Climate Action
The architecture profession must play a role in stabilizing the climate change crisis, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in favour of clean power. This is one of the reasons why the OAA has chosen “climate action” as a theme in its strategic plan.
As it did in 2020, the OAA once again required Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) metrics to be included as part of the submissions process for the 2022 Design Excellence Awards program. EUI is the measurement of a building's annual energy consumption relative to its size. The lower the number, the less impact the building has on our climate. You can learn more about the OAA’s Total EUI Calculator online tool, free for both members and the public, by clicking here. Attached is the 2030 Ontario Target Data chartwhich shows the EUI goals for the 2030 challenge based on the building type.
TEUI of the project: 74 kWh/
m2
Location: Stayner, ON
Architect: Lebel & Bouliane Inc.
Clearview’s newest public library is a key project for Stayner’s community. A recipient at this year’s Ontario Library Association (OLA) awards, the library’s energized design language is a result of optimized programming integrated to passive environmental strategies. A modest 650 m2 in area, the building is thoughtfully connected to the local hockey arena with a small atrium and shared amenities. This result is a bright and airy family-friendly, locally scaled community hub with a powerful and iconic presence. With its folding rooflines, jagged clerestories, enormous views, and powerful design language, the complex is deeply connected to the surrounding landscape.
Photo Credit: Michael Muraz
Met with increasing demand, the Township of Clearview wanted to create a brand-new branch for the Clearview Public Library. The proposed addition to the Stayner Community Centre, home to the Memorial Arena and Community Hall, creates a cohesive community hub. The project includes a new primary entrance connecting the existing programmes with the single-storey library addition. The interior features an open plan, sightlines and accessible circulation throughout, a community lounge, multi-purpose boardrooms, and staff support spaces. A children’s area, lounge seating, work space and charging stations for teens also provide overflow space for those with families at the hockey rink.
Photo Credit:Tom Arban
The intention was not only to design a library, but also an innovative community hub with an exceptional concept and excellent resolution for circulation, collaboration, gathering, and everyday social interaction. The form of the library addition is a modern iteration of the local architectural vernacular, driven by the typical barn roof typology, and allowed the team to exploit natural light, frame engaging views (inside and out), and offer unique spatial qualities conducive to learning, socializing, and working toward personal and collaborative achievement. The approach was multi-scaled and garners a deep understanding of the library’s culture, context and programme.
Photo Credit:Tom Arban
The site is surrounded by endless fields and greenery, views from the library create a calming oasis for reading and working. Central to the library’s design concept was to create a form that provides the best solar orientation to incorporate passive environmental strategies. The orientation of the library is on a true north-south axis, the vaulting of the main space and high clerestory windows provide the best position to capture natural light from all directions and mitigate heat gain, making the space bright and engaging while minimizing artificial lighting. In terms of material use, the library was clad in a sustainable wood siding, and the interior used low-VOC paint and finishes to help create a comfortable and healthy environment.
Photo Credit:Tom Arban
The approach to the library’s design was two-fold: maximize the possibility of shared-use spaces while creating an engaging and significant public building. Frequented by all demographics, the library is a place to access books, for learning, and for civic interaction and gathering. The library is designed to high accessibility standards to enhance its design and provide dynamic spaces for all to enjoy. Examples include working with visual impairment requirements to create an interesting branded graphic on glass partitions, creating a new universal washroom with changing facilities that is always open to library users and the public, and using accessibility requirements to design a service desk that is universally-accessible, angular, and compelling within the library space.
This blOAAg post is part of a series exploring the OAA’s 17 Design Excellence Finalists for 2022, as selected by our jury.
Click here to see other projects from this current award cycle.