The facility has been designed by a collaboration of Toronto’s Diamond + Schmitt Architects and Ottawa-based firm Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates. Ellis-Don Corporation served as the developer. The centre spans over an area of 19,000 square metres while encompassing five floors.
The facility features a spacious green roof with cutaways in floors, walls and ceilings that unveils concealed interior design. A glasscovered hole in the floor of the lobby area reveals a portion of the building’s foundation.
The building features informal terraced commons dedicated to students. There are a pair of hanging study pods which replicate spaceships. The atrium of the building has been adorned with a bio wall covering five levels. The wall is formed of living plants. The facility also includes built-in sensors which enable students to monitor temperature, humidity, air quality, structural load as well as other units through LCD screens. The different stories of the centre can be accessed via elevators made of glass.
The first storey of the building comprises shops and labs to facilitate multiple purposes like welding, electrical, sheet metal, plumbing, and carpentry. Its second level houses a food court and allows access to the outdoor terraced seating as well as the green roof. This floor also sports breakout rooms which are fitted with large flat-screen display monitors. The third level of the centre consists of labs to serve students in architectural drafting. The fourth floor features a laptop classroom with each desk offering wired data service.
The fourth level of the building and the fifth-floor offices for faculty and staff are linked via a cantilevered stair sporting a spiral form. The centre will further feature a weather station to provide data on climate. The station will be positioned on the roof of the mechanical penthouse.
The building also incorporates various green elements such as energy-efficient solar panels which provide hot water for the building. It has also been equipped with a rainwater storage system which collects rainwater for recycling in the facility’s toilets.
The centre has been financed through $35 million in federal grants, $35 million from the provincial government, $7.5 million from the college via the construction sector, as well as land donation worth $2 million from the City of Ottawa.
