Final Design

View design presentation by Bruce Kuwabara, Design Architect.

Key Features

Healthy and Productive Work Place

• large contiguous column-less floor plates and raised flooring provide flexibility in utilization of space, a reduction in churn costs and improved air quality via a displacement ventilation system;
• north and south atria with staircases are active part of the work environment, encouraging vertical circulation of employees and creating vertical neighborhoods which keep business units and divisions together, meet adjacency requirements, support internal communications and minimize travel distances;
• double façade allows for operable windows which personalizes control of natural ventilation and protects the building's thermal mass, providing excellent comfort with minimal temperature swing at all work stations;
• high floor to floor heights with floor to ceiling windows in combination with narrower floor plates allow for maximum daylight penetration throughout the workspace, creating a reduced need for artificial light and a healthier work environment, contributing to improved productivity;
• accessible rooftop terraces and a south atrium space can be used seasonally as meeting places.

Energy Efficiency/Sustainability

• a complex building design whose form and orientation optimizes passive systems for ventilation, heating and cooling;
• 3- and 6-storey atria, located throughout the tower, function as solar collectors, air exchangers, air handlers, and air shafts;
• optimized solar exposure maximizes the building's south area and minimizes north area to take advantage of the sun's passive warming effect on air as it rises through the south atria in the winter months and to reduce thermal loss through the north side of the building;
• natural ventilation minimizes the need for a 'forced air' circulation system:
  • south and north atriums act as lungs providing natural displacement ventilation via a raised floor:
    • fresh air is drawn into the atria on the south side of the building and is conditioned as it rises through the atria;
    • the air flows through the building via raised floors and is exhausted passively by the solar chimney.
  • during the heating season the parkade is heated with exhaust air routed from the solar chimney;
• a double façade provides a high performance envelope which reduces heating loads by providing a buffer to extreme outdoor temperatures;
• operable windows on the inner wall of the double façade add to natural ventilation at seasonally appropriate times of the year;
• higher floor to floor heights and narrower floor plates optimize daylight, reducing lighting requirements;
• exposed radiant concrete ceilings maintain building temperatures;
• a living green roof;
• a water feature in the south atrium which provides humidification and dehumidification;
• a geothermal heat pump system for ground heat exchange — in winter, extracts heat from the ground to heat the building; in summer, the building is cooled by returning the heat extracted in the winter to the ground;
• energy efficient lighting, pumps and drives;
• targets a 60 per cent reduction compared to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (mNECB) and surpasses C-2000 requirements;
• targets LEED™ (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design) Gold sustainability certification (LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive project certification system).

Signature Architecture

• unique design in the form of 2 large masses separated by a light structured, transparent, south facing atria;
• quality fit out materials;
• significant entry on Portage Avenue;
• a water feature, a symbol of the essence of Manitoba Hydro;
• large gross floor area to allow for a more complex and striking design;
• world-class energy efficiency and building sustainability identifies Manitoba Hydro as a world class energy company, presenting opportunities for corporate branding and promotion of energy conservation;
• 2006 winner of Canadian Architect's Award for Design Excellence.

Urban Design

• positive stimulus to downtown Winnipeg by enhancing and connecting the new building into the existing infrastructure and by housing over 2,000 downtown workers;
• podium and tower marries large building mass with street level scale;
• ground level retail oriented to Portage and Edmonton to enhance street level activity;
• connected to the downtown skywalk system;
• ground level lobby links Portage and Graham Avenues and public transit routes;
• public and retail space in the podium;
• landscaped public courtyard and park on the south side on Graham Avenue;
• increased set back from Edmonton Street to enhance pedestrian environment and street activity.