The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation
Mohawk College, Fennel Campus
Hamilton, ON
Completion: 2018
Construction Budget: $54 million
Client: Mohawk College
Architects: B+H Architects and McCallumSather
The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation is one of the region’s first and largest net-zero institutional buildings.
The 8,918-square-metre facility is helping determine the requirements and standards for the Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Buildings Framework. It is also contributing to the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero initiative, a global project which aims to ensure that all buildings are net zero carbon by 2050, with all new buildings being net-zero carbon by 2030.
The Joyce Centre features solar-powered, state-of-the-art labs, workshops, open study spaces, and flexible lecture theatres. The mechanical and electrical areas, as well as the green roofs, are accessible to all and intended to be part of the learning environment. Students, through capstone projects or research projects, can manage the operations of the building. Through data and analysis, they can observe, in real-time, the temperature, humidity, ventilation rates, thermal distribution, and lighting performance.
Leading-edge environmental technologies and systems include:
• High-performance building envelope to maximize heating and cooling as well as natural light;
• Innovative curtain wall system specially adapted for the project that incorporates thermal isolation gaskets to achieve an effective R20 thermal performance;
• Green roof with extensive planted areas;
• 545-kilowatt solar panel array;
• 28 geothermal wells.
Mohawk College’s new Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation.
Photo: Ema Peter
The Joyce Centre’s central atrium provides ample views to the surrounding campus context and accommodates for a mix of private and public study spaces for its students.
Photo: Ema Peter
Driven by sunlight, flexible co-working spaces, labs and lecture theatres are centred around a light-filled atrium. The atrium functions as a social space that encourages formal and informal gatherings.
Photo: Ema Peter
The interior material palette is balanced between robust steel and concrete and warmer materials such as wood and stone tile, to create a rich and inviting learning environment. All materials were locally sourced.
Photo: Ema Peter
Students at the Joyce Centre learn about the building's operations and how to interpret its energy performance data, so that occupant behaviour and building system performance can be more accurately synchronized.
Photo: Ema Peter
The Joyce Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art labs, workshops, lecture theatres, and industry training centres. Hybrid classrooms create flexible environments that facilitate group learning.
Photo: Ema Peter
The building's energy is mainly sourced from sunlight and solar panels are accessible to students so that they can learn about sustainable building management firsthand.
Photo: Ema Peter
Photo-voltaic panels are housed in a set of wings that soar above the four- storey complex. Dramatic overhangs help give the building a signature shape on campus and provide covered terraces that can be used to host events.
Photo: Ema Peter
“An exemplary building in terms of technical innovation and a powerful learning tool not only for the students but for the whole campus community.”
Jury:
Richard Henriquez, CM, FRAIC
Founding Principal, Henriquez Partners Architects
2005 RAIC Gold Medalist
Vancouver, BC
Sergio Morales, MIRAC
Co-founder, Chevalier Morales Architectes
Montreal, QC
Johanna Hurme, FRAIC
Co-founder, 5468796 Architecture
Past Chair, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Winnipeg, MB