Elemental Architecture

Building Science Solutions

Robert — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:17:14 +0000

We work with municipalities, institutions, property managers, developers, consultants, engineers and architects, offering a full range of building science solutions.

We assist our clients to find new approaches to budgeting and financing their projects. This includes assisting with the applications for energy grants with BC Hydro, BC Gas, and NRC.

Our goal is to clearly understand the challenge, then to ensure the best solution within the means of the client.

Services we offer within our Building Science Division include:

Building Envelope Condition Assessments
Engineered Reserve Fund Studies
Pre-Purchase Facility Audits
Maintenance and Renewals Plans, Maintenance Manuals
Building Envelope Design and Detailing
Building Envelope Remediation
Building Envelope Professional (BEP) Services
Peer Review for Building Envelope Design
Warranty Reviews
Reserve Fund Studies
New Façade and Roof Designs
On Site Field Reviews
On Site Water Penetration Testing to ASTM E1105 and AAMA 501.2
On Site Data Logging
Computer modeling for thermal and energy aspects
LEED Durability Credit

Downtown Eastside SRO – Shaldon Hotel

eaii — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:17:08 +0000

Elemental is the prime consultant to BC Housing for the interior renovations and facade improvements for the Shaldon Hotel. The scope of work will include interior renovations to two of the ground floor commercial units and improvements to the historic masonry facade which will include reinstatement of the cornice and replacement of the ground level commerial windows. Construction is scheduled to be complete February 2012.

The architect’s role in social housing

Robert — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:31:39 +0000

From direct and extensive experience working with affordable housing societies, residential cooperatives and government agencies, we have a practical understanding of how the stock of affordable housing units in the lower mainland is developed and maintained.

It is due to this experience that we believe that architects and building science firms can, and should, provide leadership in the creation of value driven processes leading to new prototypes for social housing, in terms both of design and financing.

On May 7, Terra Shimbashi will lead a presentation and round table discussion at the Annual General Meeting of the AIBC (Architectural Institute of British Columbia), focusing on how to better define the gap between available transitional housing (single room occupancy) and permanent co-operative or market rate housing. The discussion will consider how this growing challenge can be met.

The intent of the presentation will be to:

Review the current models of affordable housing;
Understand how current models impact building users and the community;
Consider the key value drivers for a more socially responsible architecture;
Envision new partnerships working towards a new prototype of social housing.

We will be inviting a range of people with a wide variety of expertise to comment on the ideas in the presentation, and will present their thoughts, experiences and considerations on this site.