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.
Arthur Meighen Building Rehabilitation (AMBR)
A zero carbon model for the Canadian government- Location
- Toronto, ON
- Client
- Government of Canada
- Anticipated Completion
- 2022
- Size
- 41,085 sq m
- 442,235 sq ft
- DIALOG Services
- Architecture
- Electrical Engineering
- Interior Design
- Mechanical Engineering
The Arthur Meighan Building Rehabilitation (AMBR) project presented a significant challenge: preserving as much as possible from two 1950s era office buildings while improving their function and performance. AMBR is a pilot project in the Canada Green Building Council’s zero carbon initiative, and will be the federal government’s flagship for sustainable building. The new design will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 80%, and put occupant health and wellbeing first. The project combines two buildings into one, with a new façade and a visual separation that runs diagonally across the building. This is manifested an unbroken open staircase that allows active circulation within the space while permitting an abundance of light to filter towards the back of the deep floorplate.
Meet The Team
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David Cerny
Principal, Structural Engineering
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Robert Northcott
Associate, Architecture
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Marilyn White
Associate, Interior Design
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Jill Robertson
Principal, Landscape Architecture
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Nabil Mansour
Associate, Structural Engineering
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Cameron Ritchie
Associate, Structural Engineering
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Naresh Arora
Principal, Electrical Engineering
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Stan Bury
Associate, Specifications
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Raul Dominguez
Principal, Mechanical Engineering
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Craig Applegath
Principal, Architecture
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Charles Marshall
Associate, Sustainability
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Alison McNeil
Principal, Interior Design
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Mark Gorman
Associate, Mechanical Engineering
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
It All Started With A Sketch
Merging buildings The AMBR project brings together the two buildings in this sketch into one new cohesive space.
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.
A flagship building for Public Services and Procurement Canada
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.
Creating connection
The two buildings are interconnected by the large, amplified height. Across from a connecting staircase, the two previous buildings speak to one another across a cavern.
Creating connection01
Light floods this part of the building, drawing people to circulate up and down the staircase.
Creating connection02
Uninterrupted sight lines offer opportunities for people to connect from a distance.
