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OCTOBER 2018 | 55 Thelma Chalifoux Hall – University of Alberta RENDERING COURTESY DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS Thelma Chalifoux Hall – University of Alberta by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI T he University of Alberta (U of A) understands the importance that constructing a sense of belong- ing brings to its students; not only has it been proven to enhance academic success, but it has been associated with improved well being, increased feelings of safety and security, par- ticipation in community affairs, and civic responsibility. The new Thelma Chalifoux Hall (for- merly Lister 5), designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects – is the epitome of true community. Opened in fall, the five-storey building, which is now home to around 460 first-year students, brings everyone together and adds to the already thriving Lister community. Located east of 117th Street, the L-shaped building resembles two bow ties that have been cleverly inter- twined and features a connection to one of the four existing Lister towers, which currently provide roughly 1,850 existing spaces. "It's a truly interesting design that ties into a number of other student residences that are part of the cam- pus. A pedway on the north side of Thelma Chalifoux Hall connects with MacKenzie Hall and brings the entire community together," explains Jasvir Tungal at Graham Construction. The planning of the building came together through extensive con- sultation led by Ana Maria Llanos from Diamond Schmitt Architects. It involved the participation of ancillary services, students, project manage- ment, as well as the design build team. The site itself was fairly straight- forward, but to extend under the building Lindsay Mouser at Protostatix Engineering says some deep under- ground services were required. "A structural slab on grade was utilized over the deep utilities to bridge the deep excavation. The foundations were bell piles and concrete grade beams," adds Mouser. Curtain wall glazing has been erected on vertical exterior elements of the building, while a sleek profile of sil- ver metal corrugated cladding has been affixed to the majority of the structure. Slate grey aluminum composite panels sporadically frame the suite windows, which add contrast to the facade to cre- ate a rather dramatic residence. "One of the main exterior features of the building is the phenolic pan- els that came from Europe. The wood grain appearance of these panels com- plemented the silvers and greys of the building, while framing the central curtain wall bumpouts of each wing," says Tungal. "For us, the main chal- lenge was to simplify the multiple sides and differing angles of the building by creating a proper workflow sequence that mitigated conflicts and eased installation of finishings for all trades." Enter the main entrance on the south side on 84th Avenue and you come across a very innovative con- cept that splits the two bow ties of the building. "You are met with the main lobby that features exposed polished concrete and beechwood panelling surrounding the elevator core. As you head across to the west wing you will find the main common amenity area that has a community kitchen, study rooms, lounging areas, fitness, and multipurpose rooms. The space is extremely flexible," explains Tungal. Mouser says that the stairwell and elevator shafts as well as some select party walls were constructed as concrete walls and are the lateral supporting system for the building. He adds that the structural system of the building is flat plate cast-in-place concrete slabs supported on concrete columns. To deal with the sloped site, vary- ing exterior ground elevations required the main floor slab to vary in elevation. "Ramps and stairs were required within the building to deal with the changes in ground elevation," explains Mouser. Compared to its taller neighbours, the tower itself has a larger floor plan, and each floor has two kitchenettes, which are comprised of a fridge, micro- wave, and sink. There are single or double rooms that contain furniture that is standard to the other Lister towers. In total, the project boasts 260 rooms. Llanos says the ground floor is the place where the Lister community comes together. "The upper floors and a portion of the ground floor contain houses or clusters of rooms with adja- cent common spaces, including lounges and study rooms where students con- gregate. The planning supports a deliberate intent to create a sense of community everywhere." An incredibly interesting ele- ment within the building is that each floor has communal genderless wash- rooms. "U of A wanted a spa-like feel to the washrooms, which encompassed installation of flamed finish tile from floor to ceiling complemented with wooden privacy doors to all the toilet and shower stalls," says Tungal. When it came to the electrical and mechanical systems, Henry Chu at SMP Electrical says there was nothing unusual to note, aside from the fact that the building is fed from a central com- plex. "There's a large electrical vault that sits on the complex and feeds into five buildings, with Thelma Chalifoux Hall being the fifth. Cabling for high voltage power, fire alarm, security, data systems, and even external internet services providers are fed from the cen- tral access point. We had to find routing for it, and there are pathways between buildings so we had to be cognizant of that," says Chu. The building also fea- tures a mix of LEDs and fluorescent lights, to save energy where possible while remaining within budget. For the landscaping, EDA Landscape Architects paid close attention to site amenities, while providing seating for viewing and passive study, as well as social gathering areas and bicycle stor- age. The planting chosen provided a variety of seasonal colour while recog- nizing the University's operational and maintenance challenges. Tungal says that because the project followed an integrated project delivery methodology paired with a modi- fied design-build contract, it not only allowed everyone to bring their ideas to the table but encouraged a very col- laborative design that everyone can be proud of. Thelma Chalifoux Hall – named in honour of the Métis activist and former Canadian senator – has undoubtedly helped the University meet its com- mitment to providing on-campus accommodations for all first-year under- graduate students, and also honours Indigenous history and the University's location on Treaty 6 territory. "In searching for a name for the newest residence, it was important to choose one that would inspire students to do great things, that recog- nizes the U of A's support for the work of reconciliation, has a connection to the University and demonstrates diversity," Andrew Sharman, VP of facilities and operations told local press. "Everyone agreed that Thelma Chalifoux embodies these values." A LOCATION Lister, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER University of Alberta ARCHITECT Diamond Schmitt Architects ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT BR2 Architecture DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTOR Graham Construction STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Protostatix Engineering Consultants Inc. MECHANICAL/CIVIL CONSULTANT Arrow Engineering ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT SMP Electric LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT EDA Landscape Architects TOTAL SIZE 111,000 square feet TOTAL COST $40 million 11:35 AM

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