The $4.6 million, 450 sq.m. British Columbia Visitor Centre at Peace Arch is a stunning facility showcasing British Columbia wood products to more than 3 million visitors that pass through the Peace Arch border crossing every year.
Binnie’s civil engineering services included the detailed design and construction site review of the parking lot and underground infrastructure servicing the new building. In support of the project achieving LEED® Gold Standards, Binnie Engineers incorporated best management practices in their design – including bioswales, permeable concrete, and a landscaped median.
The design criteria required that Binnie engineers achieve 100% of the site stormwater and building water discharge to be managed on-site and integrated into a comprehensive sustainable system for the development.
Binnie’s plan achieves natural water balance conditions through an on-site rainwater harvesting system that permits rainwater reuse within the building while natural rock swales allow infiltration and filtering of rainwater to recharge the groundwater conditions.
The facility opened to the public in February 2009.
