John Horgan Dam and Generating Station: Designing comfort and efficiency for a challenging industrial environment

Located in northeastern British Columbia, John Horgan Dam and Generating Station is designed to generate 5,100 gigawatt hours of clean, renewable electricity annually. To support a safe, inclusive, and efficient workplace, BC Hydro engaged Kasian to design an operations facility and emergency response building for its personnel. 

The design accommodates a wide range of non-complementary functions within a compact footprint, including mechanical, carpentry, and electrical shops, painting booth, telecommunications rooms, an always-on safety control room, as well as administrative offices and a lunchroom. Consideration was given to building acoustics, industry-specific safety codes, and the operational realities of both the client and its multi-stakeholder consultant team. 

Spaces are designed to enable collaboration and encourage connection while addressing spatial constraints. Meeting rooms with movable wall systems, along with dining and social areas, support a flexible work environment. Video monitors in key locations allow personnel to track critical operations throughout the day. 

With maintenance and shop spaces located at the lower level and quieter office areas above, the layout improves workflow by facilitating the movement of heavy equipment while separating noisy and focused activities. Large windows facing downstream create a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape across both work and office areas. 

The dam’s permanent upstream trap-and-haul facility, developed in collaboration with a specialist fishway design consultant, is naturally integrated into the development’s architecture, creating an experiential link.  

Bringing together maintenance and operations, the facility supports BC Hydro’s team with a resilient workplace within a structure designed for a 100-year lifespan. 

Through close collaboration with the team, Kasian created a workplace that will be safe, efficient, and highly functional. I’m confident our team will be proud to work in such a great workplace.” – Richard Whittaker, Manager, Design at BC Hydro