Location: Eastern Canada
University of Toronto
Robarts Library, Reading Room Renovation
The Robarts Library, renowned as an example of the 'Brutalist' style of architecture, stands as one of Canada's largest academic library buildings, serving as a cornerstone of scholarly pursuit at the University of Toronto.
HH Angus provided mechanical and electrical engineering services, as well as design consulting for IMIT and lighting, for the renovation of the Library's fourth floor Reading Room.
The project, aimed at modernizing the library's facilities to accommodate contemporary learning paradigms, posed several intricate challenges. One notable challenge involved the intricate design of cabling for security and telecoms within the limited capacity channels of the floor slab, while ensuring the preservation of the library's architectural integrity. Moreover, the integration of wireless thermostats for HVAC control demanded meticulous planning to guarantee effective functionality while maintaining the library's iconic aesthetic.
In response to the evolving needs of the campus community, the renovated space has been thoughtfully curated to foster a conducive environment for study, collaboration, and digital scholarship. Individual study areas, equipped with state-of-the-art digital stations and consultation rooms, offer students and faculty alike the resources they need to thrive academically. Additionally, the incorporation of light therapy zones underscores a commitment to promoting wellness and inclusivity within the Library's patrons.
Improved accessibility was a key aspect of this renovation, featuring new study spots with adjustable desk heights, versatile seating configurations, and customizable lighting options, ensuring that all user's needs are considered. As well, strategic wayfinding elements and clear sightlines have been implemented to facilitate seamless navigation throughout the revitalized space.
SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | IMIT Consultant | Lighting Consultant
PROJECT FEATURES
20,300 ft2 space | Accessible study areas | Integration of building systems
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
Enhanced environments
The Library renovation is a significant advancement in the modernization of an academic institution, and underscores UofT's dedication to enhancing the built environment for all users.
City of Mississauga
Burnhamthorpe Community Centre Renovation and Expansion
The Community Centre features a state-of-the-art aquatic centre as well as an equipment-based fitness centre. The new 31,990 ft2 wing is the first project designed and built to the City’s corporate Green Building standard. This standard requires that all major renovation projects for city buildings meet LEED Silver requirements.
HH Angus played a key role in this project, providing mechanical and electrical engineering services, as well as security, IMIT, lighting, AV, and plumbing design. The addition includes a new 25-metre, 6-lane pool, therapeutic pool, fitness centre, and common areas, for a total of 43,000 ft2 of added amenities.
Renovations to the existing community centre encompass improvements across 65,000 ft2, repurposing and relocating multi-purpose program spaces, gymnasium, indoor arena, and upgrading facilities to meet accessibility and green development standards. Despite challenges posed in connecting to the existing building, the addition was situated on the northeast corner, utilizing space from the adjacent park.
To see more renovations, click here
SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Plumbing Design | Lighting Design | Audio-Visual Design | Security Design | IMIT Design
PROJECT FEATURES
Green facility design to LEED Silver standard | State-of-the-art aquatic centre | Equipment-based fitness centre
LOCATION
Mississauga, Ontario
All images courtesy of CS&P Architects
Toronto Western Hospital
New Patient and Surgical Tower
University Health Network’s (UHN) new $1 billion, 15-storey patient care and surgical tower will be built on Toronto Western Hospital’s (TWH) campus in downtown Toronto and enhance UHN’s capabilities caring for complex neurological and orthopedic cases.
We’re excited to be part of this important and transformative healthcare project for UHN. HH Angus, in partnership with DIALOG, is providing mechanical and electrical engineering and ICAT/IMIT design services for the new tower.
The new facility will be over 380,000 ft2 in size over 15-storeys and include 11 clinical program floors, 82 beds, and 20 operating rooms of which three will be hybrid ORs with cutting-edge imaging capabilities.
The new tower will feature many of the latest healthcare technological advancements. We have supported UHN in developing a Digital Strategy for this facility and, have incorporated technologies such as real-time locating systems for patient journey tracking, advanced audio-visual systems for information sharing, and surgical suite technologies to improve flow, communication and educational opportunities.
Among the electrical systems features, emergency generators sized for full backup and a central UPS will improve the resilience of this critical facility.
SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | ICAT/IMIT Consulting
PROJECT FEATURES
Size: 380,000 ft2 | Budget: $1 billion | 15-storeys | Downtown urban setting | 11 clinical program floors, 82 beds and 20 operating rooms
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Targeting 32% energy reduction | Wastewater energy transfer (WET) system for heating, cooling, steam and domestic hot water
Sustainable Engineering
Building on our decarbonization and sustainability experience for healthcare clients across the country, TWH’s new tower strives to be Net Zero, targeting an overall 32% reduction in energy consumption from the OBC SB-10 (2017) reference model through a variety of initiatives, including integrating with UHN’s wastewater energy transfer system for heating, cooling, steam and domestic hot water. The mechanical design also includes energy recovery wheels on the ventilation system and considerations for predicted future climate conditions.
Proud Partnership
HH Angus is proud to continue collaborating with UHN – ranked number one on the 2023 list of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals – a relationship that spans several decades working on many of their key facilities. Recent collaborations include a major upgrade at TWH’s Power House, which significantly improved the reliability of critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure in order to maintain the integrity of OR services, and the Rapid Assessment Centre Expansion at the Toronto General Hospital.
University Health Network
Toronto Western Hospital Critical Infrastructure Reliability Project
Toronto Western Hospital (TWH), part of the University Health Network, initiated a project to enhance the reliability of its critical mechanical and electrical (M&E) infrastructure. With aging equipment dating back to 1954, TWH partnered with HH Angus to undertake a comprehensive upgrade project aimed at ensuring the continuous operation of high-risk medical services.
As the prime consultant, HH Angus was responsible for assessing the condition of existing mechanical and electrical systems. Following the assessment, upgrades were made to the facility, including replacing emergency generators, and establishing a new electrical room serving the ORs and the broader hospital campus. Subconsultants, including architectural, civil, environmental, and cost consultants, played crucial roles throughout the project.
To determine suitable locations for generators, extensive investigations were conducted, including structure analysis, examination of building codes, and assessment of environmental impacts. This collaborative effort led to the approval of a new penthouse above the East Wing for generator placement. The final engineering package involved locating the emergency generators at grade in a new fenced area, alongside the supply and installation of two new 1100W emergency generators and upgrades to the electrical network and distribution systems within the powerhouse.
HH Angus leveraged reality capture workflows, utilizing photogrammetry and a Matterport Pro2 camera, to produce a digital 3D model of the powerhouse and infrastructure. Through the efforts of our BIM team, 3D scans were taken of mechanical and electrical spaces, including complex piping and ductwork, to generate point clouds for reference in Revit. These models accurately depict existing systems, including central steam, chilled water, and emergency power systems serving the hospital's ORs and surrounding campus.
Additionally, the project has been recognized for excellence, with the generator exhaust stack winning in the category of Steel Works – Sculptures – Outdoor Pavilions at the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction's Awards for Excellence. https://hhangus.com/award-for-excellence/
The Toronto Western Hospital Critical Infrastructure Reliability project exemplifies HH Angus's commitment to delivering reliable solutions for healthcare facilities.
SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Reality Capture
PROJECT FEATURES
3D modeling of powerhouse |
Scans of mechanical and electrical (M&E) spaces using Matterport Pro2 Camera | Point clouds of complex spaces using ReCap Pro Status: Completed
LOCATION
Eastern Canada
KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Upgraded mechanical and electrical systems | Installed emergency generators | Ensured environmental compliance | Modernized the powerhouse infrastructure.
Fanshawe College
IoT Data Lake
The College’s overarching goal was to streamline their data management process by consolidating disparate IoT platforms into a single accessible platform for measurement and research.
Fanshawe College needed a comprehensive data lake for all campus IoT data, beginning with two solar panel arrays. Their existing process involved physically going to each building’s measurement platform to download its data, merge the information in Excel format and perform a manual analysis.
HH Angus served as smart building consultants to the project, providing digital design services. We reprogrammed the PLCs (programmable logic controllers) of the solar panel arrays, enabling data transmission to AWS IoT core. The resulting data is now stored in a data lake where it is presented with analysis on a centralized dashboard, providing a unified and efficient solution to the College’s data management challenges.
One of the challenges of the project centered on communications and technical access. Collaboration with multiple academic and IT departments proved challenging due to communication issues with various stakeholders involved in the original solar panel array. To address this, our team coordinated multi-department troubleshooting meetings, fostering a collaborative atmosphere that was focused on progress.
Also, gaining access to the PLCs for essential programming changes became complicated due to staff turnover at the client. An unintended consequence of this was that new staff members were unfamiliar with the PLCs. To remedy this, our team assumed more of a technical advisory role than had been anticipated originally, to the point of involving technical support from the PLC manufacturer to assist the College’s technicians. Solving these issues underscores the project team’s adaptability in overcoming unexpected challenges.
SERVICES
Smart Building Consultants
PROJECT FEATURES
Comprehensive data lake for all campus IoT data | Centralized dashboard provides data analysis and data management | Status: Completed 2023, with ongoing maintenance contract
LOCATION
London, Ontario
KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Hardware-free data retrieval from solar panels | Reprogrammed PLCs for AWS data transmission | Advanced data analysis with local utility rates