About this office
This floating sales office sits at the entrance to Granville Island in Vancouver, on a concrete float. It’s 10′ x 16′ (160 sq/ft), with a wide service window, a dark-stained counter, bright blue open-joint siding and a rainbow-coloured roof band. A building that floats has to be light and well balanced, so it was one of the most complicated builds of its year.
Built in the shop, without a floor
The shell was built in a shop in North Vancouver. It has no floor, because it was designed to sit right on a concrete float. The float itself was built separately by a marine contractor and delivered to the boatyard.
When the shell was done, it was raised off the ground and supported on a grid of stringers. That let it be loaded onto a trailer and trucked to Granville Island.
Lifted onto the float
At Granville Island, the shell was lifted off the trailer by a marine travel lift and set on the concrete float. The final work was finished in the boathouse, with the roof colour band painted from a scissor lift.
Launched at the dock
Once the building and float were ready, the travel lift carried them down the dock and lowered them into the water. A couple of days later the sales office was in its new spot at the entrance to Granville Island, where millions of visitors walk past each year.
Inside and out
Inside, a wide service window looks out over the water, with a dark-stained counter below it and a bright lime green back wall. The ceiling is pine tongue-and-groove, painted blue. Outside, the blue open-joint panels and white lap siding stand out against the dock.
| Location | Granville Island, Vancouver, BC |
|---|---|
| Size | 10′ x 16′ (160 sq/ft) |
| Design | Custom structure, built to sit on a concrete float |
| Siding | Hardie open-joint panels and smooth Hardie lap siding, with aluminum reveals |
| Overhangs | Front 30″; sides 12″ |
| Ceiling and floor | Pine tongue-and-groove |
| Door | 36″ fiberglass door, clad in open-joint siding |
| Windows | Acrylic |
| Roof | Standing seam Galvalume |
| Electrical | 5 duplex receptacles; pre-wired for phone and internet |
| Heat | None |
| Customization | Everything |
More photos
The photos below show the finished building from the dock, the water and the seawall.
What to plan before building a floating building
A building on the water has some extra rules and some extra design work.
- Balance: the building and the float have to sit level, so the weight needs to be planned from the start.
- Weight: a lighter building floats higher and is easier to move. Choose moisture-resistant materials.
- Moving it: plan the lift, the route and the equipment before the build is finished.
- Power and services: plan outlets and wiring early. Phone and internet can be pre-wired.
- Approvals: check with the marina or harbour manager and your local government before building anything on the water.
Frequently asked questions
How big is this floating sales office?
It’s 10 feet by 16 feet, which is 160 sq/ft (about 14.9 m²) of floor space.
How was the building moved onto the water?
It was built in a shop, trucked to Granville Island on a trailer, lifted onto a concrete float by a marine travel lift, and launched from the boatyard.
Does it have power?
Yes. It has 5 duplex receptacles and is pre-wired for phone and internet.
Do you need a permit for a floating building?
Floating buildings usually fall under marina, harbour and local government rules, so check before you start. This building is also bigger than the 10 m² (108 sq/ft) size under which many BC cities don’t require a shed permit. See Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.
More outbuildings to explore
Browse more Custom Structures, read the Shed Rules by City, or check Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.