University of Waterloo - Pharmacy Building

Mark Mitchell, Stantec Consulting Ltd.

The University of Waterloo Pharmacy Building will be located on a satellite campus in the urban space of Kitchener and will be the location of the University's new pharmaceutical program beginning in September 2007. The project consists of a four story laboratory wing and an eight story administration tower that will consist of classrooms, auditoriums, science laboratories, offices, and a library totalling 100,000 sq. ft. of program space.

The design consultants worked closely with the University of Waterloo to determine the requirements of this new facility and pharmaceutical curriculum. One of the most interesting features of this project is the fast track design and construction requirements to meet the September 2007, occupancy date required by the University to start the fall semester. To assist in accomplishing this goal the consultants prepared construction drawings and specifications for sequential tenders.

The project budget for the University of Waterloo Pharmacy Building is $30 million and was scheduled to begin construction in April of 2006.

The design innovations include:

• Modular Laboratory Layout:
  The mechanical consultant and architects developed a modular laboratory design that will accommodate a variety of research needs for the University's new pharmaceutical program that does not currently have a faculty.
• Fume Hoods:
  Low-flow fume hoods, which use 40 percent less air in a constant air volume (CAV) will be installed to lower ongoing cooling and heating requirements. Although these deeper hoods require more space per unit, their cost was compensated for by a smaller mechanical system and smaller ducts.
• Water Conservation:
  Control flow roof drains have been designed to reduce loading of the municipal stormwater system.
• Energy Efficiency:
  The greatest reduction in energy and operating costs comes from the low-flow fume hoods. The hoods were tested and designed with a face velocity of 60 feet per minute instead of the industry norm of 100 feet per minute. Air to air heat recovery will be achieved through the use of an enthalpy heat wheel in two air systems serving the administration lecture theatre program areas of the building. In laboratory air systems, the use of a preheat coil located in each lab air handling unit to generate glycol chilled in the winter in addition to a glycol preheat coil that recovers heat from the exhaust air system will reduce laboratory heating and cooling energy consumption.
  
• User Safety and Comfort:
  Natural light penetrates into much of the complex via the high percentage of glazing on the north and south building elevations and exposed ceiling strategies. Upward facing supply diffusers in labs enhance occupant comfort; and fume hoods are safely located away from exits and supply air. Laboratory exhaust strategies ensure internal and external environmental air quality.
  

Labs21 Connection:

The University of Waterloo Pharmacy Building features a number of unique and innovative applications of technology that reflect the principles of the Labs21 Approach to laboratory design.

The use of a central manifolded fume exhaust systems coupled with low-flow fume hoods reduces not only ongoing operating costs, but also the amount of ductwork and associated building costs. The design ensures occupant safety with low-flow fume hoods that were rigorously tested in an independent lab (RWDI). The use of the 100 percent outdoor air drawn through the laboratory air handling unit to generate building chilled water during the shoulder and heating seasons allows reduced energy consumption from the cooling plant but also provides an additional level of preheating outdoor when used in combination with the exhaust air glycol recovery loop. Commissioning of the installation will ensure that building systems will operate as intended. A monitoring and verification system will be provided to monitor water consumption and energy consumption from mechanical heating and cooling plants.

Biography:

Mark Mitchell obtained his education at the University of Washington, where he completed an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1972. He is the Engineer of Record for several advanced integrated office/lab buildings including Microsoft Canadian Headquarters, Bahen Centre for Information Technology.

In 1990, Mr. Mitchell developed a green "Decision Making Matrix" to assess the application of Green Engineering options to the Body Shop Headquarters, which began the green movement in Canada. Also, Mr. Mitchell presented the award winning project, Chernoff Hall Chemistry Building, Queen's University at the 2005 Labs 21 conference.

Through the application of the cost transfer process, Mr. Mitchell has developed business case solutions for integrated design which allow building envelopes to improve in quality (solar shading, higher insulation, daylighting etc.) by reducing the size and complexity of the mechanical and electrical systems.

He is currently the Chair of the Canada Green Building Council - Toronto Chapter to help design and implement educational tools to transform the building industry in North America.

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