University of Alberta University Commons

University Commons is situated in the heart of the University of Alberta campus and creates a gathering space for all members of the community, providing various academic, research and administrative spaces.

This redevelopment project creates 500,000 sq. ft. of buildable area consisting of new construction and renovation of the historically significant Dentistry-Pharmacy building in the main campus, originally constructed in 1922.The project involved the demolition of previous additions and any other connections through the centre courtyard area above-grade and the removal of the mechanical and electrical systems leaving only the shell of the 1922 building and areas of preservation.

Once the demolition was completed, the construction of the core and shell was completed on the new building, and reconstruction was completed on the 1922 building.

This included a triple-glazed curtain wall assembly on the new building, new high-performance windows, and a breathable, insulated wall assembly on the 1922 building, which improves thermal performance without compromising the original building envelope.

University Commons was designed to achieve LEED^® certification.Sustainability features include rooftop PV arrays, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and a triple-glazed curtain wall.RJC provided structural consulting, building envelope consulting, and building envelope commissioning services.

The building envelope commissioning scope of services included a program oriented to achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of the new building envelope meets the owners’ and design team’s objectives and criteria.