Okanagan Centre for Innovation

Meiklejohn Architects provided full architectural services for the design of the new 105,000 sq. ft. Okanagan Centre for Innovation. Envisioned to be a mixed-use civic and technology hub, the facility houses retail units, a co-working space, and a shared presentation theatre on the ground floor. A City/Province incubator and start-up offices occupy the second floor, while the upper four levels are dedicated to technology sector offices and a large shared roof deck.

A central atrium gives access to all building elements, creating a seven-storey interconnected space linked by a dramatic feature stair. The project is adjacent to the downtown Kelowna library branch and offers direct connections to that facility on its lower two floors.

The Okanagan Centre for Innovation challenges traditional office typology in many ways, such as by prioritizing interconnectivity. “Collision spaces” throughout the project encourage spontaneous interaction between occupants, fostering the sharing and development of new ideas between the public and private sectors. The large atrium also functions as a thermal chimney; the stack effect naturally draws air up through the space and in from operable perimeter windows, reducing the building’s carbon footprint.