11. Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, Waterloo, Canada | KPMB Architects
University
Year: 2012
The massing strategy KPMB Architects incorporates two volumes connected by a common six-story central atrium with two main entrances to provide the IQC and nanotechnology engineering. Each one has its own distinct identity within the whole: one on the ring road to support IQC and the other on the campus side for nanotechnology engineering.
To capture spontaneous thoughts, a series of back-painted glass whiteboards reflect light and provide writing surfaces. The atrium also offers a sheltered pedestrian path and informal meeting area. Advanced structural, mechanical, and electrical structures were used to achieve an atmosphere with low vibration, low electromagnetic interference (EMI), and limited radio frequency interference. Laboratory spaces were concentrated below grade, where these effects are reduced.
12. Southcore Financial Centre (Bremner Tower and PwC Tower), Toronto, Canada
Office, Towers
Year: 2015
In Toronto’s developing Southcore Financial District, SFC is a major mixed-use sustainable growth that contains three towers. KPMB Architects designed both PwC tower and Bremner Tower. The design responds to the City of Toronto’s district planning strategy to create new financial district opportunities and enhance density combining commercial and corporate uses. At street level, all the buildings are unified with an integrated three-story podium.
The podium roof incorporates a publicly accessible urban forest planted with indigenous species as a boreal environment. With adjacent changing rooms and toilets, both towers have 3 levels of below-grade parking and bicycle storage. Retail facilities include the floor and second levels of the podium. LEED SC Gold certified, the buildings emphasize state-of-the-art operating and life safety systems that include improved indoor air quality, a rainwater collection system, 18 ” raised floor, and deep lake central cooling supplemented by a thermal storage system from Enwave.
13. Library District Condominiums, Toronto, Canada | KPMB Architects
Mixed-Use, Residential, Tower
Year: 2014
A 29-storey glass tower and a 3-storey amenity pavilion consisting of 364 condominium units and below-grade parking comprise the Library District Condominiums that KPMB Architects designed in association with Page + Steele / IBI Group. The battlements and historic buildings of Old Fort York are situated along Fort York Boulevard, directly to the west of the condo.
The inspiration of the project, which was articulated as a freestanding pavilion to provide reasonable public access to Fort York and Future Park, was inspired by the site’s unique nature. The fortress’s ramparts’ geometry influences the formal expression of the condo and its associated library.
To optimize economies, the residential tower’s unit planning is very logical and extremely repetitive, but expressive in its unique use of colored spandrels of glass within the construction of window walls and distinguishing angled roof styles that draw motivation from its park environment. The shades of colored spandrel and clear glass also help to link the building to the background and the lake of its park.
14. 150 Dan Leckie Way, Toronto Community Housing Corporation Toronto, Canada
Mixed-Use, Residential, Tower
Year: 2012
Toronto Community Housing (TCH) is Canada’s largest affordable housing provider. This project was planned and built to address a need for affordable rental housing focused on the family. A group home for low-income families that would promote a sense of real community, not a traditional residential house, was the design objective of KPMB Architects design architects; Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects, architects of record. A total of 427 units are supported by the 41- storey tower and the ten-eleven-story podium.
In a creative skip-stop section, three and four-bedroom units are planned, minimizing internal access corridors, and optimizing play/study space inside the family units. The park is also addressed by a community multi-purpose space on the second floor and a public kitchen, playrooms. Moreover, day-lit laundry facilities line the landscaped courtyard that occupies the podium roof – the community’s common outdoor living room. The roof of the podium’s west portion contains planter boxes for the residents’ urban gardening.
15. Charles R. Walgreen, Jr. Drama Center & Arthur Miller Theatre, University of Michigan, Michigan, United States | KPMB Architects
Education
Year: 2007
KPMB Architects designed two interconnected structures that address the project requirements: the broad, eloquently proportioned ‘learning loft’ and a cubic glass volume housing the 250-seat black box theater. The theatre defines the entrance to the North Campus of the university. Shrouded in a see-through glass envelope, the exterior excites the theater’s transformative impressions – it is the elegant volume by day and seductive glass beacon by night.
The exterior actors’ terrace is characterized by a concrete column portico, with wooden seating within the columns to promote gathering discussion and communication. The learning loft comprises three versatile 150-seat performance or learning studios, extending east from the theater, ground-level production space, and a full scene shop. A glass hallway links the studios and offers a view from which it is possible to see theatre students training. Overlooking the theatre lobby, the second floor houses the university administration offices.
