Atrium installs new bioswales
Workers at the Atrium building site at 800 Yates Street are putting the finishing touches on a unique form of urban landscaping.
Called bioswales by the architect, the trench-like boulevards completed this week contain native plants that will need less irrigation than traditional landscaping. Stormwater flowing down the gutter is diverted under the sidewalk to the gardens, reducing the load on City infrastructure.
The Atrium's landscaping serves double duty as the planted boulevard diverts rainwater from stormdrains. Photo by Robert Randall © VibrantVictoria.ca.
The boulevards that wrap around the office building are part of a building rainwater management plan that includes collecting runoff to irrigate rooftop trees. The filtered water will then flow down an interior waterfall to a fountain in the centre of the atrium. Excess water is collected in an underground cistern to be re-used for irrigation before being flushed out through the storm drains.
The rainwater treatment plan is the first of its kind in Downtown and is being treated as an experiment by City of Victoria planners and engineers. If successful, it may be replicated in future developments as a way of pre-treating rainwater before it is washed into the sewer system.
The system was designed by landscape architects Murdoch de Greeff Inc. under the supervision of main architects D’Ambrosio Architecture + Urbanism.
Track the progress of the Atrium building here on VibrantVictoria’s discussion forum.
Copyright © 2010 by VibrantVictoria.ca. All rights reserved.
Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's [Downtown Victoria] Atrium Building (BC Ferries headquarters) | Office | 7-storeys | Completed in October 2010 thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
VicHockeyFan
Mar 03, 2012 at 2:05 pmQuote: The interior is great but few people take a short cut through there because the whole place gives off a real "You aren't supposed to be here" vibe. I always feel like some security person is going to kick me out for not having a level gamma-7 security pass. It doesn't feel like part of the street or public sphere, but rather as off-limits secure government office.
Ya, the entry has to be spiced up like the entry to St. Andrew's Square.
gumgum
Mar 03, 2012 at 6:30 pmI think that entrance is the best thing about the entire exterior of the building. It's a beautiful minimalist design.
Coreyburger
Mar 03, 2012 at 8:27 pmQuote: I think that entrance is the best thing about the entire exterior of the building. It's a beautiful minimalist design.
I like its look too, but the building hasn't really been designed in such a way that tells people that there are more shops inside.
VicHockeyFan
Mar 09, 2012 at 10:34 amNow YOU can have an office in The Atrium for $299/mo.
Mike K.
Mar 09, 2012 at 10:55 amWhy they don't use photos of the actual office space on their website is beyond me. You'd think they'd want their potential clients to see what the space looks like.
And for $300/month to rent a desk, that's a bit steep.
