It is safe to suggest there are many architects and building owners who do not like the ‘industrial look’ associated with the means of façade access. However, once a beautiful building is occupied, there must be a way for others to maintain, repair, and inspect the claddings and façades well above the ground. Early inclusion in a design may minimize the esthetic impact.
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When it is at its best, the architectural/engineering industry transcends geographical locations, social demographics, economics, and ideologies—it is a macrocosm of design professionals striving for excellence in the built environment. However, the evolution of technology, building practices, and globalization has created additional challenges within the industry.
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By its nature, every roof is a unique and complex waterproofing system whose performance depends on design appropriateness, material quality, and installer craftsmanship. All three of these must be present for an assembly to achieve its anticipated lifespan. As a construction activity, roofing requires the same high level of diligence as other construction trades, such as mechanical and electrical systems.
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Canada’s climate is one of the more diverse on the planet. It varies based on geography, ranging from long, cold winters and sunless days in the Far North to four distinct seasons along the U.S. border, and typically mild winters in the B.C. Lower Mainland. Temperatures can climb to more than 40 C (104 F) in the summer and drop below –50 C (–58 F) in the winter.
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Increasing urbanization, industrial growth, aging infrastructure, and the growing effects of climate change have made water issues a much more important item on the Canadian agenda. As the built environment expands, so does its impact on the country’s many watersheds. Pressure is mounting through various policy vehicles and guidelines for architects, engineers, and builders to play a larger role in addressing the impact of new projects on the hydrological system.
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Over the last century or so, the facilities being built to provide how and where one learns have undergone extreme changes. From isolated classrooms along corridors to open, unprogrammed forums, and from education by rote and repetition to learning through discovery, chance encounters, or direct experience––how and where people learn has shifted radically.
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Pulling into the parking lot at the Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology (ERC) immediately instills the impression something unique is happening with the building. Six dual-axis solar photovoltaic (PV) trackers provide some shade for visitors to park under, but more obviously, significant onsite electricity generation. This feature is superficial compared to what is going on beneath the building’s surface. Almost every detail was looked at in the design phase of the ERC including material choices, system design, and performance modelling.
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The benefits of modular construction are becoming more widely known. The reduced time spent onsite leads to fewer health and safety issues for construction workers, quality building, accelerated construction schedules, and a faster return on investment (ROI). The momentum of various green rating programs and standards is now drawing attention to the advantages of offsite construction in terms of sustainable building.
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Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are being released into the atmosphere with potentially devastating consequences. A large amount of GHGs from this country can be attributed to operating buildings, but not enough is being done to reduce this. Scientists calculate the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) needs to be stabilized in the atmosphere at no more than 350 parts per million (ppm) to prevent runaway global warming.
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When it comes to engineering its buildings, Canada has made great strides in durability and energy efficiency requirements with respect to codes and programs such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Unfortunately, despite these green leaps, it seems the basic lessons learned over the past decade or so still have not been applied to most building envelopes. In other words, we have structures designed to have service lives of 50 to 100 years, with enclosures only equipped to last for 10 to 15 years.
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