FRONT STREET FIRE DEEMED SUSPICIOUS
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SHOULD WE INVITE PEOPLE UPTOWN?
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RENEW CREW MAKES AN IMPACT
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FRIDAY
JUNE 6 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
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MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
New Westminster architect Eric Pattison checks out the progress of construction for new offices and commercial space below the Brooklyn Pub on Columbia Street. He designed, the new space, as well as renovations to the pub and the addition of five two-storey townhouses above it, a project he calls one of the most challenging of his career because of the location’s unique site on a steep slope overlooking Front Street.
Renovated pub just the tip of the iceberg Residents will soon see at street level what’s been in the works for more than a year Mario Bartel
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Eric Pattison has helped build tall office towers, and given new life to old heritage buildings. But he’s never designed an iceberg. That’s essentially what the New Westminster architect did
for his commission to renovate and expand the Brooklyn Pub on Columbia Street at the eastern end of Downtown. It’s turned out to be one of the most challenging projects of his career, said Pattison. When the owner of the Brooklyn, Kosta Efstrathiadis, approached him about enlarging the pub with a new glass atrium similar to the one at his Taverna Greka restaurant a few doors down, as well as constructing five two-storey townhomes on top of the building,
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Pattison knew there would have to be some complex engineering and seismic work done below ground to support the structure that overhangs a steep bluff above Front Street. Pattison submitted his plans to the city for permits, and it was suggested he look at building beneath the overhang as well, to discourage vagrants from taking up residence on the protected slope. His client liked the idea. Starting with rough conceptual sketches on note paper, Pattison
had to devise a building that would serve three disparate functions. It would also have to be built on a steep, narrow site hemmed in by an active rail line and busy arterial road below. All while the pub stayed open as usual. “It’s complex, but I wasn’t intimidated by it. The idea was easy, but the buildability and execution of it was tough.” The design and approval process took three years. see WILL LOOK LIKE NEW BUILDING, A4
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The John Robson parent advisory council has made it to the final round of a contest they hope will get them the $20,000 top prize to help pay for a new playground at Qayqayt elementary. The PAC’s vision for the playground had the most votes online when the qualification round of the CST Inspired Minds competition closed Monday. “I’m feeling very positive at this point,” said organizer Ronda Field. The complete playground for the new school— which will open in September, replacing John Robson—will cost $130,000. The PAC is still about $60,000 short. They entered the contest saying any money they won would fund the playground’s climbing wall. They’ve been persistent in sending out daily reminders through Twitter and Facebook and the like to get supporters to vote for the project at least once a day. It’s worked. see FINAL ROUND, A9