Article source: TCA | Thier + Curran Architects Inc.
A revitalization and expansion has doubled the size of this visionary non-profit community arts space. It is built around the Hamilton Music Collective and their An Instrument for Every Child program, dedicated to nourishing youth self-esteem through the musical arts. It is also used as a church and rental event space. In support of the focal performance space housed within the 1850 heritage structure, the addition provides much needed support spaces like a new two storey lobby, a large second floor multi-purpose classroom space, practice and teaching spaces for music lessons, and service spaces such as washrooms, a coatroom and a Green Room / loading dock / sidestage.
Article source: TCA | Thier + Curran Architects Inc.
Located in Hamilton’s James Street North Arts District, this infill project includes a new restaurant complete with rear sunken patio. Though one storey in height, the building has been carefully crafted to fit into its taller surroundings with a dramatic, steeply pitched roof, giving the appearance of a multi-storey structure. This move affords soaring interior spaces with exposed wood trusses and skylights, all overlooking the street theatre of James Street North with oversized windows. The entry doors have been recessed from the street and surrounded by bold tile to create a strong sense of arrival.
Intellect for Living in Semi-exterior Spaces that are Equivalent to interior
This residence is located in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. This region is home to the Queenslander — a traditional style of wooden stilted house complete with veranda. The characteristic veranda is an environmental interface for keeping sunlight off the buildings outer walls, and also serves to link residents to their city and community through acting as an entrance porch, and sometimes even a dining room or reception area for greeting guests. In Japan these roles used to be carried out by engawa loggias and earthen floors, but such spaces are now in the process of disappearing. People greatly value the type of lifestyle, which can take place in semi-outdoor spaces. I saw an example of this in a housing catalogue issued in 1939, in which indoor and semi-outdoor areas were displayed in different colors and both of their floor spaces noted down for readers.
North End Free Library and Public Bench Designed by TCA Architects Opens in Hamilton (Hamilton, Ontario) – July 24, 2015 – The North End Free Library is open and lending books in Hamilton. This tactical urbanism intervention is a ‘take a book, leave a book’ gathering place – a civic gesture and public amenity that blurs the lines between public and private. It is about creating community and celebrating literacy in Hamilton’s waterfront North End neighbourhood.
Mohawk College’s Fennell Campus developed organically over 30 years with multiple buildings incorporated in a functional manner, resulting in a complex plan without clear organization. When the firm was awarded the project, the College’s direction was to provide a Learning Commons / Library, and introduce a central organization to the campus. The result is a design, which provides a strong north-south link, from the new Fennell street entrance through the existing campus to the current main entrance at the south parking areas.
General Contractor /Construction Manager: Sub-contractors acquired by Mohawk College
Structural Engineers : Halcrow Yolles
Mechanical Engineers : MCW Consultants LTD
Electrical Engineers : MCW Consultants LTD
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
The courtyards are linked with pedestrian paths and landscaped with student movement in mind. Beneath the windmill generators, grassy sitting areas and pedestrian scale lighting are incorporated into the design, resulting in an outdoor space, which reinforces the College’s image as a “community-facing, modern and sustainable college”. (President Rob MacIsaac).
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
Area: 40,000 square feet
Completion: January 2011
Cost: $14.5 million
Client: Mohawk College
Sustainability Goals: LEED Gold
Annual energy consumption MJ / M2 year = 687 MJ / M2 year
Percentage of recycled content: 15%
Water consumption from municipal sources = litres / occupant / year = 8.2 M3
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
The impact on the site was reduced through a landscaping plan, which incorporates hearty, native species. This allows for minimal use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides on the green roof.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
Heating is provided through a hydronic piping system embedded in the concrete slabs. This configuration takes advantage of the thermal mass of the slab itself, which allows for an even distribution of heat throughout the space. Additionally, as heat is radiated from below, the natural effects of convection ensures that the heat is provided directly to the occupied zone in the space (ie: near the floor), rather than from diffusers in the ceilings. This reduces fan power, energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
Vibrantly coloured glazing creates a sense of warmth and contrast in the quiet student gathering and learning spaces. The brightly lit interior guides the students towards the building from the street on frigid winter days.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
In the interior spaces daylight is maximized by incorporating glazing throughout the building, which reduces the use of electric lighting and saves on operating costs. Additionally, all lighting is equipped with either daylight sensors or occupancy sensors, or both, ensuring that the building responds to environmental and occupant conditions.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
Close to 75% of the building provides usable space for students and staff. In an average building between 40- 50% is usable space. The creation of quiet learning spaces for students was a priority Mohawk students identified on key performance indicator surveys. The new library represents Mohawk’s vision to inspire learning, citizenship and innovation. Inspired by the ways in which modern mobile technology influence “plugged-in learning,” the spaces within the collaboratorium are flexible and fully wired to accommodate current technology. As part of the overall campus revitalization, the library forms the heart of its creative culture that will drive new generations of tomorrow’s skilled leaders.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
The design established a new vernacular for the campus. Future renovation projects will build upon this ‘street’ framework and extend the architectural language established in the Mohawk Learning Exchange through the premises, creating clear circulation routes and an understandable, complete campus.
Image Courtesy Tom Arban
Project Specifications
A 30,000 sf, two-storey “link” building to be the iconic new image of the campus on Fennell. The new learning exchange building will connect to three existing surrounding buildings and will include 10, 60-seat classrooms and an E-Learning Centre. It will be minimum LEED Gold and will be on an extremely fast-track schedule.
Elevation
The interior of the building is primarily concrete to reduce the use of raw materials. Concrete was selected as the primary construction material for its durability and finishing characteristics.
Top View
Low-emitting adhesives, coatings, sealants, paints, and carpets were used to ensure optimal air quality.
A living wall graces the main entrance and acts as both a focal point and as a natural bio-filter, removing carbon dioxide and other contaminates from return air.
lower_level_plan
Heating is provided through a hydronic piping system embedded in the concrete slabs. This configuration takes advantage of the thermal mass of the slab itself, which allows for an even distribution of heat throughout the space. Additionally, as heat is radiated from below, the natural effects of convection ensures that the heat is provided directly to the occupied zone in the space (ie: near the floor), rather than from diffusers in the ceilings. This reduces fan power, energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels.
upper_level_plan
In the interior spaces daylight is maximized by incorporating glazing throughout the building, which reduces the use of electric lighting and saves on operating costs. Additionally, all lighting is equipped with either daylight sensors, occupancy sensors, or both, ensuring that the building responds to environmental and occupant conditions.
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