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he new addition to York University's Centre of Excellence for French-language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education at Glendon Campus is more than just another pretty glass-enclosed space. From the project's outset in 2010, a priority was to create a 'formal gateway' or stately entrance to the campus – something the 1960s campus was lacking. To accomplish that, Montrealbased architect Daoust Lestage Inc. created a parvis – a semi-enclosed roundabout made of white concrete and light-coloured pavers, explains Renee Daoust, principal of the irm. The architectural irm, which won the design contract through a competition calling for a conceptual essay, designed a building that takes advantage of the 'botanical gardens' feel of the campus – a pastoral-like setting on the edge of a ravine, she says. The architect clad the building in a re lective glass curtainwall that "re lects the quality and richness of the surrounding landscape." The interior, which features a striking bridge circling the main atrium, was designed to "maximize views outside." Facing the parvis, the new entry is de ined by a two- loor curtainwall. A third loor is set back, affording a terrace overlooking the parvis. In the main lobby is a students gathering place. The space was designed "to create as much synergy as possible," says Daoust. The building's centrepiece is a 250seat auditorium adjacent to the lobby. Suspended at one end, the auditorium is clad in white re lective tiles to mirror the outdoor surroundings. Daoust Lestage used Building Information Modelling (BIM) Revit software, which offered the client threedimensional views of the spaces during design. "BIM was very important to us," says Daoust, noting that the architectural design was done in collaboration with drawings provided by structural engineer Halsall Associates Limited. While the building might look easy enough to construct, the project presented a number of hurdles for the builder. "This was a challenging project for us and yet when you see the inished product it looks so elegant and simple," explains Andre Godin, project manager PHOTOS: PHILIP CASTLETON T Centre of Excellence for French-language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education – Glendon Campus – York University by Don Procter for general contractor Pomerleau Inc. "I guess that is the ultimate compliment to the project." Prior to starting construction in late 2010, Pomerleau had to organize a trafic plan to minimize disruption of regular activities on campus. That challenge was keeping the main entrance – near the site – fully operational. Pomerleau built a temporary pedestrian walkway and maintained ire routes surrounding the construction site to access the school and parking areas, says Godin. "Working in a live traf ic environment, we required a tremendous amount of coordination with various agencies ( ire and emergency services, for example). We were fortunate to have very patient clients who faced new traf ic directions on an almost daily basis." Equally challenging was developing a work schedule with minimal noise disruptions. Sound and ire barriers as well as temporary exits and corridors to the three- loor campus were constructed. Potentially the most 'intrusive' element to life on campus was the demolition of two stairwells enclosed in masonry at the A wing. Pomerleau organized most of the job around Christmas holidays when classes were out. Before removing the stairwells, which were engineered to laterally brace the wing, two shearwalls from basement to roof were constructed to provide lateral support. The builders had to customize equipment, including skid steer loaders with custom plates and adaptors to it into the con ined working space. "We had to anchor the equipment to the structure to prevent it from over-torquing and spinning out of control," explains Godin. The work was subcontracted to EBS Engineering and Construction. The shearwalls are anchored to 16 helical piles drilled to 38 feet below the structure's basement. Helical piles were selected over traditional piles given the space restrictions and other requirements in the basement, says Godin. Founded on 72 caissons, the new structural steel-framed building has a suspended concrete slab at grade designed for large clear-span spaces. To maintain the architect's open and airy design, the structural steel columns were speci ied to be smaller (273-millmetre diameter) than traditional columns. Reducing column size without compromising structural integrity was done using hollow structural steel round columns illed with concrete. "We found a way to cast the concrete into the columns off site to ensure a seamless erection process. It wasn't a known practice but it proved successful and we improved our productivity on the steel structure over our forecasted schedule," explains Godin. Another steel innovation was the set of 22-metre-long welded wide lange beams installed at the roof. A tricky installation, the large beams were trucked from a Quebec manufacturing plant on a series of routes, says Godin. Hangars attached to the beams hold up a portion of the auditorium, minimizing Centre of Excellence for French-language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education – Glendon Campus – York University p.76-77Glendon Centre of Excellence.indd 77 the need for support columns. "The owner and architect wanted to create bright, open spaces and this method proved to meet that objective." But the need for open spaces put Pomerleau to "a supreme test" to ind a place to it mechanical services. "It looked impossible at irst but we managed to come up with a giant tetra scheme to interlock all the mechanical equipment in a very tiny ceiling space." "It not only provides a new facility with classrooms and an amphitheatre but what one could call a stunning new face to the campus," says Richard Francki, assistant vice-president, campus services and business operations, York University. "The site had topographical and space challenges, and because construction was at the front door to the campus it had logistical issues such as traf ic control and parking. There were a lot of technical and operational challenges but nothing that proved to be a show-stopper." ■ LOCATION 2275 Bayview Avenue Toronto, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER York University ARCHITECT Daoust Lestage Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Pomerleau Inc. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Halsall Associates Limited MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Crossey Engineering Ltd. TOTAL AREA 45, 000 square feet (new) 9,200 square feet (renovated) 2,400 square feet (demolished) TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $21.5 million JUNE 2012 /77 5/25/12 1:03:53 PM

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