Queensway Transit Exchange

Kelowna is transforming from small-town roots to an attractive, growing city in British Columbia. The Queensway Transit Exchange was part of downtown revitalization efforts, as the city sought to provide a prominent landmark for its transit services. The semi-enclosed island houses eight bus stops, with seating pods that encourage ridership and a sense of community.

Together with the architects, Fast + Epp developed an undulating glue-laminated timber canopy 9m wide by 60m long, on a raft slab foundation. Four minimal steel tree “Y” columns delicately hold up the roof span (its edge profile is just over 22cm deep), enhancing overall visibility and safety. A lattice screen, together with wind deflectors, provide additional shelter from the elements.

Using a prefabricated mass timber system allowed us to reduce construction costs and shorten the overall construction time. Key considerations were how to minimize vandalism and maintenance; the design used high-performance paints and finishes, as well as anti-graffiti coatings to combat these issues.

The transit exchange is a stunning example of what is possible for public structures, despite a tight budget.