Camosun College鈥檚 newly opened Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness has been awarded the top prize at the 听(VREB) Annual Commercial Building Awards competition.
The centre was the winner of the Judge鈥檚 Choice award at the annual competition for its stunning design and community impact.
鈥淭he reason the judges were so impressed with the Alex and Jo Campbell Centre is due to the use of light and space, which is so special, and the benefit of the centre to the greater community is commendable as well,鈥� says Sandi-Jo Ayers, president of VREB.
Established in 1991, the Annual Commercial Building Awards competition recognizes commercial development within Greater Victoria.听
The prize has recognized developers, architects, designers, builders, contractors, owners and financiers for enhancing commercial real estate stock, stimulating urban renewal, and the risks they undertake to build and renovate commercial space in South Island communities.
鈥淲e look at how the projects have incorporated into the community,鈥� Ayers says.
鈥淭here鈥檚 also a lot to be said about the people who take risks on these projects to enhance neighbourhoods and create opportunities.鈥�
Past winners of the awards have included the Victoria International Marina, the historic renovation of the Union Club of British Columbia, and Royal Bay Secondary School.
Any commercial project, new or renovated, located within the Capital Region and completed between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020, is eligible for the awards.
Nominations are submitted by a wide range of stakeholders in the real estate and Greater Victoria community for the Commercial Building Awards.
This year, 30 projects were put forward for consideration. Four judges weigh each nominee carefully before making their decisions.
A proven success, the Victoria Commercial Building Awards program has been replicated by other real estate boards throughout B.C. and across Canada.
The annual event takes place in November each year. Typically, the prizes are awarded at a special luncheon event with a guest list that includes industry representatives, local mayors, leaders of related national organizations such as the Urban Development Institute (UDI), the Victoria Home Builders鈥� Association (VHBA), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and media representatives.
鈥淭he ceremony is a little bit different this year,鈥� Ayers says.
Due to COVID-19 considerations, the awards were given out in a special digital video format on Nov. 25.
鈥淲e鈥檙e saddened that we can鈥檛 be face-to-face to hand out awards personally, but we still want to celebrate our winners for 2020,鈥� Ayers says.
In addition to the Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness, the winners of the Excellence Awards at the 2020 VREB Commercial Building Awards were:
Affordable Housing
Mount Douglas Manor
1550 Arrow Rd.
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Apartment
1038 McClure St.听
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Commercial 鈥�听Retail
Evergreen Centre
6660 Sooke Rd.
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Condominium
986 Heywood Ave.
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Institutional
Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness
4461 Interurban Rd.
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Live/Work
The Quartet
9775 Fourth St.
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Mixed-use Residential
The Black and White
1033 Cook St.
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Commercial 鈥� Office
Capital Park Phase 2
545 Superior St.
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Industrial
Don Mann Excavating
4098 Lochside Dr.
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Townhomes
West Commons
370 Latoria Blvd.
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Merit Awards were also given for the following projects:
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Apartment
Microsmart Living
2732 Doncaster Dr.
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Condominium
Travino Gardens
741 Travino Ln.
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Live/Work
The Arbours
7162 West Saanich Rd.
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Mixed-Use Residential
Hudson Place One
777 Herald St.
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To learn more about the Commercial Building Awards visit
