Design Details

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The site of the new Chetwynd Library was selected as part of the recreational lands located along John Hart Highway between 45^th and 46^th Streets. The property is just over 5 acres and encompasses part of the existing recreation centre, the splash park, the skate park and old ball diamonds. The land is designated P2 – Public and Institutional and the Library meets the intent of the land use bylaw for a public use facility. The site is serviced with water, storm and sanitary to the south side of the property, and water and sanitary tie-ins at the Northeast corner.

The design team considered several locations for the library, including aligning with the Rec Centre and North Access Road, and in the current location, behind the skate park. The current location was chosen to allow for flexibility in the design, parking views to the skate park, and to accommodate the outdoor areas adjacent to the proposed Library facility.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

The concept that began with the Library Advisory Committee was “the living room of the community”. This building serves a variety of functions for community members including:

• Children’s programming
• Children’s reading and play area
• Teen reading and lounge area
• Adult reading and lounge area
• Public computer area
• Meeting space
• Maker space
• Virtual reality
• Storytelling and community meeting
• Café and sitting/dining area
• Outdoor gathering area

The building floor plan centers around the “living room” area, which contains the public computer area, soft seating, and café seating area, with a high-volume space, with clerestory windows and exposed structure. This area is the heart of the library, from which you can access the café, washrooms, meeting rooms, storytelling room, virtual reality and maker space room, book stacks and the circulation desk. The area is open with views across from the circulation desk for monitoring and safety.

Each room in the building can be used for multiple purposes and walls have been made flexible to move as required for the use. Natural light has been brought in to all useable areas in the space, with views to the surrounding park, Rec Centre, splash park, skate park and outdoor plaza. The stacks area contains soft seating areas within for each user group, children, teen and adult, where people can tuck away with reading material as they wish. The children’s programming room has an adjacent storage room and family washroom, and opens up to the children’s stacks area when required for a larger event.

The exterior of the building will be clad in a masonry material and a metal siding to look like wood, which will have a low maintenance, long lasting finish. The roof is a sloped metal roof, with all mechanical equipment housed within the building. The windows will be triple glazed, low-e, argon filled, and the walls and roof will have high insulation values, for a thermally efficient building envelope.

Interior finishes will consist of a commercial grade resilient floor throughout, painted drywall walls, and vaulted ceilings that will contain the lighting and acoustic panels as required for an acoustically sound interior space. Millwork will be durable plastic laminate over plywood, with solid surface countertops and commercial grade hardware. Doors will be solid core wood, with a stained veneer finish, in painted metal frames.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Foundations
The structural design of the new library building will include a slab on grade with spread footings and grade beams. There is no basement or crawl space.

Main Structure
The main structure of the building will consist of heavy timber frame, with glulam columns and beams, and wood infill.

Roof
The roof of the building will consist of structural insulated panels that span the roof joists.

MECHANICAL DESIGN

In-Floor Radiant Heat
High efficiency condensing type natural gas fired hot water heating boilers. 95% to 85% efficiency modulating from 30 to 100% of firing rate. Circulation pumps located in common mechanical rooms with remote manifolds located in associated area of spaced served.

Air Handling
High efficiency (95% AFUE) condensing type natural gas fired units provide conditioned air to individual areas through overhead distribution ductwork. Fresh air introduced by heat recovery units and mechanical cooling through ‘DX’ cooling coil sections.

Ventilation Heat Reclaim Systems
Air-to-air heat reclaim units recover energy from warm exhaust air from primary occupied areas and public washrooms where it will be transferred to incoming fresh air supply and introduced into air handling units return air plenum sections. Combined unit capacities shall provide necessary ventilation rates to comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1.

Air Conditioning
Remote mounted condenser units located outdoors near associated mechanical rooms with refrigerant piped to ‘DX’ cooling coils mounted on air handling units discharge. “Free cooling” when outdoor air conditions permit through ventilation systems.

Controls
In-floor hot water radiant heat operated to maintain floor slab temperature set point with outdoor temperature reset and response to space minimum air temperature. Air handling equipment operated during occupancy providing necessary ventilation and maintaining space air temperature set points during demand for heat or cooling.

DDC Building Automation Control System (BAS):

• Computer based (DDC) building automation control systems can be provided to automate and manage building equipment operations and energy usage.
• Assist in system operations during regular maintenance routines, monitor building conditions, alarm failures, and respond to varying building load demands and un-scheduled building usage.
• The DDC system can provide operations personal a real time snapshot of the status and operating conditions of the mechanical and electrical systems.

Trend logging to predict the direction of heating and cooling load demands, allowing the plant operator to “fine tune” systems for further optimization and energy savings.

Demand Control Ventilation (DCV):
Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in occupied areas or within ductwork are measured and used to control outdoor air flow rate introduced into the ventilation system to ensure proper air quality conditions while minimizing energy usage. This is applicable to re-circulating ventilation systems serving spaces where ventilation targets are based on people occupancy rates.

Mechanical Equipment
HVAC equipment to be Energy Star listed and AHRI or HVI certified.

• Motors to be Electronically commutated motors (ECM) type.
• Heating equipment to be modulating or multi-staged.
• Air handling units to be variable-speed or multi-staged operation.

ELECTRICAL DESIGN

Lighting

• All lighting fixtures to be LED type complete with dimmable (0-10 Vdc) drivers and distribution photometry to suite plans and site layouts. Specifications include:
  • Color rendition index (CRI) >80%
  • Color temperatures 3500-4000K
  • Luminaire efficacy >100 lm/W
  • Up/down distribution to provide uniformity, glare-free task illumination and minimize power densities.
  • Exterior luminaires to have full cut-off features with wireless programmable motion response (25% to 100%) light output dimming
  • Life safety
• Lighting to be controlled by occupancy and vacancy sensing utilizing perimeter daylighting when natural ambient light is present.
• Exit signage and emergency lighting (self-powered) units to be installed throughout the building complete with auto-test feature.

Electrical Systems Overview

• Provide and install complete and fully operational electrical and auxiliary systems in full compliance to the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), B.C. Building Code, ULC Standards and WorkSafe BC requirements.
• All switchgear, luminaires, wiring devices, equipment and materials to be ULc/CSA listed commercial/ specification grade rated.
• All electrical and auxiliary systems to include start-up and testing following the Manufacturer’s commissioning procedures for proper operation.
• Systems identification will include labeling all switchgear, panelboards, equipment and outlets, branch circuit directories, tagging all cabling systems.
• Upon project substantial completion, training seminars to be conducted for all electrical and auxiliary systems to the Owner’s facilities personnel on the operation and maintenance procedures. At this time, operating and maintenance (O&M) manuals to be turned over to the Owner.
• The Contractor shall warrant and guarantee that all switchgear, fixtures, equipment, materials and workmanship to be free from any defects for a period of one year from the date of Final Acceptance for this project.

Power Distribution

• Underground service entrance from B.C. Hydro pad mounted transformer (minimum 75 kVA) to main 120/208V/3ϕ/4W – 400 Amp rated switchboard (fused – 300 Amp).
• Branch circuit panelboards complete with transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) devices to be installed within service rooms with minimum 20% spare capacity.
• Building distribution conductors will utilize aluminum cables for branch feeders and larger equipment loads and
• solid copper (minimum size #12 AWG) for power outlets and lighting circuits.
• All raceway and wiring to be installed concealed except within service rooms.

Auxiliary Systems

• Fire Alarm: single stage, microprocessor based, networked addressable/conventional, supervised, annunciated complete with off-site monitoring (GSM) communication panel.
• Security: programmable intrusion alarm and video surveillance systems with user interface, storage, back-up power (UPS) and off-site monitoring.
• Door Card Access: multi-level programmable door entry/exit control with user interface, storage, back-up power (UPS), security system interface and on-site card printer.
• IT Data/Telecom Networking: underground fibre optic cable from TELUS pedestal to LAN equipment rack switch and patch panels with Category 6 FT-6 rated structured cabling system for voice and data to all offices and workstations from POE network switches, termination and testing. Cable management to consist of cable trays and conduit raceway stub-ups from outlet boxes. WIFI access points.
• Audio Video Display: system will include TV monitors and sound outlets for information, teleconferencing and presentations.

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

The project will be designed to meet or exceed the current National Energy Code and the British Columbia Energy STEP Code. Sustainable features will include:

• High R-values of insulation in the building envelope
• Upgraded triple glazed, low-e, argon filled windows
• Energy efficient mechanical system including heat recovery
• Energy efficient, low flow plumbing fixtures
• Building automation system to monitor and manage use
• High quality air flow and ventilation system
• LED light fixtures, on sensors to reduce use, light pollution reduction
• Local materials where possible
• Interior finishes with low VOC emissions and higher recycled content
• Rainwater and storm water management
• Construction waste management
• Future consideration for solar panels