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M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 67 McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery – McMaster University R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y S W EEN Y&CO A RC H I T EC T S McLEAN CENTRE FOR COLLABORATIVE DISCOVERY – MCMASTER UNIVERSITY by JESSICA KIRBY T he McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery is a new 10-storey, 190,000-square-foot expansion of the existing DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University in Hamilton. But it is not just a place to teach and learn about business; it is an inviting, collabora- tive space that gathers learners from across disciplines to connect and breathe life into innovative ideas. "With a foundational gift from the McLean family, we will be transform- ing the scope and practice of business education with this new, purpose- built space on campus," says Debbie Martin, chief facilities officer and assistant VP at McMaster University. "The aim of this new facility is simple: it represents the future of learning, collaboration, and engaging with internal and external communities." "The space is about that collision and collaboration of not just stu- dents within the DeGroote School of Business, but also being able to find ways to collaborate with other faculties," says David Copeland, asso- ciate with Sweeny&Co Architects. "Although the building is mainly for the business school, each of the other uses in the building has been care- fully selected to be consistent with the overarching philosophy." To begin the project, the construc- tion team demolished an existing two-storey structure adjacent to the DeGroote School of Business and are replacing it with the new building. Leanne Stephenson, project man- ager with Buttcon Ltd., says the demolition had to minimize disrup- tion to ongoing activity and services, including heating and cooling fed underground from a central plant to the entire campus. "Some of those services ran through our excavation, including live steam and sanitary lines," Stephenson says. "The schedule also had to be sea- sonal to tie into the chilled water and steam, which has been a challenge to work around and co-ordinate." The new structure is constructed of concrete to level one with a concrete core to level 10, and the balance of the structure from level two to level 10 is structural steel framing with slab on deck. The exterior is predominantly curtain wall with integrated stone on three sides, and on the south side is a 3D metal panel system. An exterior highlight is the saw- tooth wall – a section of curtain wall on the east face that zigzags in an eye- catching pattern to reflect light. "The east is the primary elevation with overhangs at the sidewalk that provide LOCATION McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario OWNER McMaster University ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN Sweeny&Co Architects GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Buttcon Ltd. STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT RJC Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT The Mitchell Partnership ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Mulvey & Banani L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT NAK Design Group TOTAL SIZE 190,000 square feet CONSTRUCTION BUDGET $107 million

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