November 30, 2006

TIM GRIFFITH

Several types of concrete structural systems were incorporated in the design of the 2,000-seat auditorium of the Four Seasons Centre.

Architecture

Concrete carves out design niche

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Early on, the designers of Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts identified reinforced concrete as the best option for the structure of the 15,000 square metre building.

“The numerous curves, sweeps, steps and depressions that were required to achieve the optimal building geometry were only possible through the use of concrete,” said Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc.

The $102 million building, designed by a team that included structural engineers Halcrow Yolles and built by PCL Constructors Canada Inc., got the nod in the structural design innovation category in the 2006 Ontario Concrete Awards.

That category recognizes buildings, bridges or other structures in which engineering considerations predominately influenced the structural design.

The award was one of eight handed out last night at a banquet during the Construct Canada trade show and conference, which runs until tomorrow.

JAMES CAVANHUGH

The tilt-up concrete construction technique was applied in the Hana America tourism building.

In its submission to the competition, Diamond and Schmitt said creating an intimate performance space while maintaining sightlines was of “great importance” to the Canadian Opera House Corp.

The downtown Toronto centre boasts a tiered, 2,000-seat horseshoe-shaped auditorium.

“As a result of these requirements, the auditorium geometry was very complex, with balconies curved both in plan and elevation and with minimal floor-to-floor heights,” the architects said.

Balconies were sloped and stepped as necessary to achieve the proper seating layout. The perimeter walls of the hall were also curved.

TOM ARBAN

Concrete played an important role in the design of the Centre for Manufacturing and Design Technologies at Sheridan College.

“The use of concrete as the structural material was obvious,” the architects said.

The structural design of the seating areas incorporated the use of several types of concrete structural systems, “which speaks to the flexibility of concrete as a design material.”

Also in the winners’ circle were the following projects:

• Centre for Manufacturing and Design Technologies at Sheridan College in Brampton. (Sustainable concrete construction). Also designed by Diamond and Schmitt, the $8.5 million addition is a slab-on-grade structure with load-bearing block masonry walls and steel truss deck.

The architects said “a high level of energy efficiency” is achieved by using a precast concrete, hollow-core plank system on the second floor and roof which provides heating and cooling using the thermal mass of the concrete slabs. Circular voids in the slabs are connected to airhandling ducts.

• HOME condominiums: (Mid to highrise residential). A steeply sloped site with poor, unbalanced soil conditions posed multiple challenges for engineers Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. The firm came up with an innovative structural design for the terraced building, built on a former brownfield site west of Toronto’s High Park.

• Creditview Road heritage bridge rehabilitation: (Infrastructure). The $618,000 project involved rehabilitation of a 78-year-old concrete bowstring arch bridge in Brampton. The project included a staged removal and replacement of the deck and supporting transverse beams, abutment work and restoration of the concrete arches. The project also won an honourable mention in the architectural merit category.

• Hana America tourism building: (Specialty concrete products). The Draftcon Calamar Corp. team applied the technique of tilt-up concrete construction for creation of the two-storey, 10,000-square-foot building in Niagara Falls. The team used both “face-up” and “face-down” panel construction to create different textures.

• William Osler Health Centre: (Specialty concrete applications). Aluma Systems Inc. developed an innovative, column-hung forming system, called the Aluma Hi-Flyer, for the project. The system was used to form 580,000 square feet of concrete slab on four floors of the health centre.

• Princess Auto: (Architectural flooring or hardscape). The Retro Plate system, an alternative finishing option for concrete flooring, was put to use in various retail locations in Ontario following a review by Duron Ontario Ltd. which concluded that vinyl floor finishes were expensive to maintain. Duron recommended that these floors be replaced with a quality, durable concrete product.

ALUMA SYSTEMS INC.

An innovative forming system was developed for the William Osler Health Centre in Brampton.

The annual awards are supported by more than a dozen associations and companies — among them the Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario, the Ontario chapter of the American Concrete Institute, the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, the Ontario region of the Cement Association of Canada, the Ontario Cast-in-Place Concrete Development Council, Concrete Floor Contractors Association, Reinforcing Steel Institute of Ontario, Consulting Engineers of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Architects and the Ontario

Winners of the 2006 Ontario Concrete Awards

ARCHITECTURAL MERIT

Project: Discovery Landing
Owner: The Corporation of the City of Burlington
Architect of Record: Baird Sampson Neuert Architects
Engineer of Record: Blackwell Bowick Partnership Ltd.
General Contractor: Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd.
Material Supplier: Lafarge

ARCHITECTURAL FLOORING OR HARDSCAPE

Project: Princess Auto
Owner: Princess Auto Ltd.
Architect of Record: Giffels Associates Ltd.
Engineer of Record: Giffels Associates Ltd.
General Contractor: Giffels Associates Ltd.
Material Supplier: Euclid Canada
Specialty contractor: Duron Ontario Ltd.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN INNOVATION

Project: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Owner: Canadian Opera House Corp.
Architect of Record: Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc.
Engineer of Record: Halcrow Yolles
General Contractor: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
Material Supplier: St Marys CBM

INFRASTRUCTURE

Project: Creditview Road Heritage Bridge Rehabilitation
Owner: The Corporation of the City of Brampton
Architect of Record: Planmac Inc. Consulting Engineers & Planners
Engineer of Record: Planmac Inc. Consulting Engineers & Planners
General Contractor: Underground Services (1983) Ltd.
Material Supplier: Lafarge

SPECIALTY CONCRETE PRODUCTS

Project: Hana America Tourism Building
Owner: Hana America Corp.
Architect of Record: Raimondo + Associates Architects Inc.
Engineer of Record: Con/Steel Tilt-Up Systems
General Contractor: Draftcon Calamar Corp.
Material Supplier: Lafarge

SPECIALTY CONCRETE APPLICATIONS

Project: William Osler Health Centre
Owner: EllisDon Corp. / Carillion Canada Inc., Joint Venture
Architects of Record: Parkin Architects Ltd. / Adamson Associates Architects
Engineers of Record: Marshall Macklin Monaghan / Stephenson Engineering Ltd.
General Contractor: EllisDon Corp.
Material Supplier: Aluma Systems Inc.

MID TO HIGHRISE RESIDENTIAL

Project: Home Condominiums
Owner: Context
Architect of Record: architectsAlliance
Engineer of Record: Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.
General Contractor: Veisman Consulting Ltd.
Material Supplier: St Marys CBM

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