comes of age-- THE SHIP-SHAPE BUILDING is nearly com- plete and soon the crew will come aboard. About 1,250 people will be added to the daily life of the North Shore when the In- surance Corporation of B.C. moves its head office opera- tion to Lonsdale Quay this summer. The advanced six storey steel-framed building will be the largest structure in the dynamic waterfront develop- ment. The employees who will inhabit it bring with them a wide range of profes- sional and technical skills. Like their dramatic new workplace, they will have a profound impact on the character of the Quay. Since it was established 10 years ago, ICBC has oc- cupied 12 floors of the Royal Bank Tower at Georgia and Burrard. Over the years, some departments have spill- ed overto satellite offices nearby, a stop-gap arrange- ment, complicating internal communications and isolating some departments from the central organiza- tion. With its move to the North Shore, the corporation will bring virtually all of its head office staff under one cost- efficient roof. For the first time, the fraud detection team will work from the same building as the under- writers who calculate premium rates and _ the rehabilitation specialists responsible for a growing caseload of accident victims. Since last year each of ICBC’s 70 departments has been purging § files, reorganizing storage systems and generally cleaning house under the direction of designated “move captains” empowered to light a fire under anyone - however senior - who fails to reduce filed materials by at least one third. Departments will move in during July and August from the top floor down to minimize disruption to suc- cessive floors. First in will be the com- puter centre, the heart of a system which insures close to two million B.C. motorists and pays our more than $2.4 million in claims every work- ing day. The largest and most advanced computer in western Canada, it will operate around the clock. Departments on the main floor will be the last to settle in. These include many which work directly with the public, including Customer Accounts, Personnel, Col- lections and Public’ En- quiries. With its low profile, step- New crossing boosts housing: By VIC HODSON WORK is finally underway on both the new Seymour River bridge and the access roads - after years of meetings, discussions, negotuations and frustration With any luck the entire pro- yect could be completed and in use by the end of 1983 The new crossing will pro- vide direct access between Mount) Seymour Parkway and the Upper Levels Highway, both to West Van couver, and the Second Nar rows bridge. Improved ac cess will be provided from the Fern Street overpass to Capilano College and the surrounding residential arca by comstruction of a new road to the cast of the Coach House Motor Hotel Total cost of the project will be $2.6 milhon, of which North Vancouver District's share will be $200,000 with the rest coming from the province The bridge and the approach roads will be four laned. with street lights and sidewalks Completion of the proycct will result in) a major im provement ano traffic flow over the Seymour par oularty during rush hours The bridge contract’ has been let to Kingston Coo struction bid Burnaby and the approach roads wall be built by United Contractors tid Annacss Island Because the ncw crossing of the Seymour ts tually under Construction homes and other ving units TOW he are now going ahead cast of the river A moratonum on develop ment cast of the Secymeout was imposed in May 1980 due to the crossing hmita- tions, but was partially lifted in 1982 to permit a maximum of 458 units in Indian River to be developed. At that time, 115 single family lots and sites for 149 multi-family units were ready for development These are being serviced in phases By May of this year, about 45 building per- mits were applied for in In dian River and 10) houses have been completed and sold. Two companies are presently building houses which are being advertised for sale Pacemaker Homes and Tri Power Industries both of which have shown homes located on Hambe: Court in the Indian River development They are reported to be selling well The remaining building per mits in that devclopment are being issued to individual property owners or to builders acting tor the owner Niad Builders Ltd are constr ing several of the latter Roche Point, with &2 lots in being developed with the design of services already McCartney Woods which will have 345 units tn be gun J tuding detached and attach ced housing oi TA months away from devclopment readiness since it requires completion of a replot pro gram Hyannis Heights (ain the Blucrdpe neighbourhood has been teroacd to facalstate a sub private division which wall create already serviced bots ped back from the water- front to minimize intrusion on the North Shore skyline, the new construction con- tains enough office space to fill a 30 floor tower. The 580 foot by 260 foot site also ac- commodates a three level parking lot, spans a _ bus loop, ferry terminal, a railway line and an east-west public road. To obtain maximum usable floor space and pro- vide an open interior en- vironment, the building was designed from the inside out. The white, porcelain enamelled “tubes” that criss- cross the exterior of the building actually contain structural supports that would otherwise have been pillars imside. These sup ports, as well as a new soil compaction technique used to stabilize the ICBC site, provide maximum protec- tion in the event of an earth- quake. From a distance, six “pen- thouses” are visible on the tiered roof of the building. They contain the fan systems that air condition = six separate zones inside the building, including the bus terminal and parking areas. B19 - Sunday, June 29, 1983 - North Shore News Pac NEARING COMPLETION and awaiting a “crew” of 1,200, ICBC's mew head office building at Lonsdale Quay has an appropriately nautical profile. The building environment is controlled by a computer- based building management system. One of its key func- tions is to control the heating and air conditioning systems for maximum energy effi- ciency and comfort. Lighting throughout the building is also monitored by a com- puter that reacts to daylight entering through windows and skylights and adjusts in- terior lights accordingly. The outside of the ship- shaped structure has been clad with crisp blue and white ceramic tiles, a tough shell designed to resist the onslaught of the weather and industrial grime. A landscaped plaza sur- rounding the building pro- vides public access to the waterfront from Esplanade, and is also designed for use by emergency vehicles. An official opening is scheduled to take place in early September. Focus of the event will be a sealed time capsule containing Significant records, documents and momentos of the Corporation's first 10 years. North Shore residents will be invited aboard to at- tend an open house and tour the new building on the same weekend. Welcoming the move to the North Shore, ICBC presi- dent Tom Holmes com- ments: “Our Lonsdale Quay facility is more than an office of the future. It confirms that ICBC has come of age. 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