Award

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 61 ALIGN – University of Manitoba R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y C A M P US SU I T E S ALIGN – UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA by ROBIN BRUNET W hen the Campus Suites and Architects + Research + Knowledge Inc. (ARK) were developing The Arc student resi- dences for the University of Manitoba (U of M) some years back, the consen- sus was that although the gracefully curved structure represented a gate- way to the campus, a second residence would truly complete the effect – as well as bring more much-needed housing to U of M. Enter Align. Align is a 16-storey, 554-bed mixed-use student-oriented hous- ing community located next to its sister property, The Arc. The suite- style units feature contemporary furniture and a kitchen or kitchen- ette. The fully amenitized building fulfils socialization, fitness, and func- tional needs with spacious lounges, a resort-quality gym, and multiple commercial businesses. There is also a communal kitchen for larger get- togethers, and underground parking. The need for Align is identical to that of The Arc: up until recently, the University had the lowest num- ber of on-campus housing of all the large Canadian universities, but its domestic and international student enrolment rate is steadily increasing. Josh Morton, VP of Campus Suites, says, "While we were building The Arc we used a former Subaru dealership on acreage next door as our construction office, and we hoped the owner would sell that land so we could proceed with Align – about three years ago, the own- ers told us they wanted to participate." Guela Solow, managing partner at ARK, says, "We and Campus Suites wanted Align to have similarities with The Arc but also be distinc- tive in its own right. The synergy of the two buildings is derived from the fact they are both 16-storeys tall and define the street edge with transpar- ency, plus they share black and white cladding with similar patterning. Inside, we used colour as wayfinding. "The differences, apart from Align having a double rectangular form instead of The Arc's curve, are that the amenities spaces for the former are on the top floor instead of on the second, as is the case of the latter." This contributed to fulfilling Align's goal of reimagining student living. "Whether working out in the gym or sitting in the lounge, people have clear views of the entire cam- pus and surrounding region," Morton says. "The suites and layout are also different than those of The Arc, which had to adapt to the building's curve. Align contains one-, two-, and four- bedroom suites with more bed-bath parity, and frankly I think our four- bedroom four-bathroom units are the best units we've ever done." Christophe Gauthier, partner at ARK, discusses other elements that reimagine student living and contrib- ute to Solow's aim to foster a sense of community within the building. "We designed every floor to have a cen- tral study room: a common area with writeable walls, visible to everybody thanks to it being enclosed by glass." Contributing to the objective of creat- ing a spacious ambiance were Align's windows: "They are a large 1.8 by 2.2 metres and operable," Gauthier says. LOCATION 2537 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg, Manitoba OWNER /DEVELOPER Campus Suites / Woodbourne Capital PROJECT MANAGER Ferguson Gunn Consulting ARCHITECT Architects + Research + Knowledge Inc. (ARK) GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Bockstael Construction STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT RJC Engineers MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Epp Siepman Engineering Inc. CIVIL CONSULTANT Sison Blackburn Consulting Inc. L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Scatliff + Miller + Murray TOTAL SIZE 230,400 square feet TOTAL COST $108,400,000

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