Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/177297
photos courtesy University of Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences – E Wing – University of Saskatchewan by Bill Armstrong he latest addition to the Academic Health Sciences building at the University of Saskatchewan is one of the most visible projects on campus, so getting the building's 'look' right was an important part of the planning process. The U of S campus is recognized for the distinctive collegiate gothic style of its core buildings, particularly those seen by passers-by on College Drive. Blending in modern influences with the collegiate gothic look was both a challenge and an opportunity, says architect Reg Squires of Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture. E Wing features two distinct sections that showcase the unique marriage of old and new: a threestorey arm with a modern look, and a four-storey arm in the collegiate gothic style that is common through the campus. "E Wing is positioned between a wing of the Royal University Hospital and AHS A Wing, both of which are collegiate gothic, and the College of Dentistry, which uses some of the same materials, but is a unique architectural statement," Squires explains. "E Wing uses random coursed field stone and cut Tyndall stone detailing with proportions relating to the collegiate gothic architecture found in the core of the campus, along with more contemporary materials such as aluminum composite panels and glass curtainwall systems to create contextual harmony between the different styles." Squires adds that interfacing with existing structures enabled the design of very interesting spaces that would not have been possible without those constraints. In this instance, the design took the existing exterior pedestrian circulation patterns among three buildings and evolved them into a 'multi-level circulation knuckle' that brings inside the exterior surfaces of the existing collegiate gothic buildings and the defining walls. Introducing a glass curtain wall, Squires adds, bathes the large atrium area in daylight. "The day-lit atrium is the design element that stands out," Squires notes. "It has incredible scale and texture that gives you the feeling of being outside. The entire west facade of the Dental College building is encapsulated in the atrium. We used a lot of reclaimed stone from the building that was on the site to provide students and staff with a sense of being on a street, achieved with materiality, detail and form." Squires adds that the four-storey atrium is the focus of a strong circulation spine that accommodates movement throughout the building, accommodating crush space outside the 500-seat theatre, and spaces for casual interactions, study, and what he describes as 'intellectual collisions.' An acoustic wall paneling system used in the atrium is proportioned to reinforce the street-like scale of the space, and a ceiling acoustic screen and media system will dampen the noise, T Academic Health Sciences – E Wing p84-85Health Sciences E Wing.indd 85 allowing different activities to co-exist. "In a climate as harsh as Saskatoon's," Squires observes, "this space will provide a delightful respite from the cold in the dead of winter." As Squires notes, the AHS E Wing project began with the demolition of an existing three-storey medical research building and underground MRI facility. Salvaging and reusing materials was one of several strategies used to pursue LEED Gold certification, notes Shaun Gardner, project manager for the general contractor, PCL Construction Management Inc. The demolition and the erection of a new concrete and steel structure coincided with one of the wettest construction seasons (2010) in Saskatchewan in recent memory. By bringing in extra workers and equipment, PCL was able to maintain the schedule. At its peak, the PCL and sub-contractor workforce was about 175. "The excessive moisture challenged the construction of the concrete structure, but we were able to complete it and keep the project on schedule," says Gardner. E Wing is the latest phase in the Academic Health Sciences project, which has become the largest capital building project in the history of the U of S. By connecting with portions of the Royal University Hospital, the College of Dentistry and A Wing of the Academic Health Sciences building, the complex encompasses health-care education, research and practice, and creates a landmark presence for Health Sciences on campus. E Wing is about 258,000 square feet, with a basement parkade and four storeys above grade. It includes the 500-seat theatre (the largest on campus), the 125-seat lecture theatre and the Health Sciences Library. In addition, a Clinical Learning Resource Centre will offer examination rooms, procedure labs, a simulation suite and associated breakout rooms where students will practice and enhance their patient-care skills. The collegiate gothic area will house more than 150 offices, and shared research and student spaces. E Wing incorporates other energy-efficiency strategies aimed at LEED Gold certification. Well-insulated mass masonry walls with a reasonably low fenestration ratio, Squires notes, minimize heat loss and gain. The window and curtain wall systems use high-performance framing and triple glazing with warm edge spacers to contribute to energy efficiency. The HVAC system is a dedicated outdoor air system where all exhaust air passes through a heat recovery wheel that tempers the incoming fresh air stream. It allows for low energy use, while achieving individual temperature control in different spaces. The mechanical controls monitor the lighting occupancy system, enabling the HVAC system to adjust to changing occupancy numbers during the day. A solar system provides domestic hot water for the building. Because E Wing serves as a gateway to the campus, landscape architect Rob Crosby of Crosby Hanna & Associates and his design team worked to strengthen this aspect of the complex in their work, also considering the project within the context of the broader campus setting, including providing flexibility to accommodate potential future development in this area of the campus. Crosby notes that the planting design considers the experience of passers-by as well as those working in the building. The Crosby Hanna team chose a very broad pallet of native and adapted plants, including deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. "We used this broad palette to highlight key areas of the site and to provide seasonal interest throughout the year," Crosby says. ■ Location College Drive and Wiggins Avenue Saskatoon, Sask. Owner/Developer University of Saskatchewan Project Manager VCM Contractors and Engineers Ltd. Architect Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture General Contractor PCL Construction Management Inc. Structural Consultant Robb Kullman Engineering Mechanical Consultant Daniels Wingerak Engineering Electrical Consultant Ritenburg & Associates Ltd. Fire Protection Consultant Affinity Firestop Consultants Landscape Consultant Crosby Hanna & Associates Total area 258,000 square feet Construction cost $83.5 million december 2012 /85 11/16/12 3:48 PM