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Squamish Arts Future Needs Study February 2024

Part III

Options

Within this section, eight schematic options for arts infrastructure in Squamish are presented, addressing short-, mid-, and long-term facility visions.

Options Summary

The findings from Part I: Research and Part II: Community Engagement, were used to develop a detailed compilation of programming options. All of the options presented address the needs of Squamish’s arts community in various scales and timelines. Short-term options are envisioned to be realized in 0-3 years and could be delivered through renovations / additions to current arts spaces. Mid-term options are envision to be realized in 3-10 years via a new municipal build project or a via donated space as part of a developer’s community amenity contribution. Long-term options comprise of projects which may not be realized for 10+ years, encompassing the full list of the local arts community’s needs within a landmark arts centre. The following section contains ten options.

squamish arts future needs study 2024 options

Short-term Options

Options A-1 & A-2 are both proposed to be located in Junction Park. These option presents a hybrid of the District of Squamish’s desire to have a public washroom within the park and Squamish Arts’ need for office and multipurpose space. Option A-1 proposes a renovation of the existing 1980’s Junction Park building with an addition housing a multipurpose space and Squamish Arts office space. Option A-2 features the same programming as the previous option but instead proposes demolishing the existing structure to construct a new facility.

The DoS is reviewing options to either renovate or replace the existing Junction Park Washroom / Squamish Arts Building.

Option A-1

Renovation of Junction Park Building

This option focuses solely on renovating the DoS’s existing public washroom facility in Junction Park. Already occupied by Squamish Arts, this option produces the most time and budget sensitive outcome. The existing building (displayed in green) was constructed in the 1980’s as a shop class project. In 2017, Squamish Arts’ portion of the building was deemed un-occupiable until structural renovations were completed. Currently the building houses two publicly accessible gendered washrooms, as well as space occupied by Squamish Arts which contains a small multipurpose space, an office space, a washroom, a janitor’s closet and a small storage room.

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Option A-2

New Junction Park Building

This option combines the District of Squamish’s need to renovate the public washroom facility in Junction Park with an addition sized to meet Squamish Arts’ immediate needs. Within this option there are gendered publicly accessible washrooms, two universal washrooms and a janitors closet, as laid out in the District’s plan (displayed in green). Additionally, these services are combined with an office/small meeting space, a hybrid lobby-gallery space, and a 100 m2 multipurpose space that can be subdivided into two 50 m2 multipurpose rooms with an adjoining equipment storage room. The multipurpose space is large enough to be used for classes, meetings and workshops. As well, the space would be suitable for spoken word, poetry, and small dramatic/musical performances, but not for professional-grade lighting grids or large set pieces. A covered outdoor space is envisioned adjacent to the building, providing a programmable community space that is usable during the rainy seasons.

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Mid-term Options

Option B-1 and Option B-2 are both intended to be located within residential or commercially zoned areas, preferably downtown or as part of a recreation facility. These options both contain multipurpose spaces, the latter being sized to accommodate a black-box performance space. Option C-1 and Option C-2 are both intended to be located within industrial zoned areas, preferably the Squamish Business Park. These options both contain workshop spaces (makerspaces), with the former being sized to fit within an existing unit in the Squamish Business Park and the latter being larger in size to fully accommodate the workshop needs of Squamish’s creative community.

Option B-1

Mid-Sized Arts Hub

This option, envisioned as a tenant improvement within a larger building, presents the minimum program size possible which still fulfills the immediate needs of the Squamish arts community. Within this option there are publicly accessible washrooms, office/small meeting spaces, a hybrid lobby-gallery space, and a 150 m2 multipurpose space that can be subdivided into two 75 m2 multipurpose rooms with an adjacent storage space. All spaces require a minimum ceiling height of 3 metres. The multipurpose space is large enough to be used for classes, meetings and workshops. As well, the space would be suitable for spoken word, poetry, and small dramatic/ musical performances, but not be suitable for professional-grade lighting grids or large set pieces.

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Option B-2

Mid-Sized Black Box Arts Hub

This option presents a slightly increased program size compared to Option B-1. This option fulfills the immediate needs of the Squamish arts community by providing a space which can host performances. Within this option there are publicly accessible washrooms, office spaces and storage for use by Squamish Arts’ employees, a hybrid lobby-gallery space, and a 200 m2 multipurpose space, which could be subdivided into two 100 m2 multipurpose rooms, that serves as a black box theatre that seats 75-100 people. This space would have a minimum clear height of 7-8 metres and would require specialized acoustic separation to allow for performances.

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Option C-1

Small Makerspace

This option presents an alternative solution to options A and B, whilst still fulfilling the Squamish arts community’s immediate needs. The proposal is designed to fit within an existing unit in the Squamish Business Park and would contain a small multidisciplinary workshop (makerspace). This 150 m2 space would have the ability to house woodworkers, sculptors, ceramicists, visual artists, textile workers, set builders and other artisans. Within this option there are washrooms, an office spaces for use by Squamish Arts’ employees, a hybrid lobby / gallery space, and a mezzanine storage space.

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Option C-2

Large Makerspace

This option presents an alternative solution to option C-1. While the programming remains the same, the sizing has been modified. Within this option the multidisciplinary workshop (makerspace) grows to 350 m2 to better accommodate large-scale projects and/or simultaneous use by different artistic disciplines. Within this option there are two individual washrooms, an office space for use by Squamish Arts’ employees, and a 20 m2 lobby / gallery space.

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Long-term Options

Option D-1 and Option D-2 are both intended to be located within residential or commercially zoned areas, preferably downtown or as part of a recreation facility. These options both contain preforming arts spaces as well as multiple arts spaces. D-1 is sized to accommodate a black-box performance space.

Option D-1

Large Black Box Arts Hub

This option presents a smaller version of the “big ticket item” presented in Option D-2. Envisioned as a long-term goal, this facility would require a dedicated site to house the needs of multiple creative user groups under one roof. Programmed using the feedback from our research sessions, the facility includes a 100-150 seat black box theatre, a dedicated mid-sized gallery space, a multipurpose space which can be subdivided into two spaces and the appropriate supporting programs for all of these spaces. The facility would also house Squamish Arts offices and meeting rooms, as well as studio spaces of various sizes.

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Option D-2

Large Black Box Arts Hub

This option presents the cumulative “big ticket item” for Squamish’s arts community, as per the feedback from our research sessions. Envisioned as a long-term goal, this facility would require a large dedicated site. The facility centres around a 400-500 seat theatre, a dedicated mid-sized gallery space, a multipurpose space which can be subdivided into two spaces and the appropriate supporting programs for all of these spaces. The facility would also house Squamish Arts offices and meeting rooms, music rehearsal and recording spaces, and the ability to house artists through a residency program with accommodations and dedicated studios.

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