In order to maintain a fairly constant temperature and manageable work environment during the winter months, construction management firm PCL Constructors Ltd. installed a “shrink-wrap” to the parts of the exterior under construction, then pumped in heating to the enclosed vented scaffold area. A dry air system was used for the interior.

Building envelope consultants for the project were Steve Bains, ASCT and Mark Lawton, P.Eng. of Morrison Hershfield. Bains says he and Lawton made regular trips to the site to inspect every aspect of the envelope, from the wall cladding to the windows and even the roofing.

The EIF System was supplied by Preswitt Manufacturing Ltd. of Lanlgey, B.C. Company president Tom Smith said the project used 150,000 square feet of Rainscreen EIFS. Charles Plastering, Smith noted, has been a major applicator of the Preswitt systems for many years.

John Evans outlined the cladding layers: “We used the Preswitt Rainscreen system. Steel studs were sheathed in part-concrete, covered with Georgia Pacific’s DensGlass®. An air vapour barrier was applied, in this case, using Preswitt’s MP Flexcoat adhesive with embedded fiberglass reinforcing mesh wrapping the DensGlass.”

Evans described the project as one of the most complex he has ever worked on, challenging the contractors with the sheer number of detailed design elements required. Numerous shapes were cut and coated prior to installation, using Preswitt’s adhesive and basecoat compound. Adhesive was applied to the insulation panels in vertical strips in order to allow any incidental water to exit through the flashings.

Smith and Evans credit the success of the project to experience, skill, planning and preparation by everyone involved.

Designed by Vancouver architects Michael Huggins and Michael Mychajlyszyn of Burrowes Huggins Architects, the resort’s special features include a spa, pool, ballroom, retail shop, lounge, restaurant and convention facilities on the first level, with the services all underground beneath the two towers.

The project also incorporated a number of sustainability design elements, including energy conservation, EIFS, cold attics, waste water recycling and more.

Huggins says his firm made extensive use of leading edge computer design technology and 3-D imaging, a big advantage during the planning process. Another technological tool was the use of e-Builder.net, an on-line project management service that provides day-to-day updates and streamlines coordination.

The NWCB award is richly deserved – the Four Seasons Resort Whistler is a winning combination of advanced technology, unparalled craftsmanship and detailed planning.

(excerpts from June/July 2005 The Trowel)

With the 2010 Winter Olympics only five years hence, Whistler is well on the way to putting the gold seal on its reputation as an international resort of unrivalled natural and architectural beauty. Every time you visit, your eye is caught by yet another project whose design sets the bar a notch higher. In 2004, it was the Four Seasons Resort, developed by Intrawest Development Corporation in partnership with the Four Seasons hotel group. The 273-room five-star luxury hotel was built for $79 million – approximately $260 per square foot – making it Whistler’s most expensive hotel project to date. It was money well spent: the project won a Gold Georgie for Best Resort Development of 2004.

This summer sees the completion of Phase Two, the crown jewel of the project. For three years, the Four Seasons Private residences has enjoyed the rare distinction of being Whistler’s most prestigious address.

(excerpt from June 2005 Award magazine)