The Loyola Student Residence Recladding Project

Recipient of the 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering

In partnership with DSRA Architecture and Saint Mary’s University, Dillon Consulting Limited innovatively transformed the Loyola Student Residence building and has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in engineering.

Initially enlisted for their mechanical and electrical solutions during a much-needed building recladding, Dillon’s role expanded from simply addressing maintenance concerns to providing a cost-effective, sustainable application of impressive technologies.

The first phase involved a detailed feasibility analysis of this 23-story solar energy initiative. The study examined integration options, probable construction costs, potential solar radiation, AC-DC conversion losses and system lifecycle.

Collaborating with Saint Mary’s University’s Office of Sustainability, this meticulous analysis laid the groundwork for the second phase: the photovoltaic paneling system and supporting infrastructure design.

The result is not only an electrically efficient building but an architecturally pleasing one, reflecting the aesthetic aspirations of the client team. A successful application of engineering principles created an efficient and socially responsible building.

This brand-new lightweight cladding system increases safety and decreases operations costs for the building maintenance team. A two-person team on a swing stage can remove and maintain paneling, as opposed to a crane and large crew.

The project’s incorporation of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems to generate power is a critical

achievement in reducing carbon emissions. Financial savings were top of mind, mainly through optimizing the available resources and using inverters with high DC-to-AC ratios.

Remarkably, the Loyola Student Residence Recladding Project adapts to seasonal energy demands. The photovoltaic system is optimally positioned and engineered to maximize energy capture during solar irradiance and fluctuation periods. The benefit is twofold: the system meets immediate energy demands more effectively, alleviating the load on the building’s HVAC system.

The Loyola Student Residence Recladding Project is the first in Atlantic Canada and represents North America’s tallest application of these technologies. Over its 30-year lifespan covered by the linear power warranty, the project promises significant benefits, including approximately $500,000 in deferred electricity costs, over $100,000

in natural gas savings and an additional $124,000 in CO2e tax savings.

These savings, coupled with the cost differential between a like-for-like recladding and the BIPV option, result in a payback period shorter than 20 years through feasibility modelling.

The Dillon team is comprised of individuals from varied engineering disciplines, lived experiences, gender identities, languages, and geographical regions—a testament to these unparalleled, creative outcomes.

In merging financial feasibility with environmental stewardship, this initiative contributes to both the prosperity of Saint Mary’s University and a greener future for Nova Scotians.