Award

December 2021

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70 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 Eagle Builders Centre EAGLE BUILDERS CENTRE by PETER STENNING T he Blackfalds Multi-Plex Expansion (formally named the Eagle Builders Centre in the summer of 2020) began with the intent to create a second ice surface for the Alberta community of just over 11,000 and morphed to accommodate a new library in a facility that is now being called one of the most antici- pated builds of its kind. Sean Barnes, director of commu- nity services at the Town of Blackfalds, says a second ice surface was first dis- cussed in 2015 when minor hockey was on the rise and Blackfalds sports teams were being turned away from the com- munity's at-capacity existing arena. The project kicked into high gear when Doug Quinn, former head coach of the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs midget hockey team, was putting together the newest Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) team and approached the Town with the idea of moving into the proposed new facility. "The joining of the AJHL team con- firmed that the 1,200 seats proposed in the original plan would be used," Barnes says. "Then the Blackfalds Library approached the Town, asking to be incorporated in the facility, as the mix of sport and arts and culture would create many synergies." Kevin Osborne, senior technologist and associate at ACI Architects, says the library provided an architectural mass- ing component at the front of the facility and wood accents were expressed throughout the interior. "We located it at the front of the building, with a main entrance leading guests either to it or the ice arena, or to a feature stair- case to the second floor concourse and seating – some of which is Loge seating for families or business groups." Links were created to access the original arena; other elements include a multi-purpose community room, outdoor patio, lease spaces for busi- nesses, and AJHL dressing room, players lounge, treatment room, and training centre. Originally it was intended for glulam beams to span the new arena's ceiling, but steel truss assemblies were chosen instead due to budget con- siderations. "With the entire ceiling painted charcoal these beams provide an elegant looking exposed structure, and the facility is augmented with stained fir features and wood slatting," Osborne says. Further ambiance was achieved by a dimmable LED lighting system that integrates with the light- ing system of Quinn's new Junior A team, the Blackfalds Bulldogs. The library was designed as an inviting open concept with traditional fixed stacks, as well as electronic media, computer friendly seating, and a feature fireplace. Natural light pene- tration was achieved by the entire east wall being glazed, and augmented by random diffused panels. A pivotal point in the Eagle Builders Centre occurred when Mark Hall, project manager at Delnor Construction Ltd., began talking with Blackfalds-based Eagle Builders, spe- cialists in what he describes as "one of the most elite precast systems I have ever come across. So much so that while the project originally stipulated a cast-in-place concrete and structural steel building, we proposed a precast structure including the bleacher seat- ing: a package deal that would help enormously in meeting everyone's goal of having the facility ready for the fall 2021 hockey season." Osborne points out that the panels incorporated some architectural cre- ativity, "in that we fenestrated them to impart the appearance of metal panels. More importantly, the panels reduced project costs and led to signif- icant efficiencies." Indeed, Hall, RJC, AECOM Canada Ltd., and Arrow Engineering worked with Eagles on 2D drawings to deter- mine penetrations and infrastructure in the panels for electrical and mechanical systems. "We determined the requirements room by room, a process that took several months and simplified construction enormously," Hall says. "We went from grade level to a full stand-up building in eight weeks, and with a roof in place by Christmas, we were able to work through the winter and largely avoid heating and hoarding." One challenge not arising from the original design came when the existing ice arena was deemed not structurally sound enough to accom- modate the additional snow loads created by the new, taller facility (which couldn't have been situated farther away due to site constraints). "So the design team, in conjunction with Grubb Engineering, developed a cantilevered roof structure to extend over the existing rink," Osborne says. "The extension benefits the new facil- ity because it's a way of controlling water drainage as well." As of October, the Eagle Builders Centre was nearing completion, and Barnes says that those who have seen the interior "are dazzled and think it's one of the most beau- tiful sports facilities in Canada. My hat is off to Blackfalds Town Council, ACI, Delnor, and the trades for this amazing project." A LOCATION 5302 Broadway Avenue, Blackfalds, Alberta OWNER /DEVELOPER Town of Blackfalds ARCHITECT ACI Architects Inc. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Delnor Construction Ltd. STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Grubb Engineering Corporation MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Arrow Engineering ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT AECOM Canada Ltd. CIVIL CONSULTANT Design Works Engineering Ltd. L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Design North Landscape Architecture Inc. TOTAL SIZE 6,425 square metres (new arena) TOTAL COST $24.6 million P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y AC I A RC H I T EC T S I N C . Milltech.indd

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