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Project Completed:
2008 |
Construction Value:
$ 14.1 Million |
Client:
Tillman Ruth Robinson |
Location:
London, Ontario |
Western University, Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Facility
The Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Facility at the University of Western Ontario is an international state-of-the-art research facility. The focus of the Biotron is to attempt to assess the impact of climate change. It permits tight controls over environmental conditions created, such as carbon dioxide, rain, temperature and light.
The five-storey, 41,000 SF building is designed to be compatible with the architecture of adjacent buildings on the campus, but with a distinct character reflecting the nature of the research within its walls. On the roof are six large glass enclosed biomes to simulate integrated ecosystems including plants, insects, soil microbes, fungi and algae. Each biome is served by an independent HVAC system that can provide widely different climatic conditions, and HEPA filters ensure control of the quality of both supply and exhausted air. The basement of the facility houses an earth science biome, which allows researchers to study large, intact 10,000 kg soil columns under conditions varying from tropical to arctic.
The Biotron is a very complex building with intensive mechanical, electrical and control systems requiring a high level of coordination to instill the systems into the areas where access for maintenance could be provided. As many of the experiments are long term, emergency power and redundancy of equipment were required.
Scientists will be able to monitor and control their experiments from anywhere in the world in real time.
The five-storey, 41,000 SF building is designed to be compatible with the architecture of adjacent buildings on the campus, but with a distinct character reflecting the nature of the research within its walls. On the roof are six large glass enclosed biomes to simulate integrated ecosystems including plants, insects, soil microbes, fungi and algae. Each biome is served by an independent HVAC system that can provide widely different climatic conditions, and HEPA filters ensure control of the quality of both supply and exhausted air. The basement of the facility houses an earth science biome, which allows researchers to study large, intact 10,000 kg soil columns under conditions varying from tropical to arctic.
The Biotron is a very complex building with intensive mechanical, electrical and control systems requiring a high level of coordination to instill the systems into the areas where access for maintenance could be provided. As many of the experiments are long term, emergency power and redundancy of equipment were required.
Scientists will be able to monitor and control their experiments from anywhere in the world in real time.
