The City of Cold Lake has commissioned S2 to undertake Phase 1 of a project aimed at assessing, master planning, and designing a new Operations Facility and Yard. This facility will integrate various City departments, including Fleet, Shops, Transportation, Streets, and Infrastructure. It is intended to serve as the city’s central hub for municipal public works services. The main facility will include administrative and office spaces, change rooms, storage areas, a reception area, and communal spaces.
The building’s design balances the need for a civic presence with the functional requirements of vehicle maintenance and workshops. Three different building types and structural systems have been utilized to achieve a cost-effective and practical design for the main operations building. Additionally, the design team created plans for a sand/salt shed, a fuel facility, bulk storage areas, and a covered, heated storage facility, all intended to have a lifespan of 50 years.
The site design distinguishes between public and private/work areas, facilitating significant traffic flow across and throughout the site. The overall layout of the facility fosters a campus-like atmosphere, with cohesive building massing and material choices.
Materials were selected to enhance functionality and durability while keeping costs manageable. The project also includes significant site remediation, such as transforming a former bog into usable land and redirecting overland drainage to a new snowmelt/evaporative pond area. The repurposed land will serve as a bicycle slalom track.
