The new Sciences & Technology building designed by Teeple Architects is a five-storey structure situated at the main northwestern entrance to the campus. A bold cantilever defines the structure and shapes the campus edge, forming an iconic gateway into the campus.
This new building contains some of the most significant departments at Langara College, brought together into a single, collaborative facility for the first time. The Sciences, including Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Astronomy, Nursing and Computer Sciences, occupy the upper three levels, while Student Services and a food service function are located on the lower two floors for the greater campus community.
The labs contained on the upper three levels are designed to be flexible and adaptable for future change. High-service labs are situated near the top of the building, minimizing fume hood exhaust runs. This results in the creation of an economic, well-organized and dynamic new lab environment for Langara College.
Collaborative spaces—including the dramatic Vortex Lounge—permeate the entire building, providing visual inter-connectivity through the different program zones and facilitating collaboration and interdisciplinary learner-focused education.
AWARDS
2018 AIBC Architectural Awards – Governor General’s Medal in Architecture – Merit
2018 OAA Design Excellence Award – Finalist
2018 SABMag Canadian Green Building Award
2017 The Plan Awards – Finalist 2016 IES Illumination Award – Award of Merit
View of the Langara College Science and Technology Building from the northwest, showing entry with dramatic cantilever. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Responding to a severely constrained site and adjacent geothermal field, extensive program requirements, and the desire to maintain existing outdoor spaces and sight lines, a cantilevered solution was developed in concert with the project structural engineer that allows the mass of the building to hover over the College’s main entrance driveway. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
View from the east, across the College’s entry forecourt. The building conscientiously and integrally connects to existing indoor and outdoor circulation, supporting connection amongst students, staff and programs. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
The multi-storey main atrium houses a new one-stop-shop student services centre and offers dramatic views both to campus exterior spaces and of various learning and study spaces. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Multi-storey lightwell with bridging study pods. Extensive glazing and multi-storey voids allow circulation through the building to be animated by views to different levels, and, wherever possible, into teaching spaces. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
View upward through atrium from the ground floor, showing study pods with reflective soffits and fascia. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
View of upper floor perimeter circulation route adjacent the multi-storey atrium. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Expression of steel truss in interior spaces. The building’s dynamic structure is judiciously revealed via a variety of displays including sculptural plasterboard in interior circulation spaces. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
View looking west from under the building’s cantilever, showing student study areas and the oculus. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
The “Vortex Lounge” at the Langara College Science & Technology Building arranges a series of lounge spaces that wrap vertically around a multistory oculus to draw students from all discipline together and create opportunities for students to collide and collaborate outside the formal teaching environment. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Wrapped around the oculus, the multi-storey “Vortex Lounge” draws students upward into a palpably collaborative environment from the moment they enter the building. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Detail view of the oculus from below. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Black and white photo of the “Sculpture Wall” cladding system. The cost-effective, thermally broken, high-performance envelope is enhanced by a custom louvre system that unifies the upper levels as an attractive singular, sculptural volume – choreographing views to campus and distant mountains while maximizing useful natural light. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Exterior view from the southwest showing the 16.1 metre cantilever. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
