By Fay Harvey听听
CALGARY, Alberta 鈥� Mathison Hall at Canada鈥檚 University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business recently received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) for its sustainable and energy-efficient materials, systems and design.听
Officially opened in 2023, the $90 million,听111,900-square-foot听Mathison Hall was specifically built to achieve the highest level of LEED certification. It also aims to meet the CaGBC鈥檚 Zero Carbon Building Standard, aligning with the University鈥檚 carbon-neutrality goals. The energy-efficient building offers expansive natural light and low-flow plumbing fixtures, and the energy generated through renewables aims to offset more than half of the building鈥檚 projected annual 280 tons of CO鈧� emissions.听
Using the Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) metric, the four-story building鈥檚 envelope eliminates air leakage to minimize thermal bridging, resulting in more comfortable occupants, passive heat and less demand for energy. The exterior features a terra cotta rainscreen panel system, roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels generate the building鈥檚 clean energy. Inside, mechanical systems use water to move heat and cooling energy throughout the building. As a result, necessary ventilation systems have more energy to focus on providing cool air.听听
Inspired by Alberta鈥檚 prairie surroundings and expansive horizon, an indoor multi-story atrium lights up the space, offering unobstructed views and abundant natural light while limiting the use of daytime in-facility lighting. The building鈥檚 exterior design was intentionally designed to complement the adjacent Scurfield Hall鈥檚 horizontal frame to connect the buildings on one plane.听
Inside, the facility offers spaces for dining, studying and collaborating, including a 300-seat community space. The building鈥檚 ceiling and staircase are constructed of white oak, and an internal shading screen within the atrium鈥檚 south-facing sawtooth facade allows the cool outdoor and warm indoor air to mix. Meanwhile, a radiant temperature system in the floor regulates the energy needed to keep the space comfortable.听
Outside, local culture is honored through the landscape. Meant to weave ecological and Indigenous history, the outdoor spaces, designed by Calgary-based O2 Planning and Design, use resilient native foliage that is responsive to seasonal climate to activate the space. An outdoor plaza connects the campus with the ecology while promoting socialization and connection.听听
Mathison Hall was designed by Toronto, Ontario-headquartered Diamond Schmitt Architects in collaboration with Calgary-based GGA-Architecture. Duke Evans Inc., also of Calgary, provided project management and EllisDon of London, Ontario, provided construction services.听听
Calgary-based civil engineering company Entuitive delivered the project鈥檚 structural engineering, Toronto-based Smith + Andersen led the mechanical engineering and Glendale, Calif.-based SMP Engineering was the project鈥檚 electrical engineer. Calgary-based ISL Engineering provided civil engineering assistance. Energy modeling services were provided by Footprint, a Smith + Andersen group based in Calgary, while the global firm Transsolar KlimaEngineering provided sustainability services.听