flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Eyes wide open: Students can see their new home’s building elements

Reconstruction Awards

Eyes wide open: Students can see their new home’s building elements

The two-phase project revamped an opaque, horseshoe-shaped labyrinth of seven buildings from the ’60s and ’70s.


By Robert Cassidy, Executive Editor | November 20, 2017

The light-filled, five-story atrium connects the new addition with the existing building and provides gathering space for students. Photo: Jon Miller – Hedrich Blessing Photographers

“Engineering on display.” That was the theme for the 119,500-sf renovation and 197,000 sf of new construction of the University of Calgary’s engineering school. Instead of hiding MEP and structural elements, the design team of Diamond Schmitt Architects and Gibbs Gage Architects exposed them to students’ view, thereby celebrating them as a learning mechanism.

The two-phase project, which kicked off in 2009 and is on target for LEED Gold certification, revamped an opaque, horseshoe-shaped labyrinth of seven buildings from the ’60s and ’70s into a unified, daylight-filled complex with a new central hub, upgraded labs and classrooms, improved circulation, and a new, welcoming front door.

Numerous building code, seismic, and accessibility improvements were made—lighting and sprinkler system upgrades, window replacements, etc. Five lecture theatres were refurbished; two 240-seat rooms were added to the complex.

Reconstruction Awards jurors were impressed with the three-story-high structural glass entry hall. Structural engineer RJC Engineering supported the entry hall with two 56-foot-high cross braces that extend through large openings in the main floor down to the basement. The cross braces—the only vertical supporting members in the entryway—double as a graphic feature. They also support a system of lattice trusses to carry the cantilevered structural glass.

The design team employed the latest computer-modeling techniques for the much-needed seismic upgrade, but further developed systems that addressed predicted structural concerns related to the limitations of the existing structures. This reduced the amount of new construction, saving costs and time.

The jurors praised the team for using its expertise and experience to turn a complex structural problem into a readily constructible, aesthetically pleasing solution.

 

Project Summary

 

Silver Award Winner

Building Team: Diamond Schmitt Architects (submitting firm, architect) Gibbs Gage Architects (joint venture architect) RJC Engineering (SE) SNC Lavalin (ME) Stebnicki & Partners (EE) EllisDon (CM).

Details: 316,500 sf. Total cost: CDN $174 million. Construction time: April 2009 to September 2016 (two phases). Delivery method: Construction manager.

 

See all of the 2017 Reconstruction Award winners here

Related Stories

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 19, 2019

BD+C's 2019 Reconstruction Award Winners

The Museum at the Gateway Arch, the Senate of Canada building, and Google, Spruce Goose are just a few of the projects recognized with 2019 Reconstruction Awards.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 13, 2019

A manse makeover: The Dahod Family Alumni Center at the Castle

A 1915 castle on BU’s campus is carefully restored for alumni events.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 13, 2019

Community effort: Rose Collaborative

This post-Katrina project has become a citadel of the arts and education in the Crescent City.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 12, 2019

New flight pattern: Google, Spruce Goose

The hangar that once housed the Spruce Goose is adapted to meet a tech giant’s workplace needs.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 10, 2019

Enter the world of deep time: David H. Koch Hall of Fossils

The new enclosed FossiLab gives visitors a glimpse into the exacting work of Smithsonian scientists and preservationists.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 6, 2019

TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport: Home away from home

A dormant, 1960s-era flight center is converted into a snazzy hotel and conference facility.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 6, 2019

Columbus Metro Library Hilliard Branch

Senior living clubhouse becomes a modern library in central Ohio.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 5, 2019

The 428: St. Paul's office corner

A long-forgotten five-and-dime store becomes a  speculative office property in Minnesota’s capital.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 4, 2019

The squeeze is on: The Revolution Hotel

Once a 1950s-era YWCA, The Revolution is now a hip new hotel in The Hub.

Reconstruction Awards | Dec 2, 2019

Hudson Commons: Over the top

A project team converts a 1960s industrial structure into a Class A office gem.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Giants 400

BD+C Awards Programs

Entry information and past winners for Building Design+Construction's two major awards programs: 40 Under 40 and Giants 400



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021