Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Dock Building

The Dock Building, located on Jericho Beach in Vancouver, BC, serves a large sailboat marina. The facility provides washrooms and showers, offices for the Harbor Master, instruction space for children, and a variety of workshops to maintain boats, sails, and gear. The project’s practical working needs, very modest budget, and prominent setting required a simple solution.

The superstructure consists of glulam posts and beams with light timber infill decking and walls. The combination of engineered wood and light wood frame was chosen as the primary structural system for its local availability, ease of construction and economy. The interior is predominantly construction-grade plywood, providing a tough, easily replaceable interior finish.

The Dock Building shows that an elegant yet practical building can be achieved through careful planning and a creative team, regardless of budget.