The University of Alberta is scheduled to open its state-of-the-art Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science facility in 2010 and designed to work as an educational and research facility for nearly 3,800 occupants. Serving as a campus crossroads for science students and faculty members. The CCIS building is Leed registered and will be among one of the few facilities in the world to house interdisciplinary science research teams as an interactive centre for educational and interdisciplinary science program functions. The facility includes a 2,200-seat lecture theater, teaching and research laboratories, faculty and graduate student office space, as well as one of the campus' most important internal open spaces.

SLM completed extensive drawing reviews and developed numerous alternative solutions and variances to ensure compliance with fire protection measures and life safety intent of the Code. The CCIS provided an exciting challenge with its multitude of interconnected floor spaces throughout the building and a connection to several existing university campus buildings. The variances we addressed were length of dead-end corridors, vertical distance between floor levels or landings, pressurized exit stair towers, and removal of atrium sprinklers.

Photo courtesy of ONPA/Flad Architects.

This project encompassed a mix of existing historical buildings, dating back to 1856, and new contemporary buildings. The National Ballet School project was broken down into two phases: the Jarvis Street Site, completed in 2005, and the Maitland Street Site, completed in 2008. This 230,000ft² project is now fully operational with theatres, residences, academic classrooms, dance training studios, resource centre, and administrative and teachers offices.

SLM continually provided The National Ballet School with updated Building Code Compliance Reports as the phases of the Jarvis Street Site and Maitland Street Site progressed. The main focus of SLM’s time on this project was commenting on the historical renovations, the interconnected floor spaces and the open stairs. We proposed re-configuration of the interior stair landing at the exterior exit door in the southwest corner of the Ground Floor of the Betty Oliphant Theatre. The proposed change involved expanding the exit enclosure at the base of the stair so that the existing exterior door opens directly from the exit enclosure. SLM performed an occupant load calculation of the building to assist the client in applying for liquor licensing.

Photo ©LMCI, 2010.

HOK is designing this new academic health sciences facility in association with Stantec Architecture. A partnership among Capital Health, the University of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta, The Edmonton Clinic North will bring together 3,500 students from all the health sciences faculties. This beautiful multi-coloured building will be 9,700 m², 5-storeys in building height with one level below grade. The building will incorporate interconnected floor spaces and light wells spanning various floors extending from the basement through to the fifth floor.

SLM has worked closely with HOK from the design drawing phase to working drawings to ensure building code compliance for the University of Alberta – Edmonton Clinic: Health Academy. The building has been designed for future flexible growth and with physical connections to the adjacent Edmonton Clinic South, which will provide clinical patient care. Sustainability is a primary consideration for the project, which is a LEED® Certificate Candidate. Completion is scheduled for November 2011. With SLM's knowledge and dedication the Health Academy vision will be transformed into reality.

Photo provided by HOK(Canada) Architects Toronto.

The existing St. Michael's College School building will undergo renovations to add a 2-storey Auditorium addition with a mezzanine. The existing building has a building area of approximately 18,050 m². The addition will be approximately 2,000 m² in building area. The Ground Floor of the addition will contain a main lobby, seating area for 342 persons, stage platform, technical platform for lighting, tension grids, dressing rooms, and washrooms.

Our role on this project was to provide an overview of the major life safety requirements of Part 3 and Part 11 of the Ontario Building Code as they relate to this project. Our report assisted to achieve a code-conforming design and served as an aid to officials of the City of Toronto for the project.  We also completed the fire safety plan for the facility.

Photo provided by St. Michael's College School.