Award

December 2015

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DECEMBER 2015 | 93 Environmental Science and Chemistry Building – University of Toronto Scarborough PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS Environmental Science and Chemistry Building – University of Toronto Scarborough by ANGELA ALTASS T he University of Toronto Scarborough is welcoming students to a new 126,700-square-feet Environmental Science and Chemistry Building this fall. "This is a research building with some undergraduate labs that will provide a permanent home for the Masters of Environ mental Science program, as well as new facilities for other leading-edge research initiatives," says Jim Derenzis, director, facilities management, Univer- sity of Toronto Scarborough. The building is a reinforced con- crete structure with f lat slabs, grav- ity floor system and distributed shear walls for the lateral system, says Benoit Boulanger, design engineer, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. "The span between columns was particularly long for this type of floor system so continuous slab bands were implemented to control deflections and achieve a good f loor levelness," says Boulanger. "These long floor spans cre- ate a light and flexible structure that is very sensitive to vibration. The design team had to study equipment require- ments with the structure dynamic properties to specify the appropriate isolating system for the equipment. A protection zone with no metallic objects had to be implemented around MRI instruments. This also included the structure reinforcement, where non- magnetic rebar had to be used." The objective for LEED Gold influ- enced the project design in a systematic way from the outset, says Nigel Tai, asso- ciate at Diamond Schmitt Architects. "An integrated application of sustain- able design tools includes a geother- mal system with 66 boreholes that are five inches in diameter and core down approximately 620 feet below the base- ment slab, high-performance curtain wall and glazing system, and LED light- ing fixtures with daylight and occupancy sensors," says Tai. Earth tubes carry fresh air below ground through precast concrete tun- nels before entering the basement mechanical system. The earth tubes required a tremendous amount of design modelling and simulations, says Andrew Anderson, project manager, EllisDon Corporation. LOCATION 1065 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario OWNER University of Toronto Scarborough ARCHITECT Diamond Schmitt Architects DESIGN BUILDER EllisDon Corporation STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith + Andersen LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. EARTH TUBE MODELLING CONSULTANT RWDI TOTAL SIZE 126,700 square feet TOTAL COST $57 million "The tubes are six feet in diameter in varying lengths of 40 to 100 feet," says Anderson. "Baffles installed in the tubes slow the air, balance and create turbu- lence to maximize the geothermal effect." The building consists of a labora- tory wing and an office and adminis- trative wing that are interconnected with a five-storey atrium. "The large atrium in the centre of the building cre- ated a non-typical structural system as two parts of the building were now only joined by two narrow pieces of slab," says Boulanger. "A study of the floor dia- phragms had to be done to make sure the building always behaves as a whole." Charcoa l-toned ironspot br ick masonry cladding along Military Trail is punctuated by a large modular window opening with aluminum fin in a custom Zinnia Gold colour to create rhythm and bring playful colour along the east facade, notes Tai. "Custom fitted panel is used on all of the exterior glass to provide solar shad- ing to the occupants as well as a visual marker to the birds in order to meet the Toronto Green Standard Bird-Friendly Development design requirement," says Tai. "A combination of architectural metal siding panels and a pressure relief explosion vent system is used at the GF chemical storage area of the building." Due to the critical nature of the experi- ments being conducted in the facility, the building was designed to have an emer- gency back-up generator sized to allow for the laboratories to continue to operate during any type of power outage, accord- ing to Michael Armster, associate, Smith + Andersen. "This includes the operation of one chiller to provide some level of cool- ing within the laboratory space," says Armster. "Sensitive electronic equipment has also been supported with a central- ized UPS battery power back-up system to mitigate any power interruptions and to allow for a seamless and continuous operation of power during an outage until the generator start-up occurs." To meet LEED and Toronto Green Standard (TGS) sustainability standards, planting is designed to be drought toler- ant and rainwater is collected in a cistern and recycled for irrigation, according to Lynda Rybinski, associate, Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. "Strong linear patterning is reflected in the paving patterns and in the allees of shade trees," says Rybinski. "A sim- ple and consistent palette of materials is used in the paving, planting and site furnishings, especially along Military Trail, which will eventually form a major pedestrian route on the campus. Seasonal change and winter interest were addressed in the planting design, which uses a diversity of both native and well-adapted large shade trees, and ornamental grasses and shrubs." Derenzis adds that the contractor, designers, university faculty and those responsible for overseeing the design and construction all worked together in a very collaborative fashion to meet a very aggressive timeline. "Contract award for this was in early June 2013 and construction began in October 2013. It is a testament to this collabora- tion that we were able to bring this to a successful conclusion, less than two years later," says Derenzis. A

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