Company Celebrates Anniversary with Green Building

Canadian-based PCL, a leading construction group, decided to celebrate its 100th year in business with a new building. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, the $13-million PCL Centennial Learning Centre serves as the new training and development hub for the PCL family of companies, and as a tribute to the company’s past, present and future generations.

From conception, PCL wanted to create a building that would not only honor the company’s century mark but, more importantly, honor one that embraced sustainable design and would reduce environmental impact for another 100 years. With the goal of obtaining LEED certification, PCL worked with Cohos Evamy, consultants on the 2,700-square-meter (29,062–square-foot) building. Cohos Evamy provided a range of integrated design services including the architecture and structural engineering.

Using LEED principles, PCL was able to deliver a striking facility that consumes fewer resources and energy, ultimately resulting in lower operating costs. And the sustainable agenda was achieved without adding a premium to the original budget. When the PCL Centennial Learning Centre opened its doors, it was initially eligible for silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) but it went on to achieve gold certification. In fact, it was the first private sector building in Alberta to receive LEED gold.

Design Highlights
The building design consists of 75 percent glazed elements, including a multifunctional central skylight. In addition to providing daylighting, the central skylight also plays a large role in the concept of a “solar chimney,” which the architect designed to increase energy efficiency. As the inside temperature increases, the rising warm air builds up at the top of the chimney. Motorized louvers open to allow hot air to escape and cool air from the outside to enter the building, reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning and lowering energy costs.

The combination of all the glazed elements created a sense of openness and airiness throughout the building.

Challenges
One of the principal objectives of the building was energy efficiency. Edmonton’s northern continental climate, with extreme seasonal temperatures, made thermal performance a critical component of the building design. The systems also needed to meet additional challenges such as condensation resistance and wind-load performance.

Because the solar chimney was a unique design element, precise engineering was required to support the glass curtainwall structurally on both sides with a skylight above. In addition, the skylight would require superior thermal capabilities, including triple glazing, in order to prevent heat from escaping the solar chimney.

Solutions
To ensure maximum thermal performance, the team utilized triple-lite 7500 wall from Kawneer Co. Inc., featuring an Isoweb glass-reinforced nylon thermal break. Used for both curtainwall and strip window applications, 7500 Wall was a prominent feature in the building’s spacious Grand Hall, which overlooks the site’s beautifully landscaped gardens.

The system also accommodated 360 Insulclad entrances that not only provide thermal efficiency, but the durability to withstand heavy traffic.

In order to achieve the long, open glass “spine” that bisects the building, Kawneer’s 2000 skylight product was incorporated into the 7500 Wall on multiple sides, and anchored to the steel structural support at critical points. The 2000 skylight with its insulating thermal break placed at the exterior of the glass plane, minimized heat loss and condensation and was a key component of the solar chimney.

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