19 Wing Combined Mess

Location: Comox, B.C.
Client: DND Canada
Budget: $25,000,000
Area: 5000 m2
Category: Work with other Firm (Architecture 49)
Date Completed: 2008 (design)

Richard Baronins was the lead designer for this project while at Architecture 49. The proposed mess hall at 19 Wing was designed to unify the mess facilities for Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Enlisted personnel into a single building. While each rank retained its own lounge, bar, and dedicated entrance, the facility featured a shared dining room and a centralized kitchen to streamline food preparation and service.

The building was organized around an open corridor—referred to as the “runway”—from which all lounges and key spaces were accessed. The layout pulled the building elements apart to take advantage of the mild coastal climate and to maximize views toward the mountains on the mainland.

Architecturally, the curved forms were inspired by the language of flight, projecting a sleek and streamlined image consistent with the iconography of the air force. The exterior was designed with a durable metal skin and expansive glazed areas, complemented by fins and sun-shading devices that balanced transparency with environmental performance.

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