Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/734400
OCTOBER 2016 | 71 McEwen School of Architecture – Laurentian University RENDERINGS COURTESY LGA ARCHITECTURAL PARTNERS McEwen School of Architecture – Laurentian University by MARTHA UNIACKE BREEN I t makes sense that the construction of a new architecture school should be seen as an opportunity to demonstrate the elements of building design and its process. But the new McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, is much more than that – especially Phase II's stunning $24-million, 54,000-square-foot new structure, that joins with two century-old heritage buildings that were revitalized and opened in 2013. "The new building will serve as a living laboratory," explains Laurentian's Michel Seguin, director of capital projects, "where students will be able to see exposed connections and different building materials and structures such as steel, concrete, post and beam wood construction, masonry and a wing fully constructed in cross-laminated timber [CLT]." Other aspects of the building, he continues, include a green roof laboratory, a building wholly dedicated to fabrication (woodworking, metals and digital), and open-design studios. "It's also a beautiful space, with a light-filled atrium with a wood-burning fireplace." McEwen School is the first new Canadian school of architecture to open in the last 45 years, and one of the only tricultural schools in the country, comprising English, French and First Nations cultures. It was conceived as a venue for students to become immersed not only in modern technical resources and expertise, but the particular exigencies of architecture in a Northern community – a growing philosophical approach that some are calling the Northern School. According to the project's principal architect Janna Levitt of LGA Architectural Partners, "It's Northern in terms of the design, the massing, the orientation and so on, but also, as the most northern school in Canada, it relates to other Northern schools globally in places such as Norway and Russia, where projects like these become demonstration projects about climate change worldwide." But it's also very specific to this part of Canada, and this city. "This is a very historical part of town," she says. "This corner – Elm and Elgin – was the main crossroads of rail traffic coming into Sudbury, then the Trans- Canada highway, and was always a very busy area. But over time, its importance diminished when the downtown was de-populated." The CLT wing, and another in more conventional steel frame, will connect the two heritage buildings, one of which was formerly an administrative building for CP Rail, and the other owned by CP Telegraph. "A large part of our mandate was to contribute to the regeneration of the downtown core; developing walking areas, making the whole area more inviting for people to come downtown." By combining heritage buildings with structures built with new materials and techniques, the design represents a practical application of real-world architectural technologies – especially in the challenging northern Ontario climate. "We wanted to highlight different 'waves' of architectural technology through history," explains Levitt. "Starting with traditional 'stick' framing [the heritage buildings] and masonry [the telegraph building] through to new technologies such as CLT and modern steel frame construction, it becomes in effect a living continuum of building types." With extensive experience using this material, Bondfield Construction Company Limited and AECOM were able to ensure the project went ahead with very few challenges. The use of CLT was particularly interesting to the owner not only because it is cost-effective and can be endlessly customized, but it also represents a huge opportunity for the Canadian timber industry, which has been measurably impacted by the effects of climate change, Levitt notes. "The effects of warmer, wetter winters, for example, have led to effects such as infestation by borer beetles, which has rendered large tracts of forest unusable. "And esthetically, CLT is beautiful," Levitt adds. "You can't leave it exposed to exterior elements, of course, but you can leave it exposed on the interior, as we have done. The professors will be able to take their students through this building and directly point out construction techniques." The landscaping as well as the building was designed as a laboratory for learning. It was critical to create a welcoming environment for students, staff and the local community. The site design also dealt with the realities of a changing Northern climate in an era of climate change. Robert Wright, landscape architect, teaches and researches sustainability at the University of Toronto, and embraced the idea of bringing a strong educational aspect to the landscape design. The landscape, he explains, combines hardscaping that accommodates wind patterns – including a courtyard set within the complex that welcomes the abundant Sudbury sunlight and provides shelter from cold northern winds. Paths connect to the street sidewalk and invite passersby to enjoy the grounds, and a planting scheme has been incorporated that works with a challenging, and changing, climate. "This was, physically, a difficult site, with a high water table, and soil that was contaminated with slag from nearby mills with metals such as copper and nickel from the nearby mining industries," he adds. "And we had to choose mixed plantings that would survive not only the current conditions of the site, but that take into account future conditions resulting from the inevitable changing weather patterns." This is a much more complicated proposition than just warming temperatures, Wright explains: "It's about extremes of weather, and what we have been seeing lately: heavier rains and increasing droughty periods; hotter summers and swings between very mild and very cold winters. The landscaping design has to be able to accommodate all these extremes to create a more resilient design." The new McEwen School had to address a broader range of objectives than most buildings, even academic ones: to act as a beacon not just for Canadian architecture, but a particular Northern type; to consider the future realities its students are bound to face in the field, such as climate change; to welcome three cultures: English, French, and First Nations, all of whom will comprise the student and faculty; and to help revitalize a redeveloping downtown community. As Michel Seguin observes, all of these ideas are summarized by the idea of North. "The designers always related to the design motif, which involved the Northern climate, geology and landscape. I also think the fact that this was originally initiated by the community, and grew to what it is today, is astonishing. This project was meant to be transformative to the downtown core of greater Sudbury, and I think we have achieved this." A LOCATION 85 Elm Street, Sudbury, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER Laurentian University ARCHITECT LGA Architectural Partners GENERAL CONTRACTOR Bondfield Construction Company Limited STRUCTURAL/MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL/CIVIL CONSULTANT AECOM LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Robert Wright Landscape Architect TOTAL SIZE 54,000 square feet TOTAL COST $24 million (Phase II) 2:42 PM 9:59 AM 4:14 PM