Green Building Award 2008 – Woodworks BC
Okanagan Mountain Fire Pavilion
Kelowna, B.C.
In August 2003, there was a firestorm in the Okanagan Mountain Park region caused by a lightning strike. Within an hour, the fire grew out of control and swiftly moved into the Kelowna area, where it threatened urban areas, forcing the evacuation of 45,000 residents. At its largest, the firestorm covered over 250 square kilometers (61,776 acres) and destroyed 239 homes.
The Okanagan Mountain Fire Pavilion was commissioned for a dual purpose, to educate and to cultivate community. The pavilion serves to illustrate the devastation of the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Fire in order to raise awareness of the impact of the fire, the Mountain Pine Beetle problem and the fragile nature of the woodland setting. Additionally, the Pavilion provides a community gathering area amidst a beautiful natural setting in Bertram Creek Park in Kelowna, British Columbia.
It is an open-air structure that is available to the public year-round. The Pavilion was designed and constructed in conjunction with the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. Local businesses and community organizations donated time, money and material to ensure the success of the project.
The goal was to create a design that would take visitors along the path of a forest’s lifecycle, with special consideration for naturally occurring environmental impacts and the resulting rejuvenation of the forest. We designed the structure to fit into the surrounding environment, to function in unison with nature and to fully engage the landscape.
This project and associated land restoration efforts reflect the community’s commitment to locally sourced materials and sustainable initiatives. The quality of construction and high level of craftsmanship were controlled by assembling the structural elements off-site and then installing on-site. Wood claimed by the pine beetle infestation, site harvested wood and locally produced products were used in the construction of this structure. Timber was reclaimed, salvaged and milled locally.
The Okanagan Mountain Fire Pavilion fulfills its dual purpose – providing an educational experience and a gathering area for the community. We were fortunate to be recognized with the Green Building 2008 Award for Woodworks in BC.
