The Design Story 01
Solar energy in the form of light and heat enters the building in the upper corner of one building, but needs to be carried town to the lower levels of the other.
This project embodies our commitment to improving how we manage the energy performance of federal buildings. Through this and other initiatives across government, we are taking steps to reduce our [carbon] footprint and green our buildings.Steven MacKinnon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
The Design Story 01
Solar energy in the form of light and heat enters the building in the upper corner of one building, but needs to be carried town to the lower levels of the other.
The Design Story 02
One way to achieve this heat and light transfer would be through a diagonal connection between the two spaces.
The Design Story 03
Once the rectangular blocks and constraints associated with floorplates were removed, a path emerged.
The Design Story 04
The next challenge was connecting the two buildings with one unified façade ...
The Design Story 05
... and adding windows wherever possible to ensure that the building was flooded with natural light.
The Design Story 06
The new façade acknowledges the coming together with a visual separation that runs diagonally across the building.
Built in Toronto in the 1950s, the Arthur Meighen Building is set to be one of the first federal carbon neutral buildings. When complete, it will include solar panels, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and will serve as the main Government of Canada building for the Ontario region.