Project Summary

A major land developer in Alberta needed professional services to develop a new 20,000 sq. ft. shopping strip mall in Lacombe County. This site was initially meant to include three distinct features: a car wash combined with a convenience store and a gas station, a fast-food restaurant, and a commercial retail building with a minimum of three units. The units were intended for a liquor store, a pizzeria, and a shop. In the second phase of the project, another 6720 sq. ft. of space was added to the retail building as a fitness gym.

Project Goals

Lexus Engineering was responsible for the base building mechanical and electrical work. The mechanical work included sanitary, water, and natural gas services to each building from county mains, as well as HVAC for each usable space. A crucial requirement was heating and ventilation for the car wash. The electrical work included primary power distribution to each building and minimal lighting, mostly exterior and emergency.

Our Solution

The base building site services were designed in accordance with local building codes and standards, taking into account future expansion. Rooftop units were used to provide heating and cooling for the various units, with future tenant applications in mind, such as the gym, which has higher cooling and ventilation loads. The two car wash ramps were heated using three in-floor hydronic loops fed by a natural gas boiler. To provide power, a pad-mounted electrical transformer was sized to accommodate the building loads. Due to space restrictions on the property, the location of the transformer was carefully coordinated with Fortis and the owner. Similarly, the site lighting pole locations were coordinated with ATCO to avoid interfering with the existing high-pressure natural gas line crossing the property.

Result

With our team’s expertise in design and coordination, we prepared the necessary documentation to ensure the successful development of this new small shopping strip. The property is meant to serve as an investment in Lacombe County, attracting locals to new services and providing opportunities for new jobs and business growth.

Codes: NBC2019AE, NECB2017