Facilities Planning services

Cascade Facilities Management Consultants Ltd can provide public sector organizations such as school districts, colleges and universities, regional districts, and municipalities with experienced assistance in the following areas:

LONG RANGE STRATEGIC FACILITIES PLAN – For school districts for example, Cascade will analyze your district school organization, programs, grade structure, demographics, and population growth potential, to provide an independent view of long range facilities needs.  The Strategic Facilities Plan is much more than a Capital Plan in that it takes a longer view, includes potential program relocations, enrolment changes, development of choice schools, school closures and consolidations, and potential grade restructuring. Between 2011 and now, we have developed the following school district Long Range Facilities Plans: Chilliwack, Nechako Lakes, Quesnel, Nisga’a, Coast Mountains, Vancouver Island West, Conseil Scolaire Francophone, Sooke, Comox Valley, New Westminster, Saanich, Peace River North, North Okanagan – Shuswap, Fort Nelson, Nicola – Similkameen, and currently working on Mission and Vernon School District plans. Called Long Range Facilities Plans (LRFP), these plans are required of all districts by the Ministry of Education.  Click here for more information.

DEVELOPING YOUR FACILITIES CAPITAL PLAN – Cascade will review your facilities deficiencies and identify solutions including new construction, additions, renovations, and change of use;  identify facilities requiring upgrade to improve functionality and life-cycle survivability;  and identify highest priorities for providing safe accommodation including the seismic upgrades, asbestos removal, and air quality improvement to be achieved by capital upgrades.   If your Capital Plan requires demographic studies or enrolment projections, we can provide those services as well.  Click here for more information.

PRE-PLANNING OF FACILITIES NEEDS – Cascade pre-planning in the initial stages of a capital project saves you significant architectural fees at the next stage (schematic design) and ensures that all the options are considered.  Click here for more information.

MUNICIPAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT– Cascade offers municipalities an asset management approach to public facilities including an updated building audit, identification of deficiencies with timelines and costs for corrective action and consultation with your building occupants and users to determine space needs best suited to programs being accommodated.  The resulting Facilities Plan helps Council to rationalize long-term capital needs and budgets.  Between 2011 and now, we have assisted the following with Long Range Facilities Plans: City of Nelson, the Regional District of Peace River, City of Port Coquitlam, District of Mission, and District of Hope. Click here for more information.

SPACE PROGRAMMING – Cascade can review the functional program of a proposed new space, addition, or renovation and convert the organizational relationships and functions into a schematic representation of the future facility area.  We recently conducted space planning for a temporary move by La Maison Francaise in Vancouver. Our associates and architects are ready to assist.  Click here for more information.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES – Submissions for funding of projects by the provincial government have to demonstrate that the proposed project represents the best solution among all possible options and that it can be completed within the proposed budget.  Cascade can provide a feasibility study or Project Identification Reports (PIR) and, if appropriate,  can also link your proposed project back to measurable factors which are driving the need for more space,  whether population growth,  student enrolment,  closure of obsolete non-functional facilities,  changing program trends,  or other justifications.  Click here for more information.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS – Cascade can provide an Independent Review of your capital project’s design team submission or Feasibility Study.  It is important to get an unbiased analysis of the project principles and assumptions, consider new alternative solutions, and ensure the currently recommended solution is the most cost-effective for the district in the long-term.  We have carried out eleven Due Diligence Reviews and Independent Reviews in the past few years.  Click here for more information.

BUILDING AND WORKSPACE REVIEW– Often your functional operations do not fit efficiently into your facilities.  Cascade can review your work functions and space needs, assess your facility requirements, and recommend options for improving functionality and space usage.  Cascade can provide independent unbiased assistance in evaluating your space needs.   Click here  for more information.