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The proposed site for the ECS Expansion was identified as a Future Building site in the 2016 Campus Plan. The proposed six-storey addition to the existing ECS building and a new High Bay Research and Structures Lab in Parking Lot A will provide the space required to support the faculty's growth while minimizing land disturbances and tree removal. The buildings will be developed to support the goals and principles of the Campus Plan including compact growth, campus vibrancy along Ring Road, creating outdoor spaces to encourage campus and public use, and increase academic excellence. 

The building designs, which incorporated feedback received from the Virtual Open House, have been completed.

The High Bay Lab architectural design concept includes the high head lab space, as well as research and teaching labs on two levels. The proposed design highlights include: 

1. Relates to Campus Context in height and orientation to the ECS and ELW buildings. 
2. Remains 'Human-Scale' along Ring Road through the terraced roof design. 
3. Stepped roofs give a possibility for green roofs, accessible patios and photovoltaics. 
4. Improves the existing ECS atrium by extending in to the new expansion, bringing light through the roof and becoming the hub of social spaces for both existing and the new ECS. 
5. Larger lab spaces near the ground floor, and smaller upper floors for research and offices spaces. 

The High Bay Lab architectural design concept has a full basement and full ground level. The areas that are not part of the High Bay program are lowered to create a separate roof. The proposed design highlights include: 

1. The building fronts Ring Road at a 'human-scale.' 
2. Large windows provide opportunities to see structural research activities taking place in the lab. 
3. Potential for accessible roof deck and improvements to ELW entry plaza. 
4. The building frames the ELW entry plaza to support its animation and creates intuitive navigation from the ELW and ECS buildings. 
5. Locates loading and storage to the East side of the building, which directly serves the main High Bay lab through an overhead door. 

The ECS Expansion includes: a common atrium with the existing ECS building, undergraduate design studio, graduate student workstations, environmental and hydraulics labs, building science labs, computational research labs, materials lab, geotechnical labs, biomedical engineering labs, active learning labs, computer labs, faculty collaboration space, and engineering department office spaces. 

The High Bay Research and Structures Lab includes: a gantry crane, strong floor, reaction wall, a separated structural shake table, and several supporting facilities. In addition to research focused on dynamic loading and testing of structural members the high bay lab will also accommodate large scale experiments related to geotechnical and environmental research areas.

The project funding model does not support new designated club spaces; however, the architectural team is working to maximize opportunities for social spaces and informal group work areas within building common areas and atrium spaces. 

The ECS Expansion's terraced form creates multiple rooftop zones for sustainability features like stormwater capture and green roofs, and rooftop patios. On the ground level, the design is focused on upgrading the existing streetscape and firelane, and the addition of new social plazas. The design highlights include: 

1. Maximizing opportunities for tree retention; 
2. Green roof and/or photovoltaics; 
3. Pedestrian connections; 
4. Rooftop accessible patio spaces;  
5. Accessible parking; 
6. Stormwater feature fed by rooftop run-off; 
7. Maximizing opportunities for tree retention;  
8. 'Learners Walk' - a pedestrian route with interpretive signage; and, 
9. Improved pedestrian and cycling pathways. 

The High Bay Lab landscape design will focus on creating a 'light-industrial' character, complementing the indoor research spaces. The design highlights include: 

1. Pedestrian connections;  
2. Maximizing opportunities for tree retention; 
3. New plantings and outdoor seating; 
4. Demonstration and laboratory green roof; and,  
5. Improved pedestrian and cycling pathways. 

The interior spaces in the ECS expansion will reveal the wood building structure where possible. At each level, there will be a social space with views out to the neighbouring trees and spaces for informal collaboration.

Active Transportation Infrastructure

Campus Cycling Plan directions have been incorporated into the design including:

• Covered and uncovered bike parking stalls,
• End-of-trip facilities such as showers and lockers, and
• A 3m wide cycling path and a 2m wide pedestrian pathway fronting the building along Ring Road.

Overall, the project aims to support sustainable transportation choices. 

Short-term and Accessible Parking

The project is providing five new parking stalls as parallel parking stalls along Ring Road. These include 3 accessible parking stalls and a loading stall for two vehicles.

The two building designs explore the following approaches;

• Targeting LEED Gold V4 certification;

• Targeting CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard;

• Active transportation infrastructure, including parking, shower and changeroom facilities, and a separated cycling path;

• Compact growth by building on underutilized parking lots and plaza areas, growing up and not out;

• Mass timber in wall, floor and roof construction to reduce embodied carbon emissions;

• Electric heat pump HVAC systems operating on BC’s low-carbon electricity grid;
• Photovoltaics at roof and wall (HBRSL) for electricity generation;

• Bird-friendly design;

• Low carbon cladding materials;

• Reduced GHG emissions for concrete;

• Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment; 

• Efficient LED Light Fixtures;

• Low-flow sanitary fixtures to reduce water usage;

• Rain gardens and Bioswales to slow and filter water;

• Green roofs to increase green space and biodiversity and be used for research;

• Restorative landscapes, including the university's commitment to tree retention and replacement strategy;

• Indigenous plantings in the landscaping to recreate local ecosystems and include culturally and ecologically important species; and

• High-performance building envelopes that would increase energy performance and reduce operational carbon through the use of:
  • additional insulation
  • high-performance glazing
  • exterior solar shading devices
  • effective window-to-wall ratios.