Credit Woodworks, handout

Interior Beauty Design: Southern Okanagan Secondary School Expansion. Nick Bevanda, CEI Architecture.

“Comfortable and warm. Playful and fun. Wonderful exterior details. This project feels good about the wood,” said the jury.

Architectural wood design, chosen from 107 nominations in 12 categories. The projects “showcase distinctive and unique qualities of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, and cost-effectiveness,” according to Wood WORKS! BC, which organized the awards, held earlier this week in Vancouver.

The Southern Okanagan Secondary School (SOSS) rebuild project was completed by KMBR Architects Planners in collaboration with CEI Architecture. The project began as an expansion and renovation
to the existing SOSS, which included the Frank Venables Theatre.

This important community building, originally constructed in 1949, was designed in the Art Deco, “Moderne” style popular in that period. In recognition of its historical significance,
it was decided that the project would include the renovation of the two storey
classroom block and the gymnasium.

The design of this LEED Gold project is appropriate to the desert climate
in which it is located. There are references back to the Art Deco Moderne
style, but the design is modern and bright, and maximizes the use of
wood, as a reference to the Province of BC’s Wood First policy. The multipurpose
room is the primary focal point for student gathering and is
designed as an expressive wood structure constructed from glued laminated
beams, wood decking, and concrete and wood columns.

This space is circular in plan and opens to a central courtyard. This
stunning structure is repeated for the Theatre lobby. The new
Performing Arts Theatre was completed in February 2014. This new wing
provides seating for 400 patrons in a tiered seating configuration. The
main theatre lobby is constructed similarly to the multi-purpose room
and has a unique wood roof structure. The two-storey lobby is visible
from the street and allows for public gathering.

Wood is expressed throughout the building as both primary and
secondary structure. The design strategy was to not cover building
materials with other building materials; but rather to strive to
incorporate materials that provided a dual purpose, structure and
finish.