2.1.3 Analysis
Plates Conceptual vision of the Burnaby Mountain Community by Hotson Bakker Architects and Conceptual vision of the Burnaby Mountain Community by Henriquez Partners/IBI Group illustrate the conceptual plans drawn by Hotson Bakker Architects and Henriquez Partners/IBI Group. Similarities exist between the two in road placements and residential structure, however the concept from Hotson Bakker shows itself to be more curvilinear and conformal to topography than the IBI plan.
Plates Existing and proposed road network Hotson Bakker Architects and Henriquez Partners/IBI Group compare the new road networks of each development concept. Both concepts make extensive use of existing SFU roadways to integrate their visions into the existing academic community. IBI Group focuses its roads along spiral networks, radiating out from either end of the academic core into the surrounding developable area.
Plates Zoning conflicts - current zoning versus conceptual zoning Hotson Bakker Architects and Zoning conflicts - current zoning versus conceptual zoning Henriquez Partners/IBI Group display the concept plans as an overlay of the current Official Community Plan enclave zoning system for Burnaby Mountain. Both groups expand their developments past regulated boundaries and push into land reserved for Academic expansion. IBI Group makes use of mixed-use developments in their concept plan, which will require amendments to the zoning By-laws on Burnaby Mountain.
In addition to zoning conflicts, both concept plans display conflicts with existing SFU infrastructure. Plates Conflict between existing SFU structures and proposed development by Hotson Bakker Architects and Conflict between existing SFU structures and proposed development by Henriquez Partners/IBI Group show conflicts within the Northeast neighbourhood. In both concept plans, the East Academic Annex is demolished to make way for future construction. The residence for the University President is likewise disregarded as worthy of inclusion within the community. Considerable road re-alignment and upgrading of the B.C. Hydro water tower road will occur, as this becomes a major thoroughfare in both developments.
Plate road buffers displays the setbacks that are required around major roads and throughways on Burnaby Mountain. The arrival experience to the main campus is very important and a buffer strip must be maintained along Gaglardi Way to enhance the perception of driving through the mountain forest. The buffer strip is set to 30m to preserve the integrity of the viewscape. Along other major roadways such as University Drive, the buffer is set to 10.7m. Along local roadways the buffers are designated at no less than 7.6m (BMDC, 1996). Both the IBI Group and Hotson Bakker concept plans are in accordance with this convention and no conflict is apparent. Street tree planting along major and minor roads within development enclaves will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the future community, and are incorporated into the concept plans of both firms.
Parking is an issue of major contention among students and staff at Simon Fraser University. In Plates Hotson Bakker Architects -parking and Henriquez Partners/IBI Group-parking, parking lots "B" and "G" are devoured by neighbourhood development, while parking lot "C" is converted into structures supporting academic usage over a 20-year period. Interestingly, although a great deal of surface parking is removed from the pool by the future development in both concepts, a larger percentage is eliminated by academic expansion.
Plates Travel Times From Intersection To Locations Around SFU and Travel Time To Intersection From Locations Around SFU use the existing roads, and the buildings and roads from the IBI Group site plan. These maps clearly show the effect of one-way streets in altering circulation patterns within the new development. It is faster to arrive at an SFU location from the intersection, than it is to return to the intersection from a location within SFU.
Plates Hotson Bakker Architects – walk elev and Henriquez Partners/IBI Group – walk elev map the two developments with a 500m pedestrian walking radius, overlying an elevation map of Burnaby Mountain. The centre points of the pedestrian catchment basins are at the conceptual "ends" of the University spine - the bus loop to the east, and the end of West Mall Complex to the west. The 500m distance is derived from a theoretical figure charting how far an individual will comfortably walk to get to a destination, before some other form of transportation (automobile or bicycle) is used. The high-density neighbourhoods of the northeast are generally within the walking radius, but it can be clearly seen that large portions of the southern slopes are outside the pedestrian catchment area. This is further compounded by the elevation change of 46 metres between the southern neighbourhoods and the central northeastern core.
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