Brought to you by:Architect: Diamond SchmittLocation: London, OntarioCompletion Date: 2024At Fanshawe Collegeone of Ontarios largest public institutions of higher educationDiamond Schmitt has sutured a new building, known as the Innovation Village, into the center of the campus. Surrounded by the schools existing brick buildings, the new structure is distinguished by its size and bold blue color. Diamond Schmitts intervention also boasts a number of high-performance features, including the use of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels and an exposed mass timber portico. Envisioned as a student hub, the more than 126,000-square-foot addition connects to existing campus corridors and student circulation patterns. On the interior, the structure provides new lecture and study spaces, a virtual reality lab, entrepreneurship incubator, and maker space that are available to all of the colleges students, regardless of their program or field of study. Large gathering and events are facilitated within he Canada Life Village Square, a large atrium on the ground floor, as well as within Forwell Hall, a double-height corridor upheld by exposed glulam columns that is operated by the Fanshawe Student Union.The Kalihwyo Circle was designed to support Fanshawe Colleges indigenous student population. (Tom Arban)The first floor also features the Library Learning Commons, which was designed in collaboration with representatives of indigenous communities to support the institutions numerous indigenous students. Its focal point is the Kalihwyo Circletranslating to good message in the Oneida language. A petal-shaped design was implemented across the circles terrazzo floor, signifying the 28-day calendar, while wood panels suspended from the ceiling evoke the appearance of a turtle shell in reference to Turtle Island, a creation story common to many North American Indigenous tribes. According to a press release, the Kalihwyo Circle will host indigenous workshops, exhibitions, and smudging ceremonies. On the ground floor, the Canada Life Village Square provides an open space for events, study, and collaboration. (Tom Arban)The aims of the interior building program, namely its emphasis on technology, are mirrored by the design of the Innovation Villages exterior envelope. Building on previous experience using BIPV technology, Diamond Schmitt wrapped the structure with energy harvesting panels manufactured by Solar Lab, a danish supplier of PV technology.When we were starting the project, we were well into design and construction of a project for Red River College in Winnipeg, which was the first time we had been able to work with BIPV cladding, Sydney Browne, principal at Diamond Schmitt, told AN. This was the first time that PV cladding of this type had been used in Canada, and we had been really impressed with the system and wanted to keep evolving the lessons we had learned through that project.To maximize solar exposure, the BIPV panels were angled upward to face the sky. (Tom Arban)The Innovation Villages BIPV system consists of several layers of laminated glass integrated within a conventional rainscreen assembly. Using nano technology and a physical deposition coating, the glass layers absorb specific wavelengths of light that are then directed toward the photovoltaic cells, which are laminated on the back side of the glazing. Wavelengths not absorbed by the panel are reflected off of the surface, creating the perception of a blueish hue. Depending on the angle at which you see the glass, the composition of molecules within the coating, or the light conditions, time of day, and so forth, the color you perceive is varied, added Browne.To maximize the collection of solar radiation, the panels are angled outward, increasing exposure to the sky. According to Diamond Schmitts energy models, nearly 20 percent of the facilitys annual energy use will be supplied by the cladding system.Section drawing detailing BIPV assembly. (Courtesy Diamond Schmitt)Though BIPV cladding has yet to see wide adoption within the North American market, projects like these are pushing the industry forward.At this point, the biggest challenge is learning who within the construction industry is best set up to fabricate, install, and coordinate these systems, said Browne. Were bridging the electrical systems of the building with the exterior cladding, and those are two parts of a building that dont normally really talk to each other. These systems are also typically the first of their kind that the local building authority has seen.Project SpecificationsArchitect: Diamond SchmittAssociate Architect: Philip Agar ArchitectClient: Fanshawe CollegeConstruction Manager: D. Grant ConstructionMechanical & Electrical Engineer: Smith + AndersenStructural Engineer: VanBoxmeer & StrangesCommissioning: WSPEnvironmental Engineer: RWDIWayfinding & Signage: EntroBuilding Code & Life Safety: LMDGSpecifications: Brian Ballantyne SpecificationsLandscape Architect: Ron Koudys Landscape ArchitectsSustainability: FootprintBIPV Panels: Solar LabGlazing: Walker Glass