reimagine newsletter - Summer 2011

SUMMER 2011 • VOLUME 1 NUMBER 2

We’ve been busy reimagining here at Manasc Isaac these past few months. We kicked off Spring 2011 with an outdoor party to celebrate the addition of solar panel sunshades to our home, the Oliver Building. We are also very proud recipients of the Outstanding Design Award for a school building addition/modernization at the Pacific Northwest Regional CEFPI conference in May. This design award was presented to Parkland School Division and our firm for the reimagined Memorial Composite High School in Stony Plain. In this issue of our reimagine newsletter, we’re focusing on reimagine here and around the world.

Oliver Building Sunshades: Our Latest Reimagine Project

Our latest completed reimagine project is right here at our home in the Oliver Building. At Manasc Isaac we’re always looking for ways to reduce the impact our office has on the environment. During the warmer months we rely on operable windows, not mechanical air conditioning, to keep us cool while we work inside. We added photovoltaic (PV) panels, that also operate as sunshades, to the south side of the building which receives a generous amount of sun during the day. This integrated design solution solves many problems with one idea. We are able to provide exterior sunshades that generate green, no carbon emitting power and also keep the building cool. The panels feed 10.4 kilowatts, or 10 per cent of the building’s energy needs. During weekends or other low-usage periods, the energy flows into the grid. Part of the funding for our PV solar sunshades was provided by a generous grant from the Edmonton Solar Electric Pilot Program.

To read more on the Oliver Building Sunshades please visit:
http://manascisaac.com/projects/oliver_building_pv_sunshades
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Manasc+Isaac+pilots+sustainable+building+cooling+system+Edmonton/4805109/story.html

Reimagining Around the World

PUBLIC BUILDING – CALGARY

The City of Calgary’s Public Building renovation not only preserves the building’s historical significance, but may also receive LEED® Platinum certification. The Calgary Public Building was originally built in 1926 and is located in downtown Calgary. Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc. and Chados Construction took on Reimagining the historical building. The team faced certain challenges while restoring the older building, for instance; it was found that the most heat loss was occuring through the original single pane windows. These windows however, are integral to the history of the building leading to the design team’s decision to renovate the building from the inside out. Reimagining this building was a formidable task; however, the benefits include a 50% reduction in operating costs, a longer life for the building and greater comfort for it’s occupants. Image: sabmagazine.com

To read more on the Public Building Renovation project please visit:
http://www.sabmagazine.com/blog/2011/05/24/calgary-public-building/
http://www.calgary.ca
http://www.avenuecalgary.com/articles/skindeep-sustainability
http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_10481.asp
http://fmv.fcm.ca/FCM-Sustainable-Community-Awards/FCM-2011-Awards/Buildings.asp
http://www.mb-architect.ca/site.html

MINISTRY OF FINANCE – THE HAGUE

The Ministry of Finance was built in the mid 1970’s and was one of the most notable brutalist buildings in the Netherlands. The building was reimagined by Meyer en van Schooten Architecten and the engineers at Arup, who maintained the integral brutalist design while opening it up by adding an extra facade of glass around the building. The result is a modern structure that meets today’s codes, is more comfortable for it’s occupants, and is true to it’s original design. Image: Imre Csany, skyscrapercity.com

To learn more about the Ministry of Finance Building, please visit:
http://www.meyer-vanschooten.nl/project/detail/16/ministry-of-finance
http://www.arup.com/Projects/Ministry_of_Finance_The_Hague.aspx

TOUR FIRST – PARIS

Tour FIRST is the new tallest building in Paris. Standing 231 metres tall near the Neuilly Bridge, the building is a new prominent feature in the city’s skyline. The building was originally designed by Pierre Dufau in the 1970’s and was reimagined by KPF to improve it’s performance and environmental sustainability while honouring the original design. The reimagined Tour FIRST is taller to obtain more surface area and prominence. The building was reskinned to increase the amount of daylight that reaches the interior. The new design is also better integrated into the surrounding urban space making it more accessible to the general public.
Image: bdcnetwork.com
 

For more information on the Tour FIRST Building, please visit:
http://www.kpf.com/project.asp?T=15&ID=169
http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/tallest-office-building-france-now-open