Buildings Award of Excellence
Edmonton Convention Centre Atrium Renovation DIALOG
T
Harnessing the energy of the sun The installation of the solar PV system is the most visible and ambitious update. As the 35-year-old glazing was leaking and had poor thermal performance, given the atrium’s expansive area and southern exposure, there was an opportunity to integrate solar PV glass. Insulated glazing units (IGUs) were manufactured, with monocrystalline cells sandwiched between the panes, custom-sized to fit within the existing framing system. The 170-kW solar PV system uses a string inverter topology. Instead of hiding the inverters, they are prominently mounted in plain sight among the atrium’s indoor foliage. 30
CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEER
CCE_SPETOCT21_LAZ.indd 30
“A great example of what’s possible in terms of bringing existing buildings into the future.” - Jury
This location showcases the components necessary to harness energy from the sun and provides an educational opportunity for visitors. The selection of the glazing was an intensive, iterative process that included six different options. There were many factors to be considered, including U-value, visual transmittance, shading co-efficient, colour and system weight. The overall cooling load for the space had to be equal to or lower than the existing load, so as to avoid costly mechanical system upgrades. Another significant factor was retaining enough light quality for the atrium’s plant collection; this required a full daylight illuminance
study. The process led to the selection of a double-paned assembly, since triple glazing could not be structurally supported. Due to the new glazing’s reduced heat loss, a study of the anticipated snow loading was commissioned. The study considered building massing effects, prevalent wind direction, snow melt through the roof and current climatic data to determine if any reduction in snow loading was permitted below the values prescribed by the codes. A structural analysis model was developed to assess the effects of the increased loading on the atrium space frame. This included analysis of both the existing frame and the
PHOTOS COU RT E SY DI A LO G.
he revitalization of the Edmonton Convention Centre’s (ECC’s) multi-level atrium along the slope of the river valley was an opportunity to do more than just replace its 35-year-old glazing. DIALOG added a higher-performance building envelope, modern lighting and electrical systems, structural upgrades and Canada’s largest building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) system. The renovation allows the ECC to showcase its ambitious sustainability goals, while also helping to achieve them.
September/October 2021
2021-10-18 10:14 AM
LRSCC
CCE_B
