Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/904555
54 | DECEMBER 2017 Brookfield Place Calgary – East Tower PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES BRITTAIN/COURTESY DIALOG Veres says, "It turned out to be a most amazing design collaboration, with Arney Fender Katsalidis driving the front end design work, and Dialog providing the technical execution and presiding over zoning, codes and related matters." To say the project was fast tracked would be an understatement. "The goal was to open the first tower this year – which seemed a long way off back in 2012 – but it was remarkable how the enormous logistics made time fly," says Veres. "We wound up having to submit for land use and development permitting simultaneously due to the scheduling." The start of land use planning to the release of the development permits took only 15 months, and this was made possible by Dialog and Brookfield Office Properties sitting down with City of Calgary senior administration and reviewing a preferred timeline of key milestone dates. Construction commenced in October of 2013 and would ultimately require steel fabricators Walters Group to provide and install over 10,000 tonnes of structural steel, including support for the intricate roof crown and the pavilion (for the latter, Walters worked closely with the glazing contractor to achieve the detailing, connection design, fabrication and installation of the structural steel and steel decking, the majority of which was architecturally exposed). In order to achieve proper clearances for the pavilion, EllisDon had to remove structural bays of the existing Bow parkade that occupies the space of the future second tower; and this in turn required a reworking of the traffic circulation within that facility. In terms of meeting the tight schedule, the shoring process was helped significantly by Calgary experiencing one of the warmest winters (2014) on record. Because the glass of the tower and the pavilion would touch the ground at street level, mechanical and HVAC equipment, plus other services, had to be hidden below grade – so the architects and EllisDon employed a virtual design and construction delivery system using BIM, whereby the builder, TMP Consulting Engineers, and other consultants used the design model to meticulously map out ducts and other components. Mah reports that the pavilion and East Tower were finished "ahead of schedule and under budget, and I attribute that success to the collaborative efforts exhibited by the architects, engineers, construction manager and trades, all working together towards a common goal." For his part, Veres looks forward to the ultimate completion of Brookfield Place Calgary. "The second tower will have the same architectural language as the first, and since a new green rapid transit line is scheduled to flank the facility, there is talk of how we could take advantage of this development and incorporate it into the overall design. "But whatever the outcome, East Tower is already a magnificent addition to Calgary's skyline – and a memorable project for all concerned." A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS for BROOKFIELD PLACE CALGARY – EAST TOWER FM35656.indd 1 2017-11-03 11:38 Proud participant in the Canadian History Hall project. Fier participant dans le cadre du projet de la Salle de l'histoire Canadienne. Main: 819-684-0771 Toll-Free: 1-800-532-1853 info@courchesne-fortin.com www.courchesne-fortin.com MICHEL FORTIN Arpenteur-géomètre | Arpenteur des terres du Canada MATHIEU FORTIN Arpenteur-géomètre FREDERICK VINCENT Arpenteur-géomètre Courchesne-Fortin.indd 1 2017-11-09 9:40 AM Alpine.indd 1 2017-10-31 2:28 PM Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Proud to have participated in the Canadian History Hall project. Morel.indd 1 2017-11-08 2:35 PM G. Cooke.indd 1 2017-11-08 2:34 PM