Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/292860
The Old Main Building – Thompson Rivers University by Stacey McLachlan A t the confluence of two branch- es of the Thompson River in the heart of B.C., Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is laying down the law. In 2009, TRU introduced Canada's first new law school in 30 years. The demand for the program has outstripped the available space. This past September saw an increase of 100 students join the faculty, with an estimated growth of around 350 over the next few years. To house the booming program without creating campus sprawl, TRU adopted a vertical solution. The two-storey Old Main Building was tapped for a 44,000-square-foot, density-friendly two-storey expansion. Construction began in May 2012 and today, extensive reconstruction to the exterior of the building and the addi- tion of a third and fourth floor make the 1970's structure virtually unrec- ognizable. But adapting an old build- ing to modern standards added a layer of complication to the proceedings. "Existing foundation and lateral capaci- ties nearly prevented using the exist- ing roof as the new third floor level," explains Ian Boyle, structural engineer for Fast + Epp. "Wood was introduced as a means to reduce the weight and lateral impact to the base building, as well as create a warm and inviting esthetic for the Law School addition." The founda- tion worked well with the new light- weight structure, once the lower two levels were upgraded with cast-in-place concrete shear walls. The goal was to create not just a space for students, but an iconic build- ing to help brand TRU. To find the right vision, the universit y opened up a competition to attract designers. "Running a design competition is not a common approach in Canada," says Prashant Pandit, project manager at PPM Consulting. "It was a monumental challenge to build on the old building, though. We needed to find the right idea that would allow us to reinforce existing columns." The experimental method paid off: the award-winning team of Diamond Schmitt Architects and Stantec Architecture pitched a win- ning design to revolutionize the campus. "We wanted to relate to the land- scape," ex plains Walton Chan of Diamond Schmitt Architects. It's easy to see a resemblance between the sinuous rooftop and the same rolling Kamloops hills captured by Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson in his painting, Mount Paul. A desert-inspired palette of browns and ochre was used for the rooftop and cement board cladding added to the lower floors to pay homage to the school's surroundings. "It's the colour of mountain brush," says Chan. Glulam prefabricated roof panels and a cedar overhang, both sustainable B.C. woods, also reference the location. The roof is already an icon in the area. "I've seen local skateboarders looking up at the roofline with envy," jokes Brian Christianson, principal at Stantec Architecture. The twin moun- tains that inspired the building's silhou- ette, Mount Peter and Mount Paul, are sacred to local First Nations bands, but the curvature of the roof has a practical purpose too, unifying the east and west wings of the new floors and covering the existing penthouse block at the centre of the building. Inside, space has been carved out for law students specifically – a law library, law clinic and moot court – but the Old Main Building will host additional administrative offices and various other faculties' needs as well with a slew of lecture rooms, classrooms, multipur- pose rooms and offices. The acoustics in the classroom have been designed to accommodate modern teaching methods. "Traditionally, classrooms are designed for lecturers to be heard by students, not the other way around. These spaces allow for back-and-forth discussion," explains Chan. Though the building isn't LEED certified, it is LEED compliant. "Every- thing from mechanical and electrical systems to the materials and finishes were selected for their sustainability," says Christianson. Sustainable elements include 40 per cent glazing, a highly- insulated envelope and a reflective roof membrane. Because school was still in session when the project began construction, the first few months of work were done while the building was in operation. Phase one featured a seismic upgrade and the addition of one storey and the mezzanine shell, while the second phase dealt with the interior. The summer, though, brought its own challenges. "We opened the existing roof in July to start construction and it rained more than it had in 70 years!" Pandit says. Massive f loods caused $2 million in damage. "Suddenly we had another project to refinish the school before it opened again in September." Twelve-foot-w ide prefabr icated panels from StructureCraft Builders helped make installing 42,000 square feet of roof panels in just a few short weeks a possibility, thanks to a few adjustments. "The panels were initially intended to be C-shaped steel beams with solid wood decking bet ween, but transitioned to wood beam, joist and plywood once a cost savings was offered," says Boyle. A Rhino model facilitated the coordination between architect, engineer and fabricator to ensure the desired effect. The struggles the team faced, how- ever, are well worth it. "Beautiful buildings don't come without grief," laughs Pandit. Though it's only been open since January, the Old Main is already setting a high standard for the campus' future. "It sets the tone for the quality of future buildings on campus and demonstrates how existing build- ings can be repurposed in a sustainable manner," says Christianson. Stantec Architecture has created a master plan for TRU that expands on the lessons learned from this project. "This plan could guide growth of the campus over the next 60 years. It takes a commuter campus and develops into a vibrant sustainable university village with high-quality academic, research and mixed-use buildings." The future of B.C. law, and of Thompson Rivers University, looks bright. n LOCATION 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Thompson Rivers University PROJECT MANAGER PPM Consulting Ltd. ARCHITECT Diamond Schmitt Architects ARCHITECT/MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Stantec Architecture GENERAL CONTRACTOR Yellowridge Construction Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp TOTAL AREA 44,412 square foot addition TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $22 million Photos from left to right: A new entrance and glass elevator tower have been added to the north side of Old Main; the curved ceiling of acoustic planks flows from the reading room into the atrium beyond; at night, the roof appears to float above the curtain wall facade. Photos: Tom Arban. Courtesy Diamond Schmitt Architects. April 2014 /41 The Old Main Building – Thompson rivers University Do you have a project of interest to our readers? If you would like your project to be considered for a future issue of Award, please email: Dan Chapman, Publisher dchapman@canadawide.com AWD Project Filler 1/16 v. gs AWD Project Filler 1-16v. gs 6/3/08 3:22 PM Page 1 p40-41Old Main Building TRU.indd 41 14-04-02 4:53 PM