Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/755184
DECEMBER 2016 | 51 PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARA SHECTER/COURTESY URBAN ONE BUILDERS Ponderosa Commons Phase 2 – UBC Ponderosa Commons Phase 2–UBC by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI P onderosa Commons was the first of several mixed-use student housing developments to be built on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus. It is fair to say that now complete, the design of the complex truly reflects UBC's vision to create vibrant centres that balance the complexity of the mixed-use nature of its buildings. With Phase 1 completed back in 2013, and Phase 2 completed in March of this year, students as well as staff from the Faculty of Education can now enjoy this LEED Gold-targeted urban landmark that stands at the terminus of University Boulevard. Due to the high density of Phase 2 – which features an 18-floor tower and a podium that contains six floors on one side and seven floors on the other due to its sloped site – studies were conducted early on to ensure minimal impact during construction. The complex contains 553 student beds, academic facilities and offices, and student gathering spaces. In addition, there are classrooms, conference rooms, an event space with a catering area, two interior courtyards and offices for UBC's Faculty of Education. For Phase 2, the massing approach seen in Phase 1 was continued to reinforce the existing campus pattern of blocks defining the public space on University Boulevard, West and Lower Malls. "If you look at Ponderosa Commons Phase 2 in its completed form from an aerial view it acts as a U-shape. There is a central courtyard that functions as a lightwell. A public realm separates phases 1 and 2 and acts as a collaborative space, bringing the two phases together," explains Tracy Wyman, project director, Faculty of Education, UBC. Nick Maile, development manager at UBC Properties Trust agrees, adding that Phase 2 – featuring classrooms on level one, educational offices on levels two and three of the podium and residential areas on floors four, five and six that complement the residential tower that rises above – has completed Ponderosa Commons and creates what resembles a gateway when approaching the campus from Marine Drive. In designing Phase 2 KPMB Architects and HCMA Architecture + Design employed colour in a similar strategy to Phase 1. Using accent colours and materials on the soffits they were able to visually break up the building mass and highlight opportunities for entry and gathering. The Phase 2 tower has a graphic facade that maintains a common identity across the three buildings. Phase 2 also uses a unique building envelope seen on Phase 1 that is composed of precast insulated concrete panels, prefabricated off site and installed one by one using two cranes. "UBC decided to use precast panels on the entire facade of the building," explains Ebrahim Moradi, senior sales engineer at Armtec. "The panel system offers an excellent R-value, which makes a lot of sense for an educational facility where the owner is paying the utility bills. The precast sandwich panels are four-metres tall and have varying widths from 1.2 to 2.4 metres, offering a durable 'move-in ready' interior finish." Moradi admits that due to the size of the panels and the project being located on a busy thoroughfare, access was challenging at times, but Armtec was able to work with the very communicative team to ensure safety was paramount. "Meeting the deadline for precast panel completion was key to completing the interior work," adds Sina Khamenehi at Urban One Builders. "In order to meet the precast panel deadline, the install on the tower had to start on September 12, 2014. This start date was paramount because commencing panel installation on that date meant we would have sufficient time to complete the entire construction, including all the interior work, and obtain occupancy in time for the new academic year in September 2015." Head on inside via the east or west entrance and there is a tone of simplicity, sophistication and above all, functionality. "The floors are exposed polished concrete and accents of panelized wood have been used in the ceiling to create contrast and warmth," says Maile. "The strategic location of glazing also helps maximize light within." Wyman adds that all the offices are bright and airy due to high ceilings and streamlined furniture. "The challenge was ensuring we had the kinds of instructional spaces needed for our programs as well as research spaces that would showcase our work, and suitable faculty offices for the two administrative spaces; the building really had to cover a lot of functions," says Wyman. Daniel Wicke, principal, WHM Structural Engineers adds, "Ponderosa hubs included residential, classrooms, common areas and social amenities. The structural design challenge was to fit an efficient structural system through the various program spaces. An example of this was designing for large mechanical openings through 12-metre-long transfer beams to maximize ceiling heights." In fact, when it came to the electrical and mechanical systems, Stantec focussed on a number of conservation strategies. Michael Dhont, senior associate, buildings engineering at Stantec, explains that air system economizers were chosen where applicable, office HVAC systems use variable air volume and variable speed drives to reduce energy consumption during unoccupied hours, and heat recovery ventilators were installed for LOCATION University Boulevard and West Mall, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER The University of British Columbia (UBC) DEVELOPER UBC Properties Trust ARCHITECTS HCMA Architecture + Design / KPMB Architects CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Urban One Builders STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT WHM Structural Engineers MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Stantec Consulting Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Hapa Collaborative PRECAST PANEL PROVIDER Armtec Ltd. TOTAL SIZE 293,000 square feet TOTAL COST $57 million