Military barracks looks to history for design

Ottawa’s Griffiths Rankin Cook (GRC) is adapting and greening a Manitoba-developed prototype of a military trainees’ residence for use at Canadian Forces Base Kingston.

The baseline building was designed for the Department of National Defence (DND) by Winnipeg-based Calnitsky & Associates Architects. The facility was recently constructed at a base in Alberta.

“The design intent is to site adapt the trainee quarters,” GRC project architect Alex Weller told Daily Commercial News. “This means adapting the building and making whatever changes are necessary to ensure that it suits the Kingston site.”

The 3,800-square-metre Vimy facility will house trainees in 96 rooms on three floors. A partial basement will be used for storage of trainees’ personal effects.

The project team includes mechanical and electrical engineers Genivar and structural engineers Adjeleian Allen Rubeli.

Construction costs are estimated at $9 million. Groundbreaking is expected next spring.

Weller said the prototype will be modified to take into account topographic, climatic and seismic conditions “and the specific needs of the trainees and base personnel who will operate and maintain the building.” The architects also have been instructed by the defence department to green the building to meet certain standards under the Green Globes building certification system.

The Kingston facility has been designed to use 32 per cent less energy than the prototype, thanks in part to energy modeling and improvement in the performance of the building envelope, said GRC associate Gordon Lennox.

Sensors will shut down electrical use and reduce temperature settings when rooms are not occupied.

Other green measures include: retention of mature trees on the site; “downlighting” of exterior fixtures to reduce night-sky glow; stormwater quality control; specification of low-flow plumbing fixtures; and procurement of locally produced and environmentally friendly building materials, where possible.

Finishes with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels will be specified.

“The end product will look considerably different than the prototype,” Weller said.

The residence will be located across the street from the main parade square. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2008.