Constructed in 2004, the recently renamed Stephen Hawking at the Perimeter Institute Centre for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, underwent a transformation in March 2011 with the addition of a
$26.5 million, 50,000-square-foot expan
sion. Teeple Architects Inc., Toronto, Ontario, was charged with the task of creating a space for young students and experienced researchers to engage in collaborative, as well as individual study of the workings of the universe. In addition, the expansion had to work aesthetically within the existing structure while not creating an additional building footprint.
As Bernard Jin, OOA, MRAIC, senior associate with Teeple Architects explains: “The layout of the addition’s plan extends the existing interior corridors and atrium spaces to formalize continuity and physicist interconnection for increased dialogue and interaction. While the form of the addition is raised above a landscape of rolling grass lawn and reflecting pool, a minimal gap between the two buildings is glazed, and encloses bridges and atriums so as to create the duality of transparent connections.”
The addition distinguishes individual research spaces and public interaction zones. Raleigh, N.C.- based Umicore Building Products USA Inc. supplied approximately 23,767 square feet of its 1-mm VMZINC flat lock wall panel in QUARTZ-ZINC, ANTRHA-ZINC and natural zinc on the interior and exterior of the building, as well as approximately 1,693 square feet of its 1-mm VMZINC standing seam wall panel in ANTHRA-ZINC on the interior.
“Zinc was chosen for its natural patina and color, flat seams, and its flexibility to be used as a soffit, wall and roof element,” notes Jin. “The resulting mass of the addition form is expressed by the zinc’s characteristic to be detailed with angular planes and edges highlighting the window openings and adjacency to the existing building form.”
The building’s expansion makes the building appear as if it does not have separate floors or stories; and the elevations are blended with gold glass. “The gold glass is characterized by research areas; the tint is part of the sealed glass unit construction. The shape of the window openings on the sides reflects the location of the steel braces of the structural frames lateral concept,” notes Jin.
According to Jin, the purpose of the gold glass is to distinguish quiet areas while transitional spaces are distinguished by clear glass. The north façade and the use of the gold glass express the connectivity in the relationship of the researchers. Spaces are clearly defined and separated.
“The form of the building [addition] is set adjacent to the existing [building] with a collection of new spaces to accommodate quiet and active environments, with acoustic control as a significant factor,” says Jin. The addition and existing [building] can be characterized by a strategic location of quiet offices separated to the active areas by transition spatial elements, such as stairs, stair landings, bridges, lounges and hallways as places for interaction, chance meeting to assist and increase dialogue.”
While the initial building was not designed to be LEED Silver certified, Teeple Architects designed the addition to create a LEED certified building with sustainable design considerations in mind. These design elements included providing natural daylighting wherever possible and optimizing surplus capacity from the existing mechanical system’s boiler and cooling plant.
Adding to the existing building without increasing the building’s footprint posed two major challenges. “The narrow atrium resulting from a restricted site was not local code compliant but accepted on a national building code interpretation. While one dimension of the atrium was not permitted in local codes, the performance of mechanical exhaust to remove smoke was compliant to the national building code [so] this proposal was accepted,” Jin explains. “[Second] while the structure of the existing building could not accommodate any superimposed new loads, the existing steel structural frame was designed to cantilever over the existing building, with only minimal loads applied. The natural zinc clad interior boardroom is completely cantilevered from the new expansion building.”
Teeple Architects was able to design the addition without creating an additional footprint by reusing the canopied parking area of the south to house administrative functions. On the north side of the building, the reflecting pool is reused partially by the new entrance, lobby, atrium and dining area. As a result, the new addition schematically hovers over the existing site space.
While the new addition has turned heads, the pre-existing building was recognized with a Canadian Governor’s General Medal in Architecture in 2006. The new addition has brought the building LEED Silver certification and an Award of Excellence by the Ontarion Association of Architects, Toronto. Overall, the building’s use of zinc, elevations and sustainable characteristics creates a mid-rise building that is out of this world.
Stephen Hawking Centre at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics , Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Completed: March 2011
Total square footage: 55,000 square feet
Architect: Teeple Architects Inc., Toronto, Ontario www.teeplearch.com
General contractor: Ball Construction Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, www.ballcon.com
Engineering consultant: Enermodal Engineering, Kitchener, Ontario, www.enermodal.com
Metal installers: Flynn Canada Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, www.flynn.ca
Metal wall panels: Umicore Building Products USA Inc., Raleigh, N.C., www.vmzinc.com
