Best in commercial design celebrated

More than 70 buildings were nominated for the Re/Max Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards.

Fifteen buildings in Kelowna and three from West Kelowna are among the 31 finalists for the Re/Max Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards, which will be announced Oct. 18 at the Coast Capri Hotel.

There were more than 70 nominations for the awards, which celebrates the best in commercial, industrial and revenue producing properties from Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Armstrong, Vernon, Kelowna, Summerland, Peachland, Penticton, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.

“The  number and quality of the nominations from all over the Thompson Okanagan region is simply outstanding, one of the best we’ve seen yet,” said event organizer Mark MacDonald. “Adding Kamloops and the South Okanagan from Penticton to Osoyoos has bumped the number of projects, as those areas have not had commercial building awards before.”

Fortis BC is a Gold Sponsor, and the Southern Interior Construction Association is also a sponsor.

To be eligible, buildings must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012.

A panel of independent judges, selected at large, have reviewed each nomination, looked at the overall exterior design of the project, and determined how each fit into the surrounding area before deciding the winners.

There are 12 categories of Awards—mixed use (commercial/residential); community institutional includes church/schools/government facilities; retail/shopping Centres; office; community recreational; seniors’ housing; industrial; multi-family/single family; hospitality-hotels/motels; recreational/resort; commercial renovation/restoration; and building ‘green.’

The Judges’ Choice Award goes to the best overall entry.

Kelowna finalists are:

Centennial Building, 2063 Pandosy Street

Carl’s Jr., 1688 Bertram Street

Kettle Valley Commercial, 5315 Main Street

Seasons at Kettle Valley, 433 McCarren Avenue

The Conservatory Parkade, 773 Glenmore Road

The Diocese of Nelson Chancery Office, 3645 Benvoulin Road

Delta Grand Okanagan Resort-North Tower Suite & Corridor Reno, 1310 Water Street

Glasswing, 681 McClure Road

My Neighbourhood Restaurant, 260 Highway 33 West

UBCO – Purcell Student Residence, 1323 International Mews

UBCO – Geo Exchange Control Building

Bottega Farm Inn, 4485 Sallows Road

Valoroso Foods Retail Renovation, 1467 Sutherland Avenue

The Conservatory – Phase 1, 773 Glenmore Road

Canscribe Career Centre, 1979 Bredin Road

West Kelowna finalists are:

The Gateway, 3623 Elliot Road

Copper Sky-Amenities Building, 2160 Old Okanagan Highway

Shannon Lake Elementary School Addition, 3044 Sandstone Drive

Other finalists from the Central Okanagan region include:

Peachland—Stonewater On The Lake, 5235 Buchanan Road

Summerland—Summerland RCMP Detachment Building, 9101 Pineo Court

Tickets are $95, and can be reserved at www.businessvi.ca/events and click on Thompson Okanagan Commercial Building Awards.

Kelowna Capital News