University of Waterloo’s New Prismatic Engineering Building is a ‘Daylight Factory’

Posted By Bridgette Meinhold On March 15, 2011 @ 10:50 am In Architecture,Daylighting,Sustainable Building | No Comments

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If you were in engineering school anytime before about 2005, you probably studied in one of the oldest and darkest buildings on campus. Around 2005, a lot of schools jumpstarted their engineering programs with fancy, high-tech buildings full of daylight and top of the line everything. Case in point: University of Waterloo's Engineering 5 Building Waterloo's Engineering 5 Building designed by Perkins + Will ^[6], which is just the first phase of a major expansion to the Faculty of Engineering ^[7]. With a fritted glass pattern on the exterior, LED lighting and a two story Student Design Centre, conceived as a “daylight factory ^[8]”, the sustainable strategies are worth getting jealous over.

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The six story building consolidates a number of departments that were previously spread out in other buildings and includes four stories of departmental labs, classrooms ^[9] and offices above the two story daylit Student Design Centre (SDC). The SDC has instructional and design space on the second story, which overlooks a long row of high concrete framed work bays and shops for fabrication and exhibition space.

A geometric Tron-inspired staircase lit with LED lights is the highlight of the central atrium and the building is clad in a fritted glazing ^[10] with an array of graduated dots patterned to create the illusion of a series of protruding pyramids. Engineering 5 features a number of informal meeting areas, as well as a green rooftop terrace ^[11] and a 2-story hanging garden that dominates the west facade and signifies the building entry. While LEED certification ^[9] was not sought for this engineering building, it does feature plenty of sustainable features to make it worthy.

+ Perkins + Will ^[12]

+ University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering ^[7]

Via ArchDaily ^[13]

Images ©Lisa Logan Architectural Photography ^[14]

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/university-of-waterloos-new-prismatic-engineering-building-is-a-daylight-factory/

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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/university-of-waterloos-new-prismatic-engineering-building-is-a-daylight-factory/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/university-of-waterloos-new-prismatic-engineering-building-is-a-daylight-factory/university-waterloo-engineering-5-6/?extend=1

[6] Perkins + Will: http://inhabitat.com/dockside-green-phase-2-tied-as-highest-scoring-leed-building-in-the-world/

[7] Faculty of Engineering: http://www.engineering.uwaterloo.ca/

[8] daylight factory: http://inhabitat.com/giant-zig-zag-glass-umbrella-envelops-new-college-of-arts-in-nantes-france/

[9] classrooms: http://inhabitat.com/uc-davis-modern-student-health-center-targets-leed-gold/

[10] fritted glazing: http://inhabitat.com/stunning-icelandic-institute-is-an-ice-frosted-eco-citadel/

[11] green rooftop terrace: http://inhabitat.com/category/green-roof

[12] + Perkins + Will: http://www.perkinswill.com/work/university-of-waterloo.html

[13] ArchDaily: http://www.archdaily.com/118949/engineering-5-building-perkinswill/

[14] Lisa Logan Architectural Photography: http://www.lisalogan.ca/

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