Award

March 2021

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M A R C H 2 0 2 1 | 73 Student Residence Development – Phase 1 – Simon Fraser University R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E SY D I A LO G STUDENT RESIDENCE DEVELOPMENT – PHASE 1 – SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY by NATALIE BRUCKNER T here's excitement in the air up at Simon Fraser University's (SFU) Burnaby campus as the first phase of an incredibly impressive five- phase campus master plan quickly heads towards completion. The first phase – the Student Residence Development that con- sists of a seven-storey and eight-storey tower located on the former Louis Riel Residence site – is part of the SFU Burnaby 2065 Campus Master Plan that was adopted by SFU's Board of Governors back in 2020 to act as the guiding document for future devel- opment on the Burnaby campus. The plan demonstrates SFU's commitment to enhance the student experience, respect Indigenous peoples and cul- tures, create vibrant campus spaces, and act as a model of sustainability. As the first development in the 2065 plan, it was essential that the Residence Buildings for first year students would set the tone for the future direction of the campus. A highly skilled team was therefore required (that included SFU and its many stakeholders, Dialog, and Scott Construction) who would understand what it takes to provide safe, comfort- able, and attractive housing with the flexibility to accommodate students of varying abilities, cultural, and life- style requirements. Early on in the process, the team took part in extensive research to ensure the design of the residence buildings would meet the require- ments of all users today and would also stand the test of time, while respectfully acknowledging the tra- ditional Coast Salish Lands including the Tsleil-Waututh, Kwikwetlem, Squamish, and Musqueam Nations on whose traditional territories the Burnaby campus resides. "We toured various universi- ties, including the University of Washington in Seattle, where we saw great examples of contemporary resi- dence buildings that were developed to not only ensure students feel at home, comfortable, and safe, but that created extensive social opportunities. The success of any residence experi- ence depends on creating those social experiences. This became the focus for the new residence buildings," explains George Venini, senior project manager at Simon Fraser University. Dialog, led by principles Norm Hotson (now retired) and Marion LaRue, alongside Pauline Thimm and the team, were given licence from the get-go to explore and reimagine the space. "The expectation of student residences has changed dramati- cally over the years. We wanted to pay respect to the 1960s' Arthur Erickson philosophy behind the campus, while creating comfortable spaces for living and promoting health and wellness. It was an opportunity to provide ameni- ties for the entire campus that spoke to the Erickson idea of everyone col- liding; all these factors fed into the orientation of the two u-shaped build- ings," explains Thimm. It was decided that the buildings would enhance this contrast of the 'urban' character in the residence courtyards and the 'natural' character of the mountain landscape within the connecting green corridors. Following Erickson's initial vision of SFU, the green fingers of landscape that inter- sect the site help strengthen this overall vision. Being located on a slightly sloped site meant the two towers would vary in height, as Simon Down, project director at Scott Construction Group explains: "There is a slight drop in elevation of about five metres, which meant one tower would sit at seven-storeys, while the other would be eight-storeys. We were fortunate in that the ground con- dition was better than the geotechnical report stated, so the superintendent managed to negate a lot of the shot- crete shoring and save time." For the exterior it was decided that the buildings would consist of rein- forced concrete with the envelope system being a combination of brick facade on the south, east, and west elevations, with strategic placement of steel ledges, composite metal clad- ding, punched windows, and metal panels on the inside of the courtyards. The concept for the treatment of the base is a transparent, lighter volume clad in curtain wall and punctu- ated with solid material such as metal panel (pre-patinated copper). "We went with white brick on the exterior to add brightness and reflect the sun, and we landed on copper, a theme that continues inside the building, as a mark of respect to the traditions of the Indigenous peoples," says Thimm. The entrances to the buildings, which resemble pop-out portals, are found on the north side, within the beautiful courtyards and take you into a space that has a real 'wow' factor. "We toured some newer residences at UBC and we were quite taken with the student lounges, which influenced the design inside. The phase one res- idence lounges are double height and each lounge connects two floors together. They are quite spectacular spaces with high ceilings, amazing views, and lots of access to natural light. The lounges create circulation as they are connected to the stairwell LOCATION Simon Fraser University, University Drive, Burnaby, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER Simon Fraser University ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN DIALOG CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Scott Construction Group STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT RJC Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT AME Consulting Group ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT AES Engineering L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. TOTAL SIZE 178,700 square feet TOTAL COST $75 million 9:22 AM

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