The Granary at Southlands

Located in the heart of Southlands, an “Agri-Hood” in Tsawwassen, BC, The Granary is a mixed-use community hub surrounded by farmland to the west and north. Housing a brewery, restaurant, and 35 residences, the building sits opposite the historic refurbished “Red Barn” community space, delivering on the development’s mission to connect residents to the land and to the agricultural cycles of food production that surround it.

The design takes cues from barns and silos—utilitarian structures built to last. In keeping with that tradition, The Granary employs light wood frame construction throughout, with prefabricated wall panels assembled on site. This system—familiar, scalable, and cost-effective—enabled mirrored residential layouts, efficient construction, and reduced on-site disruption. Engineered wood trusses span the large gables of the brewery and restaurant, providing economical solutions for wide interiors while accelerating construction timelines. Together, these strategies demonstrate how conventional wood systems can deliver both housing affordability and vibrant mixed-use spaces.

The large gables of the brewery and restaurant are clad in black-stained board and batten cedar wood siding, a material that will intentionally weather and change over time. Like the agricultural barns that inspired it – it is an honest building. The rhythm and massing of the structure echo the nearby Red Barn, creating continuity between historic and new forms while establishing a contemporary focal point for community life.

Courtyards and passages around the building recall the “spaces between” found on working farms, where varied uses overlap organically. At Southlands, these spaces frame markets, gatherings, and daily encounters, reinforcing the community’s agricultural roots.