From Rain to Fountain: A Case Study in Sustainable Water Feature Retrofit
Broadway Tech Centre | Vancouver, BC (Project Link)
At Vincent Helton & Associates, we’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of sustainability and efficiency in water feature design. One of our recent projects at the Broadway Tech Centre in Vancouver demonstrates how strategic upgrades and smart water integration in an existing water feature can significantly reduce operational costs while aligning with broader environmental goals.
Background: A Vision for Sustainable Innovation
Located in the heart of East Vancouver, Broadway Tech Centre is a dynamic business campus owned and managed by QuadReal Property Group. The site already featured a well-established water feature that added aesthetic value to the complex. However, QuadReal’s facilities team wanted to do more—improve energy efficiency, reduce the site's reliance on municipal water, and integrate sustainable practices into its day-to-day operations.
This opened the door to a unique retrofit opportunity. Our team was brought in by Flow Engineering and Total Energy System to assess the current water feature system and explore how we could enhance its performance while supporting QuadReal’s environmental objectives.
Project Goals
Reduce municipal water usage through rainwater harvesting
Extend the utility and sustainability of an existing water feature
Upgrading existing filtration system to be more efficient and effective
Align with Vancouver’s climate and water use patterns
Rainwater Harvesting: Integrating Natural Water Sources
The first step was reviewing the feasibility of a rainwater catchment system that would feed into the fountain. Our team conducted a detailed review of the existing plumbing infrastructure and surrounding roof areas to evaluate how much rainwater could realistically be captured.
Using historical rainfall data from the City of Vancouver, we calculated the average annual rainfall and roof catchment potential. From this, we estimated that the campus rooftops could generate enough rainwater to contribute meaningfully to the fountain’s supply needs—particularly during the region’s wetter months.
A custom rainwater pre-filtration and conveyance system was designed to direct clean rooftop runoff into the fountain’s holding tanks stored in the underground area. This reduced the need for municipal top-ups, minimized stormwater runoff, and provided a tangible way for the site to make use of the abundant rainfall typical to Vancouver’s climate.
Filtration Upgrade: From Sand Filter to Ultraviolet Filtration System
The original water feature used a sand filtration system—an industry standard at the time of installation. While effective, it required frequent backwashing, regular media replacement, and significant energy to maintain flow rates. Additionally, sand filters are less effective in eliminating microorganisms and algae that can affect water clarity and quality.
We proposed replacing this system with a modern UV filtration unit. The benefits were substantial:
Improved water clarity: UV sterilization eliminates pathogens and algae more effectively than sand.
Lower energy usage: UV systems require less pumping energy and virtually eliminate the need for backwashing.
Reduced maintenance: Fewer moving parts, no sand media replacement, and longer equipment life.
Smaller footprint: The UV system is compact, allowing better use of mechanical room space.
The new system also improves water quality to a standard that allows for potential secondary uses, such as irrigation or gray water reuse in the future.
A Win-Win for Sustainability and Operations
By combining natural water sourcing with modern technology, the upgraded Broadway Tech Centre fountain system is now more sustainable, more efficient, and more aligned with long-term operational goals for Quadreal.
This project exemplifies what’s possible when you think beyond the traditional role of water features. Instead of being passive decorative elements, they can become active, integrated components of sustainable site design.
At Vincent Helton & Associates, we’re proud to work with forward-thinking clients like QuadReal who understand the value of long-term environmental performance and smart retrofitting. Whether it's designing from the ground up or reimagining an existing asset, we believe that beautiful design and sustainable function can—and should—go hand in hand.