Today’s working committee focused on selecting a building configuration for the ESC. It was a difficult choice, because there was a lot of enthusiasm for two options (Options 3 and 4), both of which had strong points.

In the end, the working committee settled on a blend of Options 3 and 4: the overall configuration of Option 3 (2 Storey North), with the positive interior features of Option 4 (3 Storey North).

The committee selected the overall configuration of Option 3 because it represented the best value for the project – with this option we can get the most program area for the budget. This option also leaves a good portion of the site open for program activities and expandability (almost as much as Option 4).

The committee selected the interior features of Option 4 because spaces are better located throughout the building, and the social space is much better (it has different scales of seating, more edges to occupy, and circulation only on one side).

An important part of today’s meeting was a working session to begin to understand how to mash Options 3 and 4 together. There are few images of the working session below!

Our next steps will be to build on today’s working session to refine the overall building configuration. As well, we’ll also start looking at ideas for materials, the exterior, landscape, structure, mechanical, electrical, etc. Work will be continuing over the summer with periodic updates on the blog, be sure to check back and provide feedback throughout the summer.

We’ll have an open house at the beginning of the fall term to bring everyone up to speed on the development of the ESC.

Special thanks to Andrew, Azzie, Ethan, Laz, Lin,  Shane, and  Tagg, for their work on the ESC working committee over the term and for ensuring that student concerns are heard.

We also looked at criteria for evaluating the options, different ways in which the ESC might be occupied, and some initial thoughts for the design of the landscape and engineering precinct.

The material was presented in the Kaiser Atrium along with some imaginative student design work (also looking at possible approaches to the ESC).

Many people attended, and we received a lot of feedback. If you missed the Open House, you can download PDFs of the presentation here: Options, Criteria, Scenarios, Landscape.

If you have something to add, please leave a comment below!

Location: Kaiser Atrium

Description:

On Thursday, March 31, from 11 to 1, Patkau Architects will be hosting an open house to consult with students about the final proposals for the ESC design. Patkau will be presenting three distinct options for the building, which include the overall design of the space, the arrangement of spaces inside the building, as well as the siting of the building within the courtyard. Students in attendance will have the opportunity to comment on the three proposals, and student input will weigh heavily in deciding which option to pursue for the final design of the building.

In addition to the presentation of design options from Patkau, an architecture class from civil engineering will be displaying some of the top designs made by students for the building. These designs were for the building and exterior landscaping of the space, and will be viewable in the form of video presentations throughout the event.

This will be the last student consultation of the year, so be sure to make it out! Your input will be critical in deciding what kind of building we get for the next 40 years!

Start Time: 11:00 AM
Date: Thursday, March 31
End Time: 2:00 PM

At our last meeting, the Working Committee approved the program. Next week, members of the Working Committee will present the program to the Steering Committee for approval for the project.

You can get a PDF copy of the proposed program here.

Building Operations and Monitoring

• The most important priority of all things discussed was making the building controls, management system, and related data visible and accessible.
• A dynamic interface would allow students to fine tune the building (e.g. by modifying set points) and use it as a research / education tool.
• Information should be visible within the building on screens and available on the web, and would include response of HVAC, water, and landscape over time.
• If budget does not allow for an exhaustive monitoring system to be installed initially, provision should be made for expanding the building monitoring system.

Energy

• Strong preference for using passive approaches.
• Systems do not need to be “fancy” or hi-tech in appearance.
• Important to focus on strategies that are most easily incorporated when the building is constructed (e.g. passive strategies), and to allow for the implementation of future technology that may not yet be feasible, affordable, or appropriate (e.g. PVs).
• Energy efficiency to a standard required to achieve LEED Gold is appropriate for this project, there’s no need to “go beyond” LEED Gold.
• Systems should be both manual and automatic (e.g. motion sensor lighting with user override).

Water

• The site (and possibly adjacent buildings) is a large potential resource for rainwater. This water should be collected and used for site irrigation, greywater within the building, and possibly evaporative cooling.
• Blackwater treatment only if there is a technology partner and UBC is willing to undertake the maintenance.
• Careful selection of efficient plumbing fixtures essential to ensure that they function properly.
• Careful selection of landscape material can be helpful towards reducing water use from irrigation.

Materials

• Where possible, use materials that allow for comparative analysis for educational purposes (e.g. having some low albedo paving would allow it to be compared with high albedo paving).

Let us know what you think!

Location: Kaiser 2020/2030
Facebook Event: Click here

Description: The architects are back to gather your feedback on the sustainable techniques and technologies that YOU want in YOUR new building!

Do you want to see:
- Natural lighting?
- Solar heating systems?
- Low-flow toilets?
- Water capture and reuse technologies?
- A large coal-burning powerplant in the basement?

It’s all up to you! This is your space, so come out, meet the architects, and make sure the ESC reflects your ideas and interests.

Refreshments will be provided!
Start Time: 12:00 PM
Date: Wednesday, February 23
End Time: 2:00 PM

We first looked at the updated program for the building, and then at some of the key site issues that the team needs to think about when siting the ESC, including some sun path movies that track the sun in the courtyard at different times of the year. After program and site, we then looked at some very preliminary studies of different ways of configuring the program in the courtyard. Note that these studies show a volumetric representation of the program requirements – they are not proposals for building forms!

In our next steps, we’ll be looking at the siting of the project in more detail, and, with the larger design team, will begin to look at how to best make the ESC environmentally sustainable. These will be the subjects for our upcoming public forums in a few weeks!

Images from today’s open house are below.
You can download the boards from today here.
You can download the sun diagrams from today here, here, and here.

Don’t forget that you can leave comments below as well!

Location: Kaiser 2020/2030
Facebook Event: Click here

Description: The design process is underway and the architects are currently working on various aspects of the building! Come to the ESC Open House to meet the architects, find out about the design process, and give feedback on the current program of the building!

This is a great way to learn about future events and to give feedback on important decisions that will be made regarding your building! See you there!
Start Time: 12:30 PM
Date: Tuesday, February 1
End Time: 2:00 PM

If you have some thoughts about the program leave a comment, but do it soon – to meet the schedule, we need to cut off program comments next week so that we can finalize the program and start looking at how that program might be situated on the courtyard!

Keep your eyes open for an upcoming open house during Engineering Week, on Tuesday February 1.

PDF of Program workshop boards here.

Images from the Program Workshop:

Location: CEME 2206
Facebook Event: Click here

Description: The Engineering Student Centre project is underway and the hired architects are now beginning building design! Patkau Architects, designers of the Beaty Biodiversity Centre, will be working with students to engage in dialogue and begin the design process.

This is your first chance to meet the architects and provide your input in a small-group format! The workshop will be regarding the programming of the building (eg. the breakdown of social/study space, offices, computer labs, etc, what makes a student space, and what functionality you want to see in the final design).

Start Time: 12:30 PM
Date: Thursday, January 20
End Time: 2:00 PM