Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/423872
Library and Learning Commons – Canadian Mennonite University by Peter Caulfield courtesy canadian Mennonite university T he Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is close to completing its new $14.4-million Library and Learning Commons on the Shaftesbury campus of the small Christian university in south- west Winnipeg. The project, which be- gan construction in July 2013, is slated to be finished before the end of 2014. Bruce Pauls, architect with ft3 Archi- tecture Landscape Interior Design, says the Library and Learning Commons will become the new hub of the university. "It's strategically located at the geo- graphic centre of the campus," Pauls says. "It's the first installment in a mas- ter plan for further development that will establish a traditional academic quadrangle on the north campus." The CMU is located between the sub- urb of Tuxedo and Assiniboine Forest, one of Canada's largest urban nature parks. The campus comprises buildings on the north and south sides of Grant Avenue, a busy four-lane thoroughfare. Pauls says the university wanted the Library and Learning Commons to fit in with the Founders Hall, one of the campus's most prominent build- ings. "The university was unanimous in the opinion that the new library should be a complementary structure and pre- serve views of the old building," says Pauls. "The Library and Learning Com- mons' closest neighbour on campus is Founders Hall, the former Manitoba School for the Deaf and a fine example of Collegiate Gothic Architecture." Pauls adds that the use of native Man- itoba Tyndall stone on the new building provides a visual link to its historic precedent. "In addition, building pro- portions were carefully considered and re-introduced in modernized facades of stone and glass," he says. The t wo-storey, 31,600-square- foot library contains an information commons to facilitate structured and informal learning in community, small group and individual settings. "The Learning Commons is an extended function of today 's librar y," Pauls says. "In addition to the traditional purpose of storing written volumes, it offers a f lexible learning environ- ment that will make it relevant in the digital age, with seminar spaces for structured learning and more casual, lounge-type settings for informal indi- vidual study or group collaboration." The university expects the Learning Commons, which houses an informal coffee bar, will become a public space that will be used by students, faculty and the surrounding neighbourhood. "Ample glazing allows the Commons to continue beyond the walls of the building, into a landscaped environment with outdoor seating," Pauls says. From the Upper Commons on the sec- ond floor, a covered pedestrian bridge provides a protected link to the South Campus across Grant Avenue. "The bridge is an integral part of the campus master site plan, which calls for a 'Main Street' walkway that connects campus buildings on both north and south sides of the campus," says Pauls. The bridge serves a number of use- ful purposes. It provides an accessible, safe route across a major thoroughfare for everyone, especially those with physical challenges. The bridge is also a highly visible landmark, signalling the presence of CMU in Winnipeg. And, last but not least, it mitigates the impact of Winnipeg's harsh climate. Pauls says spanning a busy thor- oughfare presented the project team with an obvious challenge. "In addition, there was considerable dialogue regard- ing the best placement of the bridge, to ensure that it would be used by the stu- dents as a safe alternative to running across Grant Avenue," he says. Pierre Laurin, VP, general contractor Concord Projects Ltd., says erecting the pedestrian bridge over Grant Avenue while allowing the traffic to continue to flow presented his company with its biggest challenge on the project. Grant Avenue has four lanes, two east and two west. "We rented the two westbound lanes first, which allowed for two-way traffic on the eastbound lanes, and erected one of the bridges, complete with all exterior finishes," says Laurin. "We then demobilized from the westbound lane and rented the east- bound lanes to erect and complete the second section of bridge. We have a history of working for the university, and in beginning of the project Concord acted as construction managers, to help with budgeting. After that the company became the general contractor." David Epp, principal of Winnipeg- based Epp Siepman Engineering Inc., says the bridge also presented the mechanical engineers with a number of challenges. "The bridge has elevators on both the north and south sides, has full heating and air conditioning, and glass exposure on all sides," Epp says. As the mechanical engineer of record on the project, Epp worked with the architects on the conceptual design for the heating and cooling systems of the project. As the project moved into design phase, Epp Siepman Engineer- ing continued with the design of all mechanical systems, taking into con- sideration energy efficiency and water- saving considerations. "We needed to design an energy- efficient system on a tight budget for an institution that expects the building to last for a long time," Epp explains. "That required specifying easy-to-maintain mechanical systems, and systems that could fit into tight spaces. Space alloca- tion required us to place some mechani- cal units on the roof of the library." The high number of glazed walls in the building meant it was vulnerable to heat loss. "To mitigate against heat loss we installed perimeter radiation heat- ing and an air supply system that pro- vides for air movement across window planes," Epp says. Other energy-effi- ciency features include an 88 per cent efficient ventilation heat recovery sys- tem, a reverse-flow heat exchanger on the rooftop, a high-efficiency condens- ing boiler and variable-speed pumps on water-saving low-flow toilets. Ken Isaak, par t ner w it h Win- nipeg-based MC W/AGE Consult ing Professional Engineers, says the biggest challenge his company faced was also its greatest opportunity. "The universit y utilizes its own medium voltage power transformers," Isaak says. "That required a high degree of co-ordination between ourselves and Manitoba Hydro, but the result provides reduced energy costs for the owner and the electrical infrastructure provides for future expansion opportunities." Isaak also notes, "The specific campus layout with significant distances between existing buildings and this new structure, and the fact the this new structure's location compromised existing communication pathways, [meant] the requirement for a new communication fibre link was another opportunity to co-ordinate with our client and [understand] existing con- ditions to provide an efficient cost appropriate solution." He adds, "A commitment of the firm to reduce the environmental footprint of all our clients was supported by the use of several energy efficient lighting technologies, including the use of LED, T5HO and T8 lighting technologies." n Address 500 Shaftesbury Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba Owner/develOper Canadian Mennonite University prOject MAnAger Froese Construction Management Architect ft3 Architecture Landscape Interior Design generAl cOntrActOr Concord Projects Ltd. structurAl cOnsultAnt Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd. MechAnicAl cOnsultAnt Epp Siepman Engineering Inc. electricAl cOnsultAnt MCW/AGE Consulting Professional Engineers size 31,600 square feet cOst $14.4 million december 2014 /69 Library and Learning commons – canadian mennonite University