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86 | J U N E 2 0 2 4 Wawanesa Insurance – True North Square P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y WAWA N E SA I N SU R A N C E WAWANESA INSURANCE – TRUE NORTH SQUARE by JESSICA KIRBY T rue North Square – an iconic mixed-use development in the heart of Winnipeg's bur- geoning downtown – brings together working, living, socializing, and gath- ering in a 1.5-million square foot footprint in the city's sports hospi- tality and entertainment district. The project's three towers comprise residential, commercial, and office space, including 375,000 square feet for Wawanesa Insurance, Canada's largest mutual insurer founded in Manitoba in 1896, and the sole tenant in the development's latest building. True North Real Estate Development's president, Jim Ludlow, says both True North Real Estate Development and Wawanesa brought unique and complemen- tary perspectives to this project. "Together, we had an opportunity to hit several important and mean- ingful notes that would resonate for owner and tenant and for Winnipeg's downtown and the broader com- munity," he says. "Our shared vision centred around bringing life, den- sity, and activity downtown. We wanted to enhance connectivity; set a new standard of employee-centric design, amenities, and architectural excellence; and create a new cata- lyst for the continued growth and vibrancy of Winnipeg's core through a state-of-the-art and uniquely Manitoban office tower that would add to Wawanesa's rich history and legacy, and to the legacy of our city." Early design studies between Architecture49, True North Real Estate Development, and Wawanesa established the aspirational goals for the design – aspirations that had to balance the design visions of two very different organizations. "We quickly understood that a common theme in our design dis- cussions was the importance of community and how the design of a national headquarters could also reflect an organization's external connection to the city and country, while still paying homage to their place of origin – the community of Wawanesa," says Michael Conway, architect with Architecture49. The river and valley as an arche- typal prairie form that defines the location and physical shape of the Wawanesa community was a start- ing point for the design. That an abstracted valley and Souris River could be used as ordering design principles for the building was a poetic idea that resonated with both Wawanesa and True North. "This is represented architectur- ally by the inward tilting of the façade and the linear 'river' that winds up and around to sculpt each of the major public common areas, both external and internal," Conway says. "Our design intent was to speak to the pow- erful interconnection between people and place: the sense of shared expe- riences and of mutual reliance." The river and its geometric res- olution required careful technical consideration of both the structural and envelope design. "The shift- ing planes of the facades required careful detailing and co-ordina- tion between disciplines as well as trades, to ensure a tight and continu- ous envelope that met the stringent energy performance targets that were set for the project," Conway says. "Aesthetically, the glazing subtly changes to a high-visibility, low-iron glass at each interior and exterior 'pocket park' – the common areas within the building – signifying the narrative importance of these spaces externally, but also improving views and daylight penetration internally." The project's environmen- tal program began with siting in at a reclaimed brownfield location within a dense urban context, mak- ing it walkable with direct access to amenities, public transit, bike storage, and charging for electric vehicles. The project was built to LEED Gold Core & Shell certifica- tion and WELL v2 Gold Interiors certification – together creating a bal- anced approach to sustainability. The curtain wall system was designed to optimize energy per- formance of the high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems. "We were also strategic in the place- ment of internal functions to balance energy use with employee wellness, by optimizing the floorplates to bene- fit from light and views," Conway says. "Areas with less potential for access to daylight and views were selected for mechanical spaces and opaque facades with higher insulative value, for an overall blended energy response." The project was moving into schematic design at the start of the global pandemic. Envisioning a post- pandemic workplace resulted in provisions for resilience and flexibil- ity, such as a full wellness centre with massage rooms, exercise equipment and a fitness studio, as well as rooms for faith-based worship (including foot baths), quiet rooms for neurodi- vergent staff, generous collaborative spaces, a balance of gendered and gender-neutral washrooms, and childcare spaces that are on the way. "Out of this, the Wawanesa build- ing became a symbol of rebuilding healthy communities at all scales, offering tangible solutions that respond to now endemic challenges in the contemporary workplace," Conway says. "It was designed to promote true work/life balance, inclusion and

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