Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/178290
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN a challenge since the 1960s wings had a shallow loor-to- loor ratio: as short as 12 feet, save for one loor that was 18 feet tall. "But that turned into a visual point of interest after the wings were linked at two loor levels and the remainder by half- lights of stairs and elevators around the atria, using mostly a two- loor-toone-and-a-half ratio," says Henry. Ground broke on the project in 2008, and the uncovering of large bell piles on the north side of the site following the demolition of an old annex proved to be another advantage to the project – this time for the Genivar structural consultancy team. That's because although the piles were too cumbersome to extract, they were integrated into the new structural design. "It was a unique solution, plus, considering we were designing to LEED Silver standards, it was a sustainable one as well," says Henry. A sequenced approach to D Wing's development was necessary due to the scale of the project and the infrastructure changes required; this resulted in some components being inished while others were in progress and still others were in the design phase (temporary space was leased for the biomedical researchers and animal facilities that were displaced during construction). About 18,500 square feet of Tyndall stone and 35,800 square feet of dolomite limestone were used on D Wing, and extra care was taken (right down to the pitching techniques) to match the new stone with the original random ashlar pattern split-faced dolomite limestone on the original 1948 A Wing. Gracom Masonry spent two winters splitting and dressing the dolomite; Gillis Quarries quarried and cut the Tyndall stone accents and panels. Andy Heiber, a senior estimator for Graham, used OnScreen Takeoff on the entire concrete portion of the project ADDRESS 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon, Saskatchewan OWNER/DEVELOPER University of Saskatchewan PROJECT MANAGER VCM Contractors and Engineers ARCHITECT HDH Architects ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT Flad Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR Graham Construction STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Genivar MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Stantec ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Hemisphere Engineering LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Crosby Hanna & Associates TOTAL SIZE 179,500 square feet TOTAL COST $157 million (valued at approximately $10 million). The digital software allowed Heiber to complete the concrete takeoff "with virtually no errors." He adds that On-Screen Takeoff helped him "provide a level of con idence to his estimating team that the whole job was taken off completely and accurately." As for the LEED Silver designation, Cruikshank remarks, "It was an accumulation of a lot of points in different areas – such as recycling material and sourcing locally – that allowed us to pursue the Silver designation." Because two levels of basement extend beyond D Wing's footprint in some areas, there was an opportunity for the development of a surfacelevel green 'roof.' "The roof is unlike other green roofs at the university in that it's a modular system that is inserted into the site, with plants that are carefully managed rather than being allowed to grow haphazardly," says Henry. As of February, Cruikshank was expecting D Wing to open within a few months. He's also presiding over construction of E Wing, which is scheduled for completion next year. "We're extremely happy with the outcome of D Wing: it was a project marked by great working relationships," he says. "Considering that unrelated past projects that were much smaller than this one posed considerably greater challenges, we're proud to say that D Wing will come in on time and on budget." ■ PRIME CONSULTANT Congratulations to the University of Saskatchewan on the Academic Health Sciences D Wing ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Academic Health Sciences D Wing – University of Saskatchewan p.64-67D-Wing Sask.indd 67 MECHANICAL CONSULTANT ELECTRICAL CONSULTANTS APRIL 2012 /67 3/26/12 2:33:46 PM