Award

august 2015 | 89 Energy Centre – Lakeland College photography courtesy stantec Energy Centre – Lakeland College by robin brunet H ow do you make power engineering sexy? Specifically, how do you make a large power engineering and heavy oil laboratory with four high pressure steam boilers, water treatment equip- ment, a turbine generator and simula- tion training spaces a place that is physi- cally attractive to a college campus and attracts students hoping to make a career in the petroleum industry? This was one of the challenges fac- ing Lakeland College administrators, Stantec, Fillmore Construction and a host of talented tradespeople tasked with developing Lakeland's new Energy Centre at the Lloydminster campus. And by all counts, they succeeded. The two-storey, pie-shaped, 27,000- square-foot learning facility, capped by a massive structural glazing centrepiece that looks directly into the laboratory, has become one of the campus's most striking facilities – even though as of June the equipment inside was still being prepped in anticipation of a fall opening. "To illustrate just how long the Centre has been anticipated, I've been the dean of energy at Lakeland since 2011 and the conception of the project predated my arrival," says Kara Johnston, Lakeland's dean of energy, entrepreneurship and aboriginal programming. She adds, "The challenge was actu- ally two-fold: in addition to wanting a real showcase power engineering and heavy oil training facility, we wanted a lab first and a building that would house it comfortably, as opposed to designing a building first and them squeezing a lab into it." Given the specialized nature of the $20-million project – the various func- tioning technologies within the build- ing meant that safety would heavily influence the design process – Stantec was called upon to provide structural, mechanical and electrical consultation as well as architectural services. "In fact, our mechanical people provided consultation for the first three months of the project, in 2012, before the design work began," says Barbara Reid, princi- pal, Stantec Architecture Ltd. "It was absolutely crucial to determine first what equipment would be required, its configuration, plus the effects of its operation within the building." Stantec's Ofer Pittel worked closely with Greg Shalay, Lakeland College steam chief and instructor, heavy oil operations technician program, to develop the mechanical program which, simply put, would ensure the smooth function of five different types of boil- ers whose steam would power the tur- bine and also be redistributed to heat the facility. Structural provisions were made for a second turbine as well as the possibil- ity of the turbine being used sometime in the future to provide energy and boil- ers to provide steam to heat other build- ings on campus. This intricate planning was overseen by Stantec senior princi- pal (now retired) Bob Campbell. The ideas and decisions generated by the mechanical team aided Reid in the building design process. She says, "It would have been easy to create a box, but we were all shooting for a gem, and one of our major ideas was to expose the mechanical elements of the Energy Centre via extensive glazing, most spec- tacularly the massive, slanted glass exterior wall that provides a clear view of the laboratory, even from a distance. "I like my designs to have a story, so this particular glazing was tinted yellow, orange and red to mimic our spectacu- lar Alberta sunsets, and the arc of the sun would throw these colours onto the equipment inside, adding to the appeal and interest of the facility overall." Although the mechanical equipment would generate considerable heat, Stantec determined that passive cooling in the form of louvres would offset con- densation and other unwanted atmo- spheric effects; a huge overhead door and a loading dock were incorporated into the design to facilitate the rear- ranging or addition of new equipment. Ot her desig n feat ures combin- ing function with pleasing esthetics included a viewing platform cantile- vered over the laboratory; faculty office space with triple glazing (for sound suppression) overlooking the lab; two 50-seat simulation theatres; and a huge student commons with a two- storey feature wall upon which plaques could be mounted commemorating the Energy Centre's many financial donors. "We also exposed the communications/ electrical room with glazing and added multiple-coloured LED lighting for visual appeal," says Reid. It fell upon Edmonton-based Fillmore Construction to turn these ambitious design elements into reality, and project manager Jeff Fillmore and a 60-strong crew took the various challenges in their stride. "Being pie shaped, the building had 60 or 120 degree corners instead of 90 degree corners, which made survey- ing tricky," he explains. "Also, Barbara's sunset glazing required an elabo- rate structural steel frame because it tilted outward." Additionally, much consideration was given to the installation of polished concrete flooring for the entire main level and part of the second level. "It's not the type of flooring you can cut up afterwards without causing unsightly seams," says Fillmore. Epoxy f looring was selected for the lab partly because its installation was less time-intensive, and Fillmore credits being able to review Stantec's mechanical and design drawings as they progressed for "identifying opportuni- ties to make the construction process faster. This involved regular meetings with Barbara and the engineers, and the outcome was well worth it." By the summer of 2015 the Energy Centre building was preparing for full operation, and no one is more thrilled with the final product than Johnston and her colleagues. "From a mechanical perspective alone the Centre is unique, from its French-made fractional dis- tiller tower to a specially-built steam- assisted gravity drainage (SGD) system, the latter of which is the only one of its kind in a post-secondary institution anywhere in the world," she says. "As for the building itself, it's a genu- ine landmark of the campus, and at night when everything is lit up it looks magical. I can't imagine a more inspiring environ- ment in which students can be trained and have a greater depth of knowledge about our petroleum industry." A Location 2602 – 59 Avenue, Lloydminster, Alberta owner/DeveLoper Lakeland College architect Stantec Architecture Ltd. GeneraL contractor Fillmore Construction StructuraL/MechanicaL/ eLectricaL conSuLtant Stantec totaL Size 27,000 square feet totaL coSt $20 million

• Cover