MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Summer 2018

110 MLCM SUMMER 2018 mind, with photovoltaic panels, a Tesla Powerwall, high-efficient aluminum windows, mineral wool insulation, steel cladding and construction inspired by the Swedish wall system. “Scandinavia has always been a leader in wood building techniques,” Hunter says. “We are utilizing a Swedish wall system, a double wood stud wall that performs significantly better than a standard 2x6 wall. It’s able to ‘breathe’ and dry on both the inside and the outside depending on the humidity and temperatures, and the R-value is double what the BC building code calls for. We’re hoping to reach a clientele who value what’s in their walls, not just what they see listed on the MLS sheet or surface treatments. This building should last 100 years and give tenants a healthy, efficient live-work space.” While each member of the Elevation Collective brings complementary skills and passion to the table, there are no shortcuts through bureaucracy. Just getting the project to break ground already feels like a victory. “It can be challenging trying to do anything new,” James King points out, “especially if you’re doing it on a small scale. We had to meet all the same compliance standards as a larger project. Our goal is to show that there’s different ways of looking at things and hopefully inspire more people to want to live and work in a more unique configuration.” “It’s always hard to be the first movers on something progressive,” Hunter adds. “You fight battles and you pay the price, but this will be a great project to get people on board and the next one will be even better.” Ironically, Logger’s Lofts’ most obvious paradigm shift actually has less to do with what gets built and more to do with its electric car share initiative. The Tesla Powerwall and PV cells will charge a strata-owned BMW electric car available for residential and commercial tenants. It’s a practical way of reducing the project’s ecological and economic footprint. “There’s lots of bike parking too,” Abma smiles. “We want to promote living and working downtown, being healthy, and getting outside. Isn’t that why we all live here, to get outside?” elevationcollective.ca Efficiency and sustainability are foremost on everyone’s mind, with photovoltaic panels, a Tesla Powerwall, high-efficient aluminum windows, mineral wool insulation, steel cladding, etc. TOP (L to R) Mark Abma, James King, Chris Hunter. ANDREA HELLEMAN