DESIGN PROBLEMS
1. Program area footprint - The provided program areas could potentially be located in a single story within the allocated site area. However, the resultant footprint would occupy a large area of land and pavilion envelope surface.
2. Possible phased construction - the ESSA program areas are a user funded phase and allowance should be made for a possible phased construction.
3. Access - the pavilion should create and reinforce both social and physical connections.
4. Seasonal uses/flexibility - the pavilion should provide amenity space for all seasons and for different users.
5. Orientation - the fundamental requirement for a sustainable pavilion is enabled or restricted by the pavilion's location and orientation.
RATIONALE FOR DESIGN PROBLEM RESOLUTION
1. Program area footprint - The solution has evolved from a desire to minimize the pavilion's footprint while providing a logical distribution of program areas. By employing a second story, the footprint area has been reduced.
2. Phased construction - The ESSA program areas are planned as a separate structure connected via deck/covered passage. This allows for the ESSA portion to be built separately if funding requires while still respecting the pavilion language, providing security for ESSA functions/equipment and connections to the city funded pavilion.
3. Access - The design addresses the provision of connections as follows:
a. Physical movement through the pavilion via a covered passageway connecting field/skating oval and park to the north
b. Visual connections, through pavilion via glazing to connect the park through the building;
c. Respect the historic, established and familiar route by re-using/upgrading the existing pathway from main parking to pavilion. This preservation also protects existing trees and creates a sense of discovery as a visitor approaches the pavilion through the urban forest. This pathway can potentially be enhanced by the application of public art along its length (further described later in this document).
d. Rehabilitation of the existing parking lot behind the pavilion from gravel/parking to green space, better connecting the pavilion to the nearby picnic areas and providing additional habitat and connections to same.
e. Locate accessible parking adjacent the pavilion to create an easier connection from stall to building.
f. Social connections through the upper deck{s) that provide viewing platforms for skating events, warm resting/gathering areas in cooler seasons and special event venue for rental uses.
4. Seasonal uses/flexibility -
a. The upper deck is sheltered from the north and oriented to capture sun and extend seasonal use.
b. A fireplace is provided on the south face to provide amenity to skaters during winter months.
c. Multipurpose space can be divided into smaller areas or used as large area. The adjacent deck provides further flexibility for amenity area.
d. The skate change area can be used as shelter in summer months for nearby picnic spots or rented for summer functions.
5. Orientation - the pavilion has been located on the southern edge of the designated area in order to:
a. Create as close a connection to the skating oval as possible to facilitate viewing of events and ease of access for skaters and the Zamboni machine.
b. Take advantage of solar potential
c. Connect to existing pedestrian path.
The pavilion design and placement will necessitate the removal of trees. The design team believes that the pavilion and its solutions would be further enhanced if consideration was given to locating the pavilion along the straight away of the skating oval. This would reduce the number of trees disturbed, better place viewers near the finish lines, allow a direct connection from facility to oval and facility to park, and provide better solar orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF DESIGN SOLUTION
The design solution evolved from a notion of a plastic, fluid form that is evocative of movement, skate boots, snow drifts, and reflected light. The pavilion's singular location within a city park demands a response that is unique, engaging and delightful. The required programmatic elements break out into two primary forms, a larger volume containing the city funded elements and a smaller volume for the ESSA requirements. Generally, the larger public program elements are located on the main floor while the multipurpose/rentable areas are on the 2nd floor. The narrow floor plate ensures that daylight is present in all primary spaces while the service spaces (mechanical, washrooms + storage) are grouped to prevent shading of active areas. The narrow form also enables visual access through the building, uniting the natural areas surrounding the building. The large outdoor deck is not part of the prescribed program but adds amenity area that allows the extension of useable space through shoulder seasons. A lift is provided for universal access to the second floor. Connections to the ESSA building are via upper deck or lower covered passage. The ESSA building can be secured from public access if desirable. The materials, primarily steel + glass, reinforce the generative ideas by catching light and changing as daylight does - sparkling in full sun, emulating mottled shadows cast on snow on duller days. Colour is employed to provide delight (particularly in the depths of winter) and is realized as a graduated shift from white to blue in the varied metal panel cladding. This cladding, reinterpreting the traditional notion of ornamentation, rolls over the gently sloped roof, and will be visible from the picnic sites beyond (potentially even from residential buildings overlooking the valley). A double glazed storefront system with integrated operable windows is employed on the main floor. The continuity of the glazing allows views through the building to the surrounding landscape and park and reinforces the visual connection. Physical connection is encouraged via a covered walkway linking front and back and exterior stairs that invite visitors to the upper deck for different views of the park and river to the south. The north face metal clad wall folds down to better shelter the pavilion and provide greater thermal value.
SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES
The competition document brief notes that "the approach to the competition design should consider a broader definition of sustainability". This solution responds to the challenge of broadening the expectation of sustainability in Edmonton by:
- Providing a unique, identifiable building that is unlike other park pavilions in the City;
- Providing spaces that nurture community organization activities such as ESSA;
- Encouraging active living through the provision of a welcoming, dynamic + safe facility;
- Promoting best practices in urban and architectural design;
- Considering lifetime maintenance costs in creating a durable building;
- Enhancing the site through restoration of portions of the existing landscape from parking to green space;
- Striving to exceed the established LEED Silver standard;
- Providing outdoor gathering spaces beyond those described in the program to support citizen social interaction in all seasons;
The following strategies may be employed to realize the requirement to meet LEED Silver
- Narrow floor plate to allow daylight to reach through space;
- Natural/cross ventilation provided through openable windows located along the storefront system on the main floor, the two story space above skate change, and second story windows;
- Trombe wall;
- Stacked service room + washrooms;
- 2nd floor overhang to provide summer shading;
- Balance between an insulated envelope + glazing areas;
- Protected north wall;
- Low flow water fixtures;
- In-floor radiant heat;
- Restoration of portions of site.
% FOR ART LOCATIONS
The proposed locations for art are along the pedestrian path leading from the parking lot north to the pavilion. Ideally this public art would be distributed along the path's length in order to provide a continuous experience that enhances the arrival process and is inspired by the movement of the skating surface. The consideration/incorporation of artificial light within or as the art would further extend the experience in the evening hours and winter darkness. Alternatively, this area provides multiple location opportunities for a single installation should the artist so desire. Edmonton design comittee principles addressed
Principle A Urbanism: The pavilion design responds primarily to principle A3 Creating + Enhancing the Block, Street or Building by
-Respecting human scale through the provision of smaller scale details (wood cladding on wall of upper deck, low operable windows, lowering facade overhang to 2.1m);
-Encouraging active edges through clear glazing around the main floor;
-Maintaining close visual connection to the exterior ensuring clear sense of time, weather and light conditions;
-Safety is provided through transparency and open spaces;
-Consideration is given to both day and night use with transparency, lighting, solar shading and gain, light penetration;
-And the singular design reinforces the City of Edmonton's aspirations for design excellence, inclusiveness and a holistic approach to sustainability.
Principle B Design Excellence: Sustainability is an integral component of the design (BlL public art is integrated into the project {B2L and the design incorporates durable, permanent and timeless materials {B4, see technical aspects}. Principle B3 Celebrate the Winter City is fundamental to the pavilion's vision. The design respects and embraces Edmonton's four season climate by providing areas of shelter from cold, heat and precipitation. It contains outdoor spaces that encourage cooler weather use that can accommodate public or private uses. It celebrates, captures and defends against the variable influence of Edmonton's solar conditions.
Principle C Scale, Connections + Context: The design addresses principle C1 through the pavilion's strong form, ornamented roofscape and consistency of form. The respect for history suggested C2 is expressed by maintaining established paths and connections. The enhancement and preservation of connections required by C3 are detailed in the Rationale section of this document.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
- Structure
The pavilion foundation is conceived of as grade beams and structural slab. A steel structural frame of beams, columns, trusses and joists will provide the skeleton form supporting the wall + roof envelope. The second floor will be one way concrete slab on steel formwork, exposed on the underside.
- Pavilion envelope
The wrapping roof will be fabricated from structural insulated panels allowing a seamless transition from roof to wall and allowing 300 mm of insulation (RSO-60). These panels will be finished with membrane and metal cladding allowing the application of rainscreen principles. The metal cladding is composed of varying but repeating widths and lengths that wrap both walls and roof. The south facing storefront glazing system overhung by a continuous line of metal clad second floor wall. The overhang serves to provide the required shade in the summer months. A trombe wall is employed in the center of the building where storage negates the requirement for natural light. This wall will support the mechanical system by providing passive heating in the winter months. Further passive heat gains will come from the concrete floor slab. The operable windows wrap the base of the system and will facilitate cross-ventilation throughout the building. A double height space in the skate change area further assists in drawing hot air up and out through a natural stack effect. Second floor windows generally take a linear format carved out of the solid walls. These fixed and operable combinations are fibreglass frames, selected for maximum thermal performance and durability.
- Durability
Interior and exterior finishes are durable, and low-maintenance. Interior walls are primarily concrete block, concrete floors will be left exposed (ground and sealed) where skate protection surface is not required, toilet partitions will be stainless steel. The metal decks will be left exposed.
SERVICES
A high efficiency boiler will provided in slab radiant heat and domestic hot water needs. Passive gains will offset energy use requirements. Ventilation will be by HRV and natural sources. It is assumed that ESSA members will use the public washrooms, but heat and ventilation are provided from the main mechanical room via insulated chases within the deck. Ample natural light will reduce the call for artificial light but when needed, will be provided by highly efficient LED lights. Should budget or analysis allow, the provision of solar hot water heat and/or photovoltaic panels may be considered for energy production. Solar panels could be effectively integrated and showcased on the south face as a part of the metal pattern.
ANTICIPATED CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS
Chandos Construction Ltd. was consulted to provide a verification of the anticipated capital costs for the design. Based on a building gross area of 830 m2, they have estimated a construction value of $1,935,580 exclusive of GST. This estimate contains a number of assumptions, and Chandos therefore estimates the pavilion design should fall between $2,300 -2,775 per sm. This equates to a value range of $1,909,000 - 2,303} 250. We are confident that as the design evolves it can meet the stated construction budget of $2.31 Million.
(Competitor's text)
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