In the heart of Metrotown, O2 by Keltic Development proves a healthy lifestyle is the ultimate luxury.

People are now becoming more conscious of how lifestyle and environmental factors impact their well-being and are seeking health-and-wellness enhancing solutions in their daily lives. Drawing inspiration from the WELL Building Standard, Vancouver’s Keltic Development’s latest project O2 Metrotown is tailored to enhance the work life balance by focusing on sustainability, modern lifestyle, and health.

Wellness has been cemented at the core of the building’s design. This commitment includes everything from infrastructure — air purification, water filtration and heating and cooling system — to 7,200 square feet of amenities including rooftop gardening, outdoor courtyard, and a health & fitness centre.

Build Canada: What are the guiding principles at Keltic Developments’ that impact and drive performance of your projects?

Mike Wurm: The key drivers for Keltic Development is to be the leader in quality, design, and innovation in Greater Vancouver.  We want to ensure we are creating a positive and lasting impact with our developments. Our expansive portfolio consists of residential, industrial, and mixed-use developments throughout Lower Mainland, and in all our projects, our values are the foundation to how we work and operate. Growth is one of the pillars of our company culture and makes it possible for us to become stronger as an organization and further the scope of our work.

We embrace innovation. We are constantly exploring innovative technology and better ways of working to enhance our projects and set the curve. Transparency is also a critical value, and we believe in open and direct communication with internal teams and external shareholders that helps everyone work together towards a shared goal.

BC:  The WELL Building Standard takes a more holistic and people-led approach to achieving social sustainability, health, and wellness.  What was Keltic’s approach to becoming certified and how will clients benefit from WELL Building Standard concepts?

MW:  The WELL Building Standard is gaining traction as a prominent green building certification. Although it shares some similarities with the long-standing LEED standard, WELL sets itself apart by placing stronger emphasis on health and well-being.

Several of our building values like innovation and growth align with the creation of the WELL Building Standard and its intent to support wellness through a performance-based certification system. It focuses on ten specific areas where improvements can be made: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. Improving the air, light, sound, and thermal comfort quality can help attract tenants and improve the property’s overall operating costs.

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BC:  The WELL Building Standard takes a more holistic and people-led approach to achieving social sustainability, health, and wellness.  What was Keltic’s approach to becoming certified and how will clients benefit from WELL Building Standard concepts? 

MW:  The WELL Building Standard is gaining traction as a prominent green building certification. Although it shares some similarities with the long-standing LEED standard, WELL sets itself apart by placing stronger emphasis on health and well-being.

Several of our building values like innovation and growth align with the creation of the WELL Building Standard and its intent to support wellness through a performance-based certification system. It focuses on ten specific areas where improvements can be made: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. Improving the air, light, sound, and thermal comfort quality can help attract tenants and improve the property’s overall operating costs.

BC:  Modern home designs keep pushing the limits to find creative methods to combine functionality and style. What can clients expect from O2’s interiors?

MW:  The interiors were envisioned to amplify O2’s focus on advanced health and wellness with the goal of truly enhancing our residents’ daily lives. This is where the importance of the air purification and filtration systems come into play. Maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for creating a healthy and comfortable home environment, and you really feel the difference in air quality when the commercial-grade air purification and heating and cooling systems are working. The interiors of the homes at O2 are designed with purpose and function with open-concept floor plans, expansive windows with roller blinds, chic colour palettes and high-end finishes.

There are chef-inspired kitchens features such as quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances, and under-cabinet storage with high-end custom cabinetry by Vesta Cucine. There are dedicated office spaces and workspaces, and engineered flooring throughout kitchen, living and bedroom spaces. All homes with 2 bathrooms comes with a fully enclosed steam shower that includes an aromatherapy reservoir allowing essential oils to be incorporated into your everyday wellness routine in the primary ensuite.

BC:  What are the some of O2’s health-first features being incorporated into every suite that improves client’s wellbeing?

MW:  Every suite in O2 has a commercial-grade air purification system that removes up to 135% more particles than an average building. Keeping the air clean and safe is a priority for us post COVID-19. Our purification system uses proven commercial-grade technology that is high-performing and quiet. Each suite also has an advanced water filtration system that is designed and programmed for the purpose of removing bacteria, pyrogens and other contaminants from the water thus ensuring the supply of clean, fresh water.

O2 also contains a state-of-the-art variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and cooling system that’s controlled by a smart, Wi-Fi-connected thermostat that accurately identifies the requirements of each zone and sends the precise amount of refrigerant needed to each air handling unit

BC: What are some of the Wellness Amenities that put health and wellness front and center at O2?

MW: O2 spans over 7,200 sq ft of indoor and outdoor amenity space. Residents of O2 will enjoy the use of an outdoor courtyard and indoor amenities located on the first, second, and 30th floors.

The rooftop terrace will feature urban agricultural social space with a focused garden supporting the WELL Building Concept of nourishment with edible planting and native fruit trees. O2 has a multi-purpose room off the lobby that can be used as a space for hosting, dining, and social entertaining. It features a chef-inspired kitchen and media area with a large television and seating with direct access to an outdoor kitchen and BBQ area.

The Mind Concept, in the WELL Building Standards promoting mental health through strategies that influence well-being, will be implemented at O2 by integrating local nature, art and culture.  We are very honoured to collaborate once again with Musqueam artist Thomas Cannell, who will be unveiling his new art piece on the grounds of O2.  Thomas previously created a 6-storey mosaic glass installation piece called “Sea to Sky” that features traditional iconography of the Pacific Northwest for our Paramount development in Richmond.