University of Ottawa - School of Information Technology and Engineering (SITE)

Project information

Location: Ottawa 
  
Owner:University of Ottawa
  
Architect:  IKOY Architects
  
Engineer:  Sauvé Boucher Associates
  
Entrepreneur:  Paul Daoust Construction Canada Ltd.
  
Prefabricated components: 175 architectural, structural and sandwich panels, 34,000 square feet

Location: Ottawa 
  
Owner:University of Ottawa
  
Architect:  IKOY Architects
  
Engineer:  Sauvé Boucher Associates
  
Entrepreneur:  Paul Daoust Construction Canada Ltd.
  
Prefabricated components: 175 architectural, structural and sandwich panels, 34,000 square feet

DESCRIPTION

With its elegant 90-meter (300-foot) four-storey glass atrium overlooking the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering (SITE) is one of the most striking buildings in the national capital. The 16,900-square-meter (182,000-square-foot) concrete structure uses a prefabricated system of Thermobuild hollow core slabs. With a rotunda on its north side, the school comprises seven multimedia classrooms, four teaching laboratories and twenty research labs.

The atrium is at the heart of an energy-efficient radiant heating system that uses the thermal mass of the concrete through the hollowed-out slabs of the atrium floor as well as the wall panels. This energy is accumulated in the concrete, that acts as a reservoir, and is transferred to the rest of the building by a heat pump and a radiation cooling system.

With its elegant 90-meter (300-foot) four-storey glass atrium overlooking the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering (SITE) is one of the most striking buildings in the national capital. The 16,900-square-meter (182,000-square-foot) concrete structure uses a prefabricated system of Thermobuild hollow core slabs. With a rotunda on its north side, the school comprises seven multimedia classrooms, four teaching laboratories and twenty research labs.

The atrium is at the heart of an energy-efficient radiant heating system that uses the thermal mass of the concrete through the hollowed-out slabs of the atrium floor as well as the wall panels. This energy is accumulated in the concrete, that acts as a reservoir, and is transferred to the rest of the building by a heat pump and a radiation cooling system.

The challenge was to design panels suspended from the structure without a visual connection. The panels are located on the perimeter of the building with window openings that complicate the design and installation.

The installation of prefabricated panels on concrete frames and exterior walls forced the prefabricator to face an exceptional level of installation and quality tolerances. A very tight control over the concrete mixing process as well as the sandblasting of the panel surfaces allowed the building to achieve the desired look in terms of color and texture.

The challenge was to design panels suspended from the structure without a visual connection. The panels are located on the perimeter of the building with window openings that complicate the design and installation.

The installation of prefabricated panels on concrete frames and exterior walls forced the prefabricator to face an exceptional level of installation and quality tolerances. A very tight control over the concrete mixing process as well as the sandblasting of the panel surfaces allowed the building to achieve the desired look in terms of color and texture.

Photos