Project Experience

Our Project Experience 

At Avalon, our mechanical engineering and energy services are designed to suit the needs of each project. Our work experience has included the design, tender, coordination, and completion of thousands of projects, from simple to complex. We have developed excellent working relationships with municipal governments and their personnel across Vancouver Island, and are able to effectively coordinate with architects, developers, owners, and other consultants as required.  We also understand the importance of ensuring confidence and trust from our clients, which is why we have made it a priority to build a team that can adapt to the complexities of any project, meet demands, and exceed expectations. Our firm is comprised of professionals with various levels of expertise and experience. This includes Professional Engineers, a full complement of designers and drafters, technical staff, and numerous members of ASHRAE and LEED.  

Our Commitment to Corporate Sustainability

Avalon Mechanical is a Certified Consultant in BC Hydro’s Power Smart Alliance, with further accreditation as New Construction Program energy simulators, and Continuous Optimization Program Service Providers. We have also been approved as Power Smart service providers for the majority of Power Smart programs since the inception of Power Smart, and are a member of the Canada Green Building Council; accredited under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program by the US Green Building Council. 

Avalon is a member of both the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy and the BC Advanced Conservation & Efficiency Association (BCACE).  These associations include member companies which are focused on sustainability, clean economy, conservation, and efficiency in their respective fields. Learn more about Avalon Mechanical’s energy specific services and commitment to sustainability by following the link below.

Energy Services
Projects in

Residential Developments

Our design experience for high rise developments range in size from seven to 25-storeys, including a Step 2 mass timber building project with 179 units and an 18-storey mixed use building that included ducted split heat pumps utilized in the penthouse and commercial spaces.

Project of Note: The Jukebox – Victoria, BC

This 9-storey development is a 215-unit mixed-use condo building with 11 ground floor commercial units.

Projects range from two to six-storeys, with upwards of 132 units. Developments include apartments buildings and townhouses.  

Project of Note: The Travino – Royal Oak

The Travino development located in Royal Oak consists of five individual mixed-use commercial and residential buildings situated above a common underground parking structure. The development includes wide use of solar domestic hot water, on-site storm water treatment, and energy efficient variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling systems. Avalon has designed the mechanical, plumbing and fire suppression systems for the first two phases of construction, including approximately 120 residential suites, the parkade, and a large portion of commercial space. We are currently working on the design for the third phase.

Projects consist of buildings with both residential and commercial units, and other projects with additional townhouse and student housing.

Project of Note: Wale Road – Colwood, BC

Two five-storey mixed-use buildings with a total of 63 residential units and five commercial units.  Split-type heat pump systems are provided in the commercial spaces.

Townhouse projects include a large 184 unit mixed-use development, and a nine-building development of 36 townhouses with VRF heating and cooling systems. 

Project of Note: Salt Spring Commons – Salt Spring Island, BC

Nine buildings consisting of 24 residential townhouse units and one common building.  The project was to Step 3 of the Step Code, utilizing heat recovery ventilators and split-system ductless heat pump units.

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Projects in

Care

Project experience includes mechanical design for family health, physical therapy, skin cancer screening offices, and dental offices. The above-mentioned projects have also included all new mechanical systems, new sterilization, and client facilities. This also includes high efficiency HVAC systems with dental air and vacuum.

Project of Note – Urban Smiles – Colwood, BC

A 2,500 ft2 dental office tenant improvement including: dental air, dental vacuum, oxygen, and nitrous oxide systems.  HVAC systems for this space included high efficiency heat pumps and heat recovery systems.

Project experience includes small to large scale projects for the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and Victoria General Hospital. Projects have included replacement of main cooling tower, fire suppression system, expansion of heat recovery system, gas alarm system replacement, steam metering, and boiler plant control systems upgrade.

Project of Note:

Royal Jubilee Hospital – Victoria, BC (Award-Winning Project)

Heat Recovery Chillers Phase 1

This ASHRAE Award winning project utilizes waste heat from the central chilled water plant (approximately 2500 tons) that would normally be rejected into the atmosphere through a cooling tower and utilizing high temperature heat recovery chillers, produces at peak approximately 1750 MBH of 175°F heating water. This heating water is normally produced through a steam to water heat exchanger from the main boiler steam plant. This project reduces the annual natural gas consumption by approximately 7000GJ with an associated reduction in GHG production of 350 tons CO2e. The heat recovery chiller plant is comprised of three 40-ton dedicated heat recovery chiller modules with associated pumping and controls to extract as much waste heat as possible while the main chiller plant is running. Phases 2 and 3 are currently in construction and will add a small chiller plant that will run year-round, replacing several stand-alone chillers and air conditioners serving server/comms rooms, MRI, CT other imaging equipment, and AHUs. This new chiller plant will provide distributed chilled water throughout a large portion of the hospital for current and future loads and will utilize existing condenser water piping from the main chiller plant to flow its waste heat to the high temperature heat recovery plant built during phase 1. The project will add an additional 12,745 GJ of natural gas deferral annually and 634 tons CO2e.

Other projects have included retirement communities, social services buildings, childcare centres, and medical and dental offices. Project scope has included new and existing mechanical systems design that include dental air and vacuum systems, high efficiency heat pumps and recovery systems, and fire suppression.

Project of Note: Berwick Retirement Communities – Victoria, BC

We have provided mechanical engineering services for numerous Berwick retirement communities located across British Columbia. Each community has come with individual design requirements and specific approaches to ensure that the finished product is in line with the vision of the owner and will meet the needs of the occupants. Over the course of the projects completed, the designs have included standard heating and cooling systems, central domestic hot water, extensive commercial kitchens, amenity spaces, and spa facilities.

Projects in

Commercial

Project scope has included plumbing, fire suppression, and HVAC designs. Projects include new amenity buildings with a commercial kitchen, bar seating area, office, and staff space. Further projects include tenant improvements with a full commercial kitchen, kitchen hood, renovation, new bar, and prep areas.

Project of Note: Boom + Batten – Victoria, BC

Restaurant tenant improvements with a full commercial kitchen, variable volume energy efficient kitchen hoods, VRF system, and demand-controlled ventilation, all located oceanside with views of Victoria’s inner harbour.

Hotel properties include locations in Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Port Renfrew, and Colwood. Projects include renovations to existing hotel suites (some with the addition of heat pumps), amenity space, commercial/industrial laundry, as well as building renovations to revise suite layouts. Projects also include remodeling, including commercial kitchen additions and terminal air conditioning for each unit in an 80-unit hotel. 

Project of Note: Carlton Plaza Renovations – Victoria, BC

This Victoria project included building renovations to revise suite layouts, with the addition of a high efficiency VRF system to replace PTAC window units with wall mounted heat pumps.

Projects include the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit in Cowichan Lake, and several dealerships from Victoria to Campbell River including Audi/Maserati/Alfa Romeo, Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai. Projects have included training and show rooms, shop areas, commercial kitchen, service centres, repair bays, car wash areas, parkades, office space, and staff areas.

Project of Note: Audi/Maserati/Alfa Romeo Dealership – Victoria, BC

Audi, Maserati and Alfa Romeo dealerships all on a common lot.  Both buildings included showrooms, offices, parts storage, car wash bays, and service centers (including repair bays). The facility also included a three-storey parkade.

Project experience consists of multiple tenant relocations for a shopping centre, as well as buildings with both residential and commercial units. These projects consisted of ground floor commercial space/units and residential units above, or with separate residential and commercial buildings.

Project of Note: Portsmouth Phase 2 – Nanaimo, BC

Commercial/office building designed as part of the larger Portsmouth development.  Design included central fire suppression systems, VRF heating/cooling systems, individual suite ERVs as well as plumbing service provisions for tenant improvements.

Project experience includes designs for production facilities, tasting rooms, steam heated brewery plant with brewing equipment, and commercial kitchens.

Project of Note – Victoria Spirits – Sidney, BC

Renovation of an existing building to a production distillery on one side with a tasting room on the other.  Steam heated distillery system with equipment by Specific Mechanical.

Project experience includes multiple grocery locations, a smokehouse, and kitchen spaces for renovations and department upgrades. The scope has included fire suppression, plumbing, and HVAC services for deli and kitchen facilities, kitchen exhaust hoods, trade waste drainage, and grease interception.

Project of Note – Thrifty Foods – Multiple locations

Scope has included fire suppression, plumbing, and HVAC services for renovations, including revisions to existing fire suppression systems, and new exhaust hoods in deli departments. Systems were also designed for several other departments, including dairy coolers and storage areas.

Projects in office spaces include small to large scale, from complete conversions of existing space to minor tenant improvements. Projects include The Atrium on Yates, Redbrick, Keynexus, and the Hamley building with designs in all areas of fire suppression, plumbing, and HVAC.

Project of Note: The Victoria Press Building – Victoria, BC

This iconic building located in Midtown is home to the Times Colonist, the oldest daily newspaper in Western Canada. The building itself is undergoing a revitalization to become a major hub for media, arts, entertainment, technology, and education.  Avalon’s work on the building includes HVAC, plumbing, and fire suppression designs for the base-building office space.

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Projects in

Public Infrastructure

Projects include climbing, recreation, fitness centres, golf courses, and a driving range. Includes new facilities and upgrades, with some projects including a commercial kitchen, restaurant, administration area, and banquet hall.

Project of Note – University of Victoria, CARSA Building – Victoria, BC 

Commissioning authority for the world-class training and learning facilities, which includes: 190,000 ft2 of floor space, climbing gym, fieldhouse, fitness area, yoga studio, squash courts, and more.

Project experience includes implementation of facility wide upgrades, BC optimization continuous controls upgrades, and natural gas heating. Projects completed for several government buildings including Queen’s Printer, North Saanich Municipal Hall, and 4000 Seymour Plant that include tenant improvements, expansion, and relocations. 

Project of Note – 4000 Seymour Place – Victoria, BC

  • Design of a new 600 Ton heat recovery chiller plant
  • Pump replacements
  • Heating terminal upgrades to allow low temp heating
  • AHU control valve and damper upgrade
  • Envelope air sealing
  • Building pressure control upgrade
  • DDC upgrade
  • DDC re-programming
  • Air balance of entire building
  • Boiler and Chiller optimization
  • BC Hydro continuous optimization energy project.

Projects completed for various firehalls in the Greater Victoria area for sites up to 12,000 square feet in space.  Project scope includes complete design of plumbing and HVAC systems.

Project of Note – Esquimalt Fire Department – Esquimalt, BC 

As part of the recent expansion at the Esquimalt Firehall, we completed the plumbing and HVAC system design, integrating the new systems with the existing in a cost-effective manner.  Significant coordination was required to ensure no conflicts with existing, relocated, or new equipment occurred.  Overall, the designs included new truck bay drainage systems, minor water distribution changes and an addition to the truck bay ventilation and exhaust system.

Multiple projects for BC Ferries locations, BC Transit and marinas. The marina projects were built for a range of vessel sizes and luxury yachts. These projects included buildings suspended over the ocean on piles, and restaurants. Project scope has included fire suppression system design, review for terminal upgrades/expansions, complete design of fire suppression systems for new transit centres, and HVAC units specified with corrosion resistant materials.

Project of Note – Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Generator Upgrade – Tsawassen, BC

Scope of work included installation of a second emergency generator and substation ventilation. The new generator installation included a new silencer, flexible connections, exhaust pipe, fuel oil piping, pumps, day tank, radiator discharge ductwork, control damper and air intake louvre. A new rooftop air handling unit and an exhaust fan were installed to upgrade substation ventilation.

Projects in

Industrial

Projects include a 2-storey high-tech 150,000 square foot automotive manufacturing plant, as well as a welding shop, and sawmill/barge facility. 

Project of Note – Holdfast Metalworks – Nanaimo, BC

Expansion and renovation to the existing welding and manufacturing shops.  New fire suppression and exhaust ventilation systems specified and installed.

Projects include buildings containing commercial strata warehouse units, shipping and receiving warehouses, and storage facilities.

Other various industrial projects include a mobile repair facility, produce distribution centre, barge facility, airport maintenance hangar, multi-use industrial developments, spray booths, data centre, and hydro project.

Project of Note – Narrows Inlet Hydroelectric Project – Tzoonie Valley, BC

Avalon provided mechanical engineering services for three run-of-river generating stations in the Tzoonie River Valley area as part of the Narrows Inlet Hydro project. The Chickwat, Upper Ramona, and Lower Ramona powerhouses were each designed with cooling systems designed to be robust and to maximize redundancy. Avalon provided the cooling and heating system designs for each structure. A number of innovative features were implemented, including a natural ventilation program which utilizes motorized fan dampers to allow heat to dissipate in cold weather without the use of exhaust fans.

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Projects

In Progress

Take a look at some current projects underway...
Colville Medical Centre - Nanaimo, BC
Buttertubs Affordable Housing Project - Nanaimo, BC
VIRC Daycare - Victoria, BC
Wilson Walk Townhouses - Victoria, BC
Wilson Walk Townhouses - Victoria, BC
Azzurro TI - Victoria, BC
Azzurro TI - Victoria, BC
Azzurro - Victoria, BC

Hours

Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

Victoria

300-1245 Esquimalt Road
Victoria, BC V9A 3P2 

P. (250) 384-4128 

E. info@avalonmechanical.com

Nanaimo

103-5220 Dublin Way
Nanaimo, BC V9T 0H2         

P. (250) 585-2180

E. info@avalonmechanical.com

Vancouver

520-1112 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2S1        

P. (250) 384-4128

E. info@avalonmechanical.com

Get in Touch

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Energy Modelling

While cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions are considered in all our projects, we also offer energy-specific services depending on each project’s needs, including energy studies, commissioning services, and control optimization.

Energy Services

Fire Suppression

At Avalon, our primary focus is designing systems that meet the most stringent application of applicable codes while working closely with architects and owners to ensure that the aesthetic needs of the project are met.

We have had great success in meeting these goals for all building types, including post and beam, insulated concrete, wood and steel frame, and open construction.

Projects

Plumbing

Plumbing systems are often an overlooked and unglamourous portion of many of the projects we have worked on. However, these are essential systems that include all of the sanitary and storm sewer services, domestic water, natural gas, compressed air and almost any other system that requires pipework.

We pride ourselves in taking the time to design systems that will be effective, require little maintenance, and achieve sustainable design goals when possible.

Projects

HVAC

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems are based on thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Our goal is to create comfortable climates with optimal air quality and increased energy efficiency. Our HVAC designs range from low to high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings, commercial and office spaces, hotels, restaurants, and more. 

Projects