Project Sectors
HISTORY
Hinton is a small, close-knit mountain town bordering the Jasper National Park, located 300 km west of Edmonton. After a large fire devastated the previous Hinton Town Hall, the community was in need of a new space to house their municipal government.
VISION
Extensive community consultation resulted in the choice of a central site with spectacular views, a dramatic landscape, and an extraordinary forest enclosure. The building is the heart of the community, housing Council chambers and flexible and comfortable office spaces for staff. This vibrant community hub is sustainable and energy-efficient, achieving a healthy and beneficial symbiosis with the natural environment.
RENEWAL FROM DESTRUCTION
Energy consumption for the building is 52% below the requirements of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB) and energy savings are in excess of $30,000 per year in operating costs. These spectacular results are the consequence of an innovative and sustainable design approach, which included strategic exterior sunshade devices and renewable and recycled locally-sourced materials.
RECOGNITION
- Venice Biennale in Architecture, selected as part of the 41° to 66° - Architecture in Canada: Region, Culture, Tectonics project, 2008
- 41° to 66° - Architecture in Canada: Region, Culture, Tectonics, Juried Competition, 2005
- Canadian Wood Council, Case Studies of Outstanding Wood Buildings, 2004
- Canada's Energy Efficiency Awards, Honourable Mention, 2004
- Alberta Foundation for Environmental Excellence, Emerald Award Finalist, 2002
- Canadian Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter, Project of the Year Award
