PCL Centennial Learning Centre

Extreme Temperatures, Maximizing Performance

When it was time to mark its 100th year in business, PCL bypassed the usual celebratory parties and commemorative pens for something bigger - a new building. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada the $13 million PCL Centennial Learning Centre would serve as the new training and development hub for the company.

In Edmonton's northern continental climate, where extreme seasonal temperatures are common, energy efficiency and thermal performance are critical. The building design consisted of 75 percent glazed elements, which provided daylighting in the facility. To ensure maximum thermal performance, Kawneer's triple-glazed 7500 Wall® was utilized in both curtain wall and strip window applications.

Another key design element was a multifunctional central skylight that played a large role in the concept of the "solar chimney," which was designed to increase energy efficiency, reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning and lowering energy costs. In order to achieve the long, open glass "spine" that bisects the building, Kawneer's 2000 Skylight, with its insulating thermal break, was incorporated as a key component of the solar chimney.

As the first private sector building in Alberta to receive LEED Gold, PCL Centennial Learning Centre embraces sustainable design and reduces environmental impact for another 100 years.