Dania Affordable Housing

Residential

Project Specifications

Location

Burnaby, BC

Size

3,000 square feet

General Contractor

VanMar Constructors

Owner

The Dania Society

Architect

NSDA Architects

Completion Date

2025

Overall Scope

3,000 square feet of exterior storefront, curtainwall, glass canopies, and feature aluminum sunshades

Project Summary

Dania is a six-storey affordable residential housing project located at 4279 Norland Avenue in Burnaby, British Columbia, built by VanMar Constructors for The Dania Society and designed by NSDA Architects. The building delivers much-needed affordable housing within an architecturally considered envelope that uses concentrated bands of feature glazing and projecting aluminum sunshades to break up the massing of the main façade.

Vision West supplied and installed 3,000 square feet of glazing and architectural metalwork at the building’s feature elevations. The scope included exterior storefront and curtainwall framing the projecting glazed bays and ground-floor entry zones, glass canopies installed on standoffs at the main entries, and the feature aluminum sunshade system that defines the building’s exterior character. Vision West’s scope was concentrated on these architectural feature elements.

The defining element of Vision West’s scope is the feature aluminum sunshade system. The sunshades project outward from the curtainwall in stacked horizontal frames at each floor of the glazed bays. The detail required precise coordination between the sunshade attachment points, the window framing, and the structural backing wall to maintain alignment vertically across all six storeys while ensuring weather-tightness at every penetration. The completed assembly gives Dania its distinctive architectural rhythm and shadow pattern, transforming what would otherwise be a conventional residential elevation into a recognizable architectural statement on Norland Avenue.

A modern multi-story building with gray exterior panels, large windows, and yellow accents on each floor. Glass awnings cover the entrance, and metal railings frame the balconies. The sky is clear and blue.
A modern multi-story building with gray exterior panels, large windows, and yellow accents on each floor. Glass awnings cover the entrance, and metal railings frame the balconies. The sky is clear and blue.
A modern multi-story building with large windows, yellow accents, and horizontal metal shades, viewed from below. The sky is clear, and the building features glass panels at the entrance.
A modern multi-story building with large windows, yellow accents, and horizontal metal shades, viewed from below. The sky is clear, and the building features glass panels at the entrance.
A modern building facade with large windows, yellow horizontal accents, and metal sunshades under a blue sky. The exterior is gray with geometric lines and multiple stories visible.
A modern building facade with large windows, yellow horizontal accents, and metal sunshades under a blue sky. The exterior is gray with geometric lines and multiple stories visible.
A modern building entrance with large glass windows, a yellow accent above the doorway, scattered construction materials inside, and an unfinished landscaping area with soil and small colored flags outside.
A modern building entrance with large glass windows, a yellow accent above the doorway, scattered construction materials inside, and an unfinished landscaping area with soil and small colored flags outside.
Glass double doors and large windows on a modern gray building, with a metal awning above. The wet pavement and reflections indicate recent rain. Trees and traffic lights are visible outside in the background.
Glass double doors and large windows on a modern gray building, with a metal awning above. The wet pavement and reflections indicate recent rain. Trees and traffic lights are visible outside in the background.
Modern building facade with gray and yellow accents, large glass windows, metal framing, and angled sunshades above each window. The wall surface has horizontal lines and several windows, some slightly open.
Modern building facade with gray and yellow accents, large glass windows, metal framing, and angled sunshades above each window. The wall surface has horizontal lines and several windows, some slightly open.
Modern building exterior with large glass windows, gray walls, and yellow accents. Metal sunshades jut out above the windows, creating a geometric pattern. The photo is taken from a low angle, looking upward.
Modern building exterior with large glass windows, gray walls, and yellow accents. Metal sunshades jut out above the windows, creating a geometric pattern. The photo is taken from a low angle, looking upward.
A modern building with large glass windows and horizontal yellow accents, viewed from below. Metal railings and sunshades project outward, and a glass awning covers the entrance at the bottom.
A modern building with large glass windows and horizontal yellow accents, viewed from below. Metal railings and sunshades project outward, and a glass awning covers the entrance at the bottom.
View from a building with glass windows and a slatted overhang, showing raindrops on the glass, pine trees, and office buildings in a parking lot on a cloudy day.
View from a building with glass windows and a slatted overhang, showing raindrops on the glass, pine trees, and office buildings in a parking lot on a cloudy day.
View from a building with metal sunshades and glass windows, looking out over a rainy, cloudy day with trees, parked cars, and office buildings visible in the background.
View from a building with metal sunshades and glass windows, looking out over a rainy, cloudy day with trees, parked cars, and office buildings visible in the background.
View from above of a building facade with large metal sunshades attached to yellow and gray exterior walls, above a tiled sidewalk. A person stands near the street in the background.
View from above of a building facade with large metal sunshades attached to yellow and gray exterior walls, above a tiled sidewalk. A person stands near the street in the background.
A modern multistory building with gray walls, large windows, and yellow horizontal accents above the windows. There is a glass canopy above the entrance.
A modern multistory building with gray walls, large windows, and yellow horizontal accents above the windows. There is a glass canopy above the entrance.
Corner of a modern building with large glass windows, metal and concrete surfaces, and yellow accent lines. Reflections in the windows show trees and the surrounding area.
Corner of a modern building with large glass windows, metal and concrete surfaces, and yellow accent lines. Reflections in the windows show trees and the surrounding area.
A modern building with large glass windows and silver and yellow metal sunshades, viewed from below against a cloudy sky. The geometric structure creates sharp angles and lines.
A modern building with large glass windows and silver and yellow metal sunshades, viewed from below against a cloudy sky. The geometric structure creates sharp angles and lines.
Upward view of a modern building with gray and yellow horizontal accents, large glass windows, and a green-tinted glass canopy at the entrance under a cloudy sky.
Upward view of a modern building with gray and yellow horizontal accents, large glass windows, and a green-tinted glass canopy at the entrance under a cloudy sky.
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