Mechanical strategies include synergistic systems of heat recovery between spaces, including wet and dry laboratories.
Use of relief air from offices to laboratories ensures comfortable working, studying, and socializing spaces.
Low-flow fume hoods reduce the volume of air to be exhausted.
The strong east-west orientation of the complex allows for a passive energy design strategy.
A fully glazed south-facing main concourse acts as a giant solar collector in the winter.
Green roofs provide thermal insulation in the winter and cooling in the summer.
The design also allows for natural ventilation wherever possible.

Building Envelope

PHOTO: NIC LEHOUX

Walls (RSI 2.1 / R12):

Cast in place, pre-cast concrete and metal stud wall construction with mineral fibre and polyurethane insulation materials

Roof (RSI 3.52 / R20):

Cast in place and pre-cast concrete roof structure rigid board insulation
Green roof gardens in selected areas

Foundation Walls:

Insulated to 600 mm below grade

Windows and Glazing:

Double glazed, curtain wall with thermally broken aluminium frames

Solar Shading, Daylight & Lighting

PHOTOs: NIC LEHOUX

The daylighting friendly design and the complex’s solar shading work together with efficient lighting controls and mechanical strategies to reduce energy consumption. The ASSC design focuses on occupant comfort, which resulted in the provision of daylighting to interior spaces, including wet laboratories, which are traditionally closed environments. Program elements provide views to and from academic spaces as well as natural light penetration into all areas including laboratory space, allowing transparency and encouraging interest.

The complex includes narrow floor plates that allow daylight into all areas of the building, including daylight without direct sunlight into the ballroom style wet labs. Each building elevation was extensively studied with Ecotech modeling software in order to develop the most effective solar strategy for each orientation, resulting in the use of horizontal, vertical, and angled sunshades depending upon the sun’s path. Additional features include a wooden canopy sunshade and deciduous trees which provide additional shading.