LAC LA BICHE SHARED SCHOOL

Our team provided Mechanical and Civil Engineering Consulting Services for a design-build, shared school project, comprised of approximately 43,000 SF, located in Lac La Biche, AB.

Working in collaboration with Clark Builders, our team endeavored to deliver LEED® Silver Certification requirements, in pursuit of a more sustainable learning environment. The Lac La Biche Shared School Facility is comprised of numerous classrooms; these include various labs (music, cosmetology, science, woodworking), a special needs classroom, offices, and storage space.

This project demonstrates the ability of our team to deliver integrated, sustainable design solutions, as our in-house teams work cooperatively toward project and client success.

The Edmonton Islamic Academy offers students an environment to learn, achieve, and grow in an environment that promotes the Islamic character and culture.  The Academy offers a rich learning experience fully compliant with the Alberta curriculum

With continuous demands for additional student spaces, Arrow’s Mechanical team was required to provide functional, innovative design to this addition, working to consider requirements for new and existing spaces.

Working in collaboration with Architecture | Tkalcic Bengert as the mechanical consultants on the project.  Our Mechanical team worked to provide the engineering and design for the building heating, cooling and ventilation systems.  The mechanical systems consisted of hot water heating boilers, distribution pumps, perimeter radiant heating panels, roof mounted air systems and distribution ductwork, low water usage plumbing systems, wet sprinkler fire protection and direct digital building management system.

The Arrow team worked to deliver integrated Mechanical and Civil Engineering Consulting Services for a design-build, shared school project, comprised of approximately 111,000 SF, located in Grande Prairie, AB.

Working in collaboration with Clark Builders, our team endeavored to deliver LEED® Silver Certification requirements in pursuit of a more sustainable learning environment. The Grande Prairie Shared School Facility is comprised of approximately 32 classrooms; these include various labs (science, cosmetology, woodworking, mechanics), and has capacity to comfortably accommodate approximately 1,000 students.

This project demonstrates the ability of our team to deliver integrated, sustainable design solutions, as our in-house teams work cooperatively toward project and client success.

Our team provided Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Consulting services for a replacement school project, approximately 56,000 SF, located in Gift Lake, AB.

Working in collaboration with Group 2 Architecture, our worked to design a new school, with four modular classrooms incorporated in addition to the core. The Gift Lake Replacement School is comprised of numerous classrooms; these include various labs (food, woodworking, fabrics, computer labs), a commercial kitchen, offices, two meeting rooms, various standard classrooms, a multi-purpose room for drama and musical performances, and storage space.

In addition to space for secondary school students, the Gift Lake Replacement School shares space with the local Northern Lake College campus, which incorporates various classrooms and a daycare.

This project demonstrates the ability of our team to deliver integrated, efficient design solutions, as our in-house teams work cooperatively toward project and client success.

Working in collaboration with the Architecture | Tkalcic Bengert team, Arrow’s Mechanical team worked to provide consulting and designs services for a modernization and addition to the Ecole Notre Dame School in Bonnyville, AB.

As is the case with many aging educational facilities, Ecole Notre Dame was in dire need of an upgrade to existing space, along with additional space for a growing student populace. Arrow’s Mechanical team worked to design systems for the modernization of various classrooms, laboratories (science, chemistry, woodworking, home-ec), various administration spaces, an Apple computer lab for students, and the addition of a new gym. With efficient use of existing space in mind, the old gym is to be repurposed into ‘student gathering space’ and will act as a social hub within the school.

Given that the school is required to be fully-functioning throughout construction, the Arrow team worked to consider occupancy comfort and design innovation required for renovations to an occupied space. Our design team worked to plan new mechanical spaces so that construction could be phased around them; with this in mind, our team was proactive in the provision of the construction phasing drawings, working to ensure minimal disruption to building occupants.

Our team worked to determine avenues for economic design through cost savings exercises. Upon review of proposed systems, we modified proposed designs in order to make them more economical, an exercise much appreciated by school district operations and facility management.

Arrow’s Mechanical and Civil teams partnered with HFKS Architects in the delivery of a modernization and addition to Archbishop O’Leary High School in Edmonton, AB. Originally constructed in the 1950’s, Archbishop O’Leary has been the recipient of multiple renovations and additions, creating a challenging construction environment which required specific care and attention throughout the design. Arrow’s Mechanical team worked to design heating and ventilation systems for renovations to various classrooms, laboratories, and administration spaces, along with a renovation to the existing gyms to accommodate fitness space and the removal of existing stages. The existing courtyard was infilled in to create additional space for a student gathering and cafeteria space complete with stages for drama performances.

Project delivery was phased, and the school was occupied throughout construction; as such, our team had to design with occupancy comfort and phase timing at the front of mind. As Archbishop O’Leary had to be fully functional by the fall of 2016 according to Alberta Infrastructure deadlines, timelines were of the utmost importance.

Arrow’s Mechanical team worked with the Construction Manager to review systems proposed in the original schematic design; upon assessment, it was determined an that proposed systems were not budget-friendly. Our team worked alongside the construction manager to review the schematic design and propose new design and systems to maintain the budget. In working with the construction manager, our team was able to ensure a minimal impact on project delivery timelines.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology opened a Spruce Grove campus in fall 2016. This location was designed to house their high-demand Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator program and provide flexibility for existing programs that might need more space than the school’s main campus could provide. The new site includes classrooms, offices, a simulation lab, and an outdoor training facility.

Arrow was contracted to oversee and advise on the electrical, structural, and mechanical engineering of the new property. Our team worked diligently to coordinate between the numerous invested parties, including the team at NAIT, the developer, and the teams completing the site work.

A challenge that is inherent in any project with numerous partners is ensuring communication between all parties is clear, consistent, and reliable.

By focusing our efforts on this, we were able to create a clear understanding of not only what was expected, but why, and work towards meeting all of those needs.

This time-sensitive project required a number of special considerations outside of a basic electrical and mechanical scope. The crane simulator room houses a heavy computer load, which meant the electrical systems needed to accommodate a higher draw than normal, and the cooling system needed to ensure there was appropriate ventilation for operation.

The thorough attention to detail and deadlines allowed us to deliver this project on budget and in time for the opening date for students.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced was getting approvals from all the necessary parties on this fast-tracked project, but we were able to deliver everything on time for students to walk through the doors in September.”
– Wes Bullock, Arrow Senior Project Manager

The Arrow Engineering team worked to provide a required design for mechanical systems located in NAIT’s Alternative Energy Centre. The Alternative Energy Technology program at NAIT prepares graduates for a career in renewable energy; this program required a particular built environment to facilitate the studies of the Alternative Energy Technology Program.

Design work included considerations for the renovation of an existing building on campus; this included the design of new plumbing, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Additionally, Arrow’s team was required to design of various learning and demonstration centres which are utilized for the educational programs at NAIT. These small-scale working centres included Geothermal Heating & Cooling, Solar Heating, Solar Power, Wind Energy, and Low Head hydro systems

Working in collaboration with MacEwan’s Operations group, Arrow’s Mechanical and Electrical teams worked to ensure that required building contract documents were met for the design and construction of the MacEwan Centre for Arts and Culture (CFAC).  Upon completion of this project, our team will ensure that all building systems function in accordance with plans and design. The CFAC is intended to replace MacEwan’s existing Arts campus, and aligns with MacEwan’s vision to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Edmonton as well as Edmonton’s vibrant entertainment and arts community and is set to house students in the fall of 2017. The CFAC is comprised of five floors of classrooms, woodworking and fabrication shops, two large performance theatres, dance studios, office / administrative space, retail space and an underground parkade, and totals approximately 430,000 SF.

Given the strict timelines surrounding the CFAC, clear and proactive communication are paramount.  The Arrow teams worked closely with the MacEwan team in order to ensure that both parties were aware of the responsibilities assigned to them.  Lending their knowledge and expertise towards this project, Arrow’s Mechanical and Electrical groups will be able to ensure that all the systems preform in accordance with their design, and that the result is a highly-functional, sustainable environment for students and staff alike.

Arrow Engineering worked in collaboration with Clark Builders and ONPA Architects to deliver the design of the Jasper Shared School Facility using a design-build delivery method. This project is a unique one, as two separate educational entities maintain separate identities and curriculum while sharing a single facility in Jasper, AB.

The Greater North Central Francophone Education and Region and Grande Yellowhead Public School district’s share space located in the centre of the school, providing easy access for both parties and ample opportunities for interaction between students, teachers while facilitating opportunities for shared resources. École Desrochers K-12 holds space for 150 students, while Jasper Jr/Sr High School holds space for 375 students.

Arrow`s Electrical, Mechanical and Civil teams provided the design of classroom space, administration areas, laboratories, working to ensure that design was conducive to this shared space while incorporating considerations for LEED® Silver Certification.

The Jasper Shared School facility was awarded CEFPI’s (Council of Educational Facility Planners International) 2015 Design Award for Outstanding Design of a New Construction. Additionally, the Jasper Shared School Facility was awarded LEED® Silver Certification in 2015.