Case Study: Flamingo One, Surrey, BC
About This Project
Flamingo One is a landmark 35-storey mixed-use tower located in the rapidly developing Whalley District of Surrey, British Columbia. As the first phase of a master-planned community by the Tien Sher Group of Companies, this development represents a significant milestone in the area’s urban renewal. The tower combines residential units with commercial retail spaces and office areas on the lower floors, supported by key street-level tenants that contribute to a vibrant, walkable neighbourhood.
A major design challenge involved the building’s mechanical services. Both indoor and outdoor mechanical rooms are situated on Level 35, directly adjacent to several residential units, including one penthouse, eight apartments, and a common corridor. This proximity raised concerns about potential noise and vibration transmission into these sensitive residential spaces, requiring specialized acoustical expertise to ensure resident comfort and compliance with applicable standards.
Scope of Services
BKL’s focus was on protecting the residential units from excessive noise and vibration associated with the mechanical spaces on the 35th floor.
BKL’s scope included:
- Acoustical design criteria: Establishing acceptable background noise criteria for residential suites based on American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards, as well as sound isolation performance targets for demising walls and floor-ceiling assemblies. This ensured compliance with Sections 5.8 and 9.11.1.4 of the British Columbia Building Code and sufficient attenuation of airborne and flanking mechanical noise.
- Design review: Reviewing mechanical drawings and equipment sound power data to predict noise levels within the Level 35 mechanical spaces. Architectural coordination drawings were also reviewed to assess the sound isolation performance of demising walls and floor-ceiling assemblies, allowing for prediction of resulting noise levels in adjacent residential units.
- Design recommendations: Providing targeted recommendations for acoustical upgrades to wall and floor-ceiling assemblies, as well as vibration isolation measures for mechanical equipment, to achieve compliance with ASHRAE criteria and support resident comfort.
Project Benefits
Working with Tien Sher Group of Companies, and the broader design-build team, BKL’s proactive acoustical review delivered key benefits to the Flamingo One project and its future residents, including:
- Protecting residents: Ensuring that top-floor residential units are shielded from disruptive noise and vibration from mechanical systems, thereby safeguarding occupant comfort, privacy, and quality of life.
- Ensuring code compliance: Verifying that critical interfaces between mechanical and residential spaces meet the acoustical performance requirements of the British Columbia Building Code, reducing regulatory risk.
- Mitigating future liabilities: Identifying potential noise and vibration issues during the design phase helped avoid costly post-construction retrofits and resident complaints, contributing to the long-term success and reputation of the development.
BKL’s acoustical consulting ensured that the mechanical infrastructure necessary for a 35-storey tower coexists harmoniously with the residential spaces it serves, supporting the developer’s vision for a high-quality, well-designed community.
Project Name:
Flamingo One, Surrey, BC
Year Completed:
2025
Total Area:
51,750 square feet