The Cree First Nation is one of the largest tribes in Canada with territory that covers a vast area of Western Canada from the Hudson-James Bay region to the Rocky Mountains, and in Alberta between the North banks of the North Saskatchewan River to Fort Chipewyan. This includes the Beaver, Athabasca, and peace River’s basins. Beaver Lake Cree Nation is located northeast of Edmonton and south of Lac La Biche and has an on-reserve population of approximately 600.
Williams Engineering (WE) is proud to be working alongside Archiasmo Architectural Works Limited on a new K-12 school for Beaver Lake Cree Nation. The opportunity to collaborate with the project team on what will be the first Net Zero school in Alberta is deeply gratifying and Williams Engineering is excited to contribute our skills and innovation to bring the project’s vision to life. WE provided electrical, mechanical, structural, building envelope and sustainability services for the first phase of this project.
Following a successful application to the Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program (GICB) which provided $16 million in funding for the high school portion of the school, the project team was given approval to complete designs including for K-9 space. WE then provided electrical, mechanical, structural, building envelope engineering and sustainability services for the full design of the new education facility. The high school portion accounts for 1,900 sqm, while the elementary, daycare and arts portion of the facility account for the remaining 2,900 sqm. and is in a central area to the community, located in proximity to the Beaver Lake Multiplex. The facility includes for grades K-12, daycare and head start programs, and will provide support to adult education programs, as well as a dedicated elders and mentor space, and a resource area. The design was completed in Revit allowing for excellent collaboration between all disciplines, and a Construction Manager was onboarded early on to help ensure the project’s ambitious scope within the approved budgets could be achieved.
The heating system design is based on a hydronic system including boilers, pumps, and distribution piping. The cooling and partial heating system is based on a Direct Expansion (DX), Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump system. The ventilation system design includes a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS), air handling units and exhaust fans as required.
Our electrical team have designed the main buildings power services, distribution systems, lighting, power, and emergency power systems. They have also developed designs for the voice and data infrastructure, fire alarm systems, and the security and access control infrastructure. Our structural engineering team designed the roof framing, foundation systems, loading docks and ramps, grade-supported and the elevated structural floors.
Our building envelope services include the control of moisture, air and heat across the building enclosure as described by the National Building Code – Alberta Edition 2019. This includes the above grade cladding assemblies, including air barrier and insulation, fenestrations and glazing, and the roofing.
Lastly, our sustainability team facilitated a review and selection of a “Net Zero” definition and target for the project to meet the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) funding program requirements, including design certification under a Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard. This included the development of an embodied carbon analysis to meet the ZCB certification requirements.
This project has achieved the Net Zero ZCB-Design Certification from the Canada Green Building Council! This is an amazing accomplishment as it is joining a very small group of buildings to receive this level of certification in Alberta and is the first school in the province to do so.
