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DECEMBER 2018 | 53 Capilano Branch – Edmonton Public Library by ROBIN BRUNET F or all parties involved, the develop- ment of the Capilano Branch of the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) was a rarity: a small gem of a project that inspired a one-of-a-kind design and whose construction was undertaken smoothly thanks to an equally inspired approach to bringing the structure to life. The new library represents a sig- nificant upgrade from its old home in the second level of a mall. "While EPL's Capilano Branch opened in 1966 and was a well-used and loved commu- nity hub ever since, it was time for an upgrade," says Pilar Martinez, CEO, Edmonton Public Library. The new ground floor location, complete with serene views and natural light, is by nature more accessible and will serve over 167,000 visitors annually. After gathering public input in the summer of 2015, owners EPL decided the new facility should have copious amounts of natural light, be augmented with community rooms with private/semi-private meeting and study spaces, and achieve a LEED Silver rating. As anyone who has visited the site can attest, the Capilano Branch is already a neighbourhood showcase thanks to its design: a jagged roof of three peaks running the length of the building, giving the appearance of different roofs col- lapsing against each other. This roofline peaks in the middle, creating a vaulted ceiling punctuated by a band of windows and allowing the interior to be bathed in patterns of natural light. Remarkably, this uncommon struc- ture was not so much the result of pure inspiration as it was a meticulous analysis of the site and EPL's program, thanks to Patkau Architects and Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd. (the architects of record). Greg Boothroyd, principal, Patkau Architects, explains, "the site was a long, grassy strip due to the Fulton Ravine on one side and a residential street on the other, and the building space would be even narrower considering the setbacks that were required on either side. "In close collaboration with EPL, we divided the program into three zones. The first was a narrow zone along the LOCATION 915 67 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER Edmonton Public Library ARCHITECTS Patkau Architects / Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd. GENERAL CONTRACTOR PCL Special Projects STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Williams Engineering Canada ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT WSP Canada Inc. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Design North Landscape Architecture Inc. TOTAL COST $11.8 million PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Capilano Branch – Edmonton Public Library ravine side that would contain offices and places to sit. In the middle, the sec- ond zone would have plenty of flex space, the community room, and a staff room; and on the far side facing the street would be the entrance, children's area, and washrooms." Boothroyd adds, "Given the narrow site and the three distinct programs, plus the need for plenty of natural light in the interior, we developed a building form of three peaks running the length of the facility." Patkau designed the zones to have different lighting strategies: glaz- ing running the length of the building at floor level on the ravine side; glaz- ing running along the first peak; and mid-level glazing running along the length of the far side. A latticework of wood screens would be installed on the street side to diffuse the light and create an array of shifting patterns in accordance to the movement of the sun. Building such a structure could have easily been a logistics nightmare, but Fast + Epp devised a relatively simple way to achieve the complex triple- peak form. "Much in the way multiple trusses are used to create the roof of a house, Fast + Epp created a series of steel frames that were each a cross sec- tion of the entire building form, over which a roof deck of glulam timber could be installed with a Douglas Fir ceiling below," says Boothroyd. Stephan Pasche, senior associate at Fast + Epp, says, "Steel frames made the most sense out of all the possible construction solutions, as it could be welded, bolted, and easily connected to the primary roof structure of glulam." PCL Special Projects broke ground on the site in May of 2017, and apart from piles having to be surrounded by casings to deal with water issues, the construc- tion process proved to be uneventful. Jerry Espino, LEED green associ- ate senior electrical engineer for WSP Canada Inc., says the lighting fixtures were carefully selected to ensure that they fit in the wood slat ceilings with proper supports. "Additionally, the fix- tures had to provide sufficient light to adapt to flexible spaces without shad- owing. Lighting calculations were modelled with AGI software to ensure that proper lighting levels were achieved." A wiremold in-floor duct system was used to provide power and data in the central Collection Seating Area, while in the community room an in-floor induc- tion sound loop for hearing impaired was installed. "Also, equipment efficien- cies were high to reduce wasted usage of the electrical systems," says Espino. Design North Landscape Architecture Inc. proposed a double row of trees on the residential side of the library as a buffer, and created a more naturalistic landscaping design, which, together with the existing natural tree stand, can be enjoyed from inside the building. A flourish at the entrance was achieved with a built-in concrete bench that doubles as the building signage. Martinez says of the final product, "The new Capilano Branch is an out- standing addition to the community. Not only does the design address accessibility challenges of the previ- ous location, it greatly improves our customers' experience through an architecturally stunning space." A Proud to provide Electrical Consulting services for the Capilano Library project wsp.com 12235 Fort Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4H2 Telephone: (780) 466-3128 Fax: (780) 468-1766 www.baydrywall.com Congratulations to Chandos Construction & NorQuest College Proud to have been the drywall and acoustic ceiling contractor on the Civic Employees Legacy Tower. Drywall.indd 1 2018-11-02 8:58 AM Engineering.indd 1 2018-11-08 9:06 AM

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