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Addition to the Ontario College of Art and Design

Toronto
Ontario

View of OCAD with the framing complete.

View of OCAD with the framing complete. The steel fitting to which the table top trusses will attached is readied for inclusion into the formwork for the concrete core. A large steel beam is lifted into position. An ironworker accepts the steel beam and is prepared to secure it. The blue painted steel is the set of shoring devices that will help with the installation of the legs. A piece of the table top is secured to the attachment at the elevator core. The support shoring for the leg installation is ready to go. The yellow leg is ready for lifting. The legs are close to 90 The black leg is being lifted by the crane. It will rest against the pads on the blue frame while it is secured. A view up one of the legs during installation. The base of the leg is secured to the concrete caisson type foundation. One of the horizontal members of the table top truss is lifted to join the legs. The table top truss begins to take shape. Ironworkers sit secured at the end of a cantilevered section of beam, ready to install the incoming member. The truss connector is attached to the top of a leg. Once this piece is ready, more of the truss can be erected. The base of the table top frame begins to take shape. The vertical main trusses are attached to the base steel of the table top. More sets of legs are erected to the south and the table top continues to grow. The truss now extends to the new southernmost line of legs. The steel trusswork of the table top is nearing completion. The box truss the acts as the emergency exit stair is lifted into place. The table top structural steel is almost complete. A ceremony marks the lift of the last piece of structural steel. Looking up the legs to their attachment to the table top. The base connection for the leg. Steel decking is installed on the floors. Operations continue at grade. An ironworker continues with the completion of the bolting of the frame. If the intumescent coating (fire protection) on the legs is damaged, it must be properly repaired. Where the steel frame is to be concealed within the exterior walls, spray fireproofing is used. A view to the underside of the table top with the flooring more complete. A view from Grange Park towards the building - cladding operations have begun. The exterior wall is built from light steel framing with a profiled cladding system. The interior of the table top. Much of the steel is to be enclosed in drywall. One of the major truss joints, as seen from the interior. Finishing operations continue on the interior. The curtain wall is installed at the front entrance. Inside the lobby, HSS members carry the heated air to the glazing.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

In November 2000, OCAD selected European firm Alsop Architects as design architect to work in a joint venture with Toronto-based Robbie/Young + Wright, the project architect, to produce OCAD's capital expansion project.

Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) broke ground in late 2002 in preparation for its $42.5 million expansion and renovation featuring the Sharp Centre for Design (SCD). By March 2003, foundations were in place and construction upwards began.The SCD is scheduled for completion by January 31, 2004. Design programs moved into their new space with Environmental Design and Industrial Design in February 2004, followed shortly thereafter by Communication & Design. Space previously occupied by these programs in the main building will be renovated into new space for the Faculty of Art and Faculty of Liberal Studies.All new and renovated space will be complete by August 2004. The official opening of the SCD, and the new and improved OCAD took place in October 2004.

The building has generated much discussion in Toronto. The "table top and legs" was the first of the high profile "star designed" projects to be completed.

photos: PCL Constructors, Terri Meyer Boake

The Construction of the Addition to the Ontario College of Art and Design

The addition to the Ontario College of Art and Design used steel and innovation to address the densification of the urban site, while still keeping open landscaped space at grade for student activities. The decision was made to support the two storey classroom addition on 27m tall HSS "legs". The fabrication and transport of these legs to the constrained urban site required careful work by Walters Inc. the fabricator/erector, and PCL, the contractors for the project.

OCAD received an Award of Excellence in the Engineering Category from the Ontario Region of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction in 2004. more info

 

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