Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/124234
Rendering by Norm Li/DSAI MacOdrum Library – Carleton University by Angela Altass arleton University's MacOdrum Library is undergoing changes to improve building visibility and access. The $24.5 million project includes 60,000 square feet of additions as well as renovations to 25 per cent of the existing building. "The overall planning strategy places expanded student study and work areas at the front within the new facade extension, maintains library collections within the centre's existing block where the structure can accommodate the high structural loads of the book stacks, and places a combination of user and staff services and special collections in the west wing where structural capacity is limited," says Darryl Boyce, assistant VP of facilities management and planning at Carleton University. A five-storey curtain wall addition to the east becomes the new front facade of the building that includes a new main entrance and a spiral staircase, says Alicia Fleming, project manager, Turner & Townsend cm2r. The spiral staircase, hung from the roof, is a key feature of the project, adds David Arnold, structural engineer at Halsall Associates Ltd. "The expanded front area capitalizes on the building's prominent position and strengthens the identity of the library as an integral and welcoming part of the campus," says Sydney Browne, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects. The cladding system, Kalzip prefinished aluminum panels, is relatively new to Canada, says Browne, and when combined with extensive curtainwall glazing, makes a substantial change to the library exterior. The base materials, limestone and ironspot brick, are consistent with the material palette used across the campus. "This has been an incredibly complex project at almost every step of the way," says Browne. "A three-storey west wing was built in the 1990s designed to accommodate three additional concrete floors. Major changes to the building code in 2005 made the three floor expansion unfeasible because it wouldn't meet the new seismic requirements." In order to stay within the client's budget, the key structural engineering challenge was to find a way to avoid any seismic upgrading of the existing three-storey concrete structure, notes Arnold. "The solution was to use ductile steel moment frames as the lateral load resistance system for the vertical expansion," says Arnold. "The capacity of the ductile steel moment frames was able to be carefully engineered such that the C MacOdrum Library p96-97MacOdrum.indd 97 seismic impact of the vertical steel addition was kept within the capacity limits of the existing concrete structure." Without cross bracing, the column and beam structure is able to dissipate the energy created by an earthquake, says Browne. The original penthouse could not be significantly expanded to accommodate the new air handling equipment because of limitations imposed by the building code, says Dennis Dawe, mechanical engineer at Chorley + Bisset Ltd. Consulting Engineers. "A major expansion of the penthouse would have required expensive seismic reinforcing of the existing structure," says Dawe. "Existing air handling equipment was modified and new air handling equipment was installed in large outdoor air plenums to minimize the use of rooftop equipment. Unfortunately, return fans had to be roof-mounted, however, the design allows for the eventual relocation of return fans into the mechanical penthouse as part of a future phase of the building upgrades." The front addition structure required the addition of columns through the original 13.8kV substation servicing the library, says Dawe. "Before construction of the addition could commence, the substation was relocated and the existing building temporarily backfed," says Jeff Prevett, electrical engineer at Chorley + Bisset. "Electrical sub-metering has been installed to allow the owner to track electrical consumption of mechanical, lighting and other building loads. Existing electrical distribution in the building was upgraded to facilitate additional sub metering." With the exception of service spaces, all lighting throughout the building will be dimmable through the building automation system, says Prevett. "In open areas of the library, the entire area is dimmed while unoccupied and brightened while occupied through use of sensors," says Prevett. "Luminaries parallel to book stacks are equipped with occupancy sensors. Luminaries near windows have daylight sensors. Luminaries with induction lamp sources were selected for use in the two-storey reading area at the front of the library. MR16 LED downlights were used throughout the space for accent lighting." The project has presented numerous challenges, including dealing with a substantial asbestos abatement program midstream which slowed down the momentum of construction, says Fleming. "The library is located in a very busy part of the existing campus, which means that phasing and sequencing of the work has been imperative to mitigate disruption to daily campus activities," says Fleming. Close proximity of the library to neighbouring buildings and property lines was also taken into consideration with site spacial constraints and limited area for material storage, says Fleming. Building a two floor expansion on top of the existing library and keeping the weather tightness of the building was challenging, says Olivier VaudrinCharette, project manager at Pomerleau Inc. "This was especially challenging when we erected the new structural steel as we needed to penetrate the roofing system and the roof slab to connect to the existing steel structure," says Vaudrin-Charette. "We built temporary boxes around the columns to maintain the weather tightness while the new roof was being constructed, allowing the operation of the existing building at all times." To build the five-storey addition at the front of the building, it was necessary to demolish the entire basement and support the first floor slab in order to excavate and pour a footing to support the new structure, says VaudrinCharette. "We had to install substantial shoring in the basement to support the equipment required for the structural steel installation," says Vaudrin-Charette. "We had to install several structural beams in two existing plenum chambers servicing the entire building." When completed in August, this project will greatly improve and expand student space, better support the programs and services provided by library staff and enhance the activities and collections currently located within the building, says Boyce. n Location 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario Owner Carleton University Project Manager Turner & Townsend cm2r Architect Diamond Schmitt Architects and Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates Architects General Contractor Pomerleau Inc. Structural Consultant Halsall Associates Ltd Mechanical/ Electrical Consultant Chorley + Bisset Ltd. Consulting Engineers Total Area 60,000 square feet of additions plus renovations to 25 per cent of existing building Total Cost $24.5 million april 2013 /97 13-04-05 2:30 PM