Kelowna's New Yacht Club: Meiklejohn's Marine Masterpiece

by Darci Friesen

The City of Kelowna is governed by an elected Council comprised of a Mayor and eight Councillors – with terms lasting three years. Dealing with the City Council – on numerous times and in many ways - was one of the required steps that the Kelowna Yacht Club (KYC) had to undertake on their arduous journey to build themselves a new clubhouse and marina. The KYC was finally granted approval last year – after a battle that spanned over four terms (more than 12 years) of the City Council –  at the civic, provincial, and federal levels, as well as by the First Nations. After forming the Long Range Planning Committee in 1998, and jumping over numerous and lofty hurdles -  including the holding of an architectural design competition – the KYC is now primed for the potentials of their new clubhouse and marina.

“With one of our foremost priorities at the Kelowna Yacht Club being our contributions to the community, we felt it important to support local businesses wherever we could,” Jim Kay, KYC's General Manager explained, “All levels of this project will employ the abilities and experience of local Architects, Engineers, Designers, Consultants, Contractors and Trades people – both at skilled and entry levels; a considerable undertaking for the 1,500 KYC Members and their boating families.”

The 2010 Okanagan-wide competition - overseen by the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) - for the overall design concept of the building was comprised of eight architects/firms initially invited to participate. Armed with their extensive - and very specific - list of criteria regarding such things as floor space and cost, the challengers were left with a daunting task. They were to create a proposal that proved to the members - and moreover the Committee - that they had met the outlined requirements while still succeeding to create an aesthetically pleasing structure; reflecting both the essence of the city and Yacht Club as well as their own unique style.

After the first submissions and subsequent decisions were made – with the architects remaining anonymous throughout, only three hopefuls remained. Before rendering their final verdict, the competitors were offered the opportunity to submit another design plan. At the culmination of voting and much deliberation, local architectural firm Meiklejohn Architects – lead by Jim Meiklejohn and Stoke Tonne – held the design contract for the new Kelowna Yacht Club.

“We were both excited and nervous to be given the chance to be a part of such an iconic project....it was important to us to design a building that  has a strong concept –  that captured the essence of the nautical nature of the club and capitalized on a fantastic site,” the duo relayed, “From the outset we knew this project had to work to engage its site and draw people into the building, so we focused on the creation of transition spaces; from indoor to outdoor – we made sure that  nature was also key to our design.”

This project, expected to take roughly a year to complete, seeks to embrace such qualities as urban modernism and marine-esque linear symmetries, while using design tricks to maximize the building visually, practically and environmentally. When standing in the two-story atrium – spanning the length of the building, with glass walls on both the East and West ends – you can experience the views of the city, the lake and Stewart Park, as well as the deep light and ventilation naturally provided (incidentally also reducing  mechanical cooling and lighting). From the west side, passers-by can look  into and through the center of the building – straight across to the outdoor scenery on the east side.

“The new Yacht Club will have a definite maritime influence. An exposed structure with clean walls and open decks that allow for an abundance of covered outdoor seating; the true feeling of the building is quite nautical,” commented Meiklejohn, “This will be a huge asset to the community and an amenity for our city - it provides a very striking building to be proud of. The restaurant will allow people to stop, enjoy food, their friends and family alongside a breathtaking view of the waterfront.”

The figures and forms; the fusion of ropes and wires, posts and beams, shapes and movements possessed by boats has inspired both art and architecture for generations. With both the technical and functional demands of their masts, rigging, hulls and sails - they connect the graceful, yet strong shapes of a sailboat; they derive intensity as much from their form and placement as from the simple strength of their material. They suspend their passengers in water; protecting them from, and yet connecting them to, nature. The design team aims to mimic their clubhouse after these boating concepts.

The outside of the building is really to be viewed from all four sides – it's designed with no back and no hidden view – with each side designed around a specific theme. The Water street side is created to blend in with it's surroundings – with masonry and glass as its 'urban side' mediums. The north side is considered to be the where the main hub of activity goes on. As the entrance to the lower atrium, the public restaurant, as well as being a bi-way to the stairs leading to the members private areas, this side is seen as the “working end of the building”. The South and West sides open to Stewart Park and the waterfront.

“The public components of the new Clubhouse building sue, water-front restaurant and patio,” told Jim Kay, “Additionally, the project will include banquet, catering, and meeting facilities; also open to the public on a first-come, fee-for-service basis; further contributing the economic opportunities for local labour and suppliers.”  He continued on to explain, “As a two level, 24,000 square foot, waterfront Clubhouse, together with an expanded Members' Marina for up to 1,000 boat slips, the KYC is a family club first. We hope to encourage the public to enjoy our new public areas as well to become members to our club.  We are seeking to bring new members in right now; once the new facilities are completed, the cost of registration and memberships will inevitably go up.”