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The Mosaic ‘Family’ comprises several

employee-owned companies whose stated

purpose is to create role model organi-

zations that effect positive social change

through business. In keeping with their phi-

losophy, this 2,812m2 building provides the

Mosaic Family not only with office space but

employee amenities including a child-care

facility, wellness centre, lounge areas, game

rooms, a restaurant and an outdoor terrace.

by Kent McKay

The building also functions as a community hub and as an

incubator for start-up businesses. Even those who simply rent

a desk in the building have access to meeting rooms as well as

the other employee amenities, while the restaurant, wellness

centre and childcare are is open to members of the surround-

ing community.

The project is pursuing both LEED Platinum and Living

Building certification. The net zero energy requirement of the

Living Building Challenge is a particularly ambitious target given

Edmonton’s severe climate. This, and the realization of other

performance goals required an integrated design process involv-

ing all members of the design and construction team.

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Site plan N

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A EntryB RooftopterraceC GreenhousevillageD PVarrayE PVarrayontrellisF BalconybelowG Daycaresunkenterrace

H RestaurantpatioI WellnessraisedterraceJ UndergroundrainwatercollectionK RaingardenL ServiceaccessM Hybridvehicles

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M

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EProJECt CrEDItS

CLIEnt TheMosaicFamilyofCompaniesArCHItECt ManascIsaacStruCturAL EnGInEEr Fast+EppMECHAnICAL EnGInEEr ClarkEngineeringInc.ELECtrICAL EnGInEEr ManascIsaacConsultingCIvIL EnGInEEr DGELAnDSCAPE ArCHItECt PICEAGEnErAL ContrACtor ChandosConstructionPHotoS Cooper+O’Hara,GarthCrump,JoshKjenner,RossAuser,ManascIsaacArchitects

site context and conceptThe site is located at the edge of a commercial strip, part of a

rapidly urbanizing area on the outskirts of the city. With net zero

energy being a driver of design, optimal siting of the building

was critical. The final location was determined by considering

the overshadowing potential of different development scenarios

on adjacent sites. In addition, rather than respecting the geom-

etry of the city grid, the building has been oriented on an east-

west axis to maximize solar exposure through the day,

This orientation, and the access to daylight it affords to

south-facing spaces, also informed the interior organization of

the building. Accordingly, the most densely occupied spaces

are located on the periphery where they receive the most light.

the Mosaic centre in southeast edMonton. the building exterior

has pV integration [1]. the light-filled atriuM connects the

building's spaces. sun shades and high-perforMance windows

help Keep the interior froM oVerheating [2]. the Mosaic centre

borders a residential and coMMercial strip [3].

3

the Mosaic centreEdmonton office goes for triple playof net zero, LEED Platinum andLiving Building Challenge

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Section A-A

Section B-B

third floor N

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10

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Floor Plans

1 Mainatrium2 Restaurant3 Daycare4 WellnessCentre5 Services

6 Bikestorage7 Three-storeygreenwall8 Morningjuicebar9 Energymonitoring10 Offices

bleacher seating incorporated in the Main atriuM stair proVides Meeting space.

daVid trubridge light fixtures and a liVing wall feature proMinently in the

atriuM [4]. sit-stand worKstations are created in a fully-daylit worK enViron-

Ment in which oVerhead lighting is MiniMized [5]. building enVelope integrated

photoVoltaic cladding panels help achieVe net zero energy [6].

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5B

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Main floor N

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1

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C

26 sabMag - FALL 2016 sabMag - FALL 2016 27

ProJECt PErForMAnCE - Energy intensity [building and process energy] =240MJ/m2/year- Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under ASHrAE 90.1=58%- Potable water consumption from municipal sources = 1,794L/occupant/year- Potable water reduction relative to reference building =36%- reclaimed and recycled material content by value =16%- regional material [800km radius] content by value =41%

energy conserVation strategiesThe optimal solar orientation also enabled the design team to mini-

mize the building’s mechanical and electrical systems. In some areas it

was determined that no general lighting was required, task lighting being

sufficient to meet occupant needs even on the cloudiest days. Artificial

lighting is therefore provided primarily in the path of egress, with motion

and daylight sensors used to activate supplementary lighting only when

it is needed. These strategies helped to reduce the annual electricity

demand for the lighting system to 11.2 kwh/m2.

The Mosaic Centre’s mechanical system is divided into zones which

focus on moving energy where it needs to be, instead of generating it

for spaces that do not require it. Dynamic spaces that have significant

fluctuations in occupancy have supplemental systems that are activated

only when triggered by CO2 sensors. Together with a 213kW, 640 panel,

rooftop mounted PV array and a 70m deep, 32 borehole geothermal

field, these strategies enable the Mosaic Centre to liberate itself from

Alberta’s coal-produced electricity supply, as the building produces more

energy than it consumes. This even takes into account that some occu-

pants power their electric cars using the building’s clean energy, which

leverages geothermal and solar technologies.

The building itself has a high-performance envelope including an R-44

roof assembly and a fibreglass-based curtain wall system, with triple

glazing and three low-e coatings. The solid portions of the wall have an

R-value of 39. Air tightness and the control of vapour migration further

reduce energy loss through the envelope.

occupant wellbeing Access to daylight and fresh air is the foundation of a wellness strate-

gy that includes the use of exposed wood, the specification of low-VOC

finishes and the installation of a living wall, both as a biophilic element

and as a purifier and humidifier of air. The Wellness Centre, bike racks

and shower facilities, generous stairs and the specification of a slow-

moving elevator all encourage physical activity throughout the day.

The access to daylight and views, and the use of natural materials have

also been proven to increase workplace performance. The fiberglass

windows supplied by Cascadia are the only ones in the world that are

Declared RED List Free through the Living Building Challenge program,

meaning they contain no substantially toxic materials.

durability and life cycle The Mosaic Centre is conceived, designed, constructed and operated

as a high-performance sustainable building with inherent durability. A

50-year design service life was chosen for the Mosaic Centre which is

the typical lifespan for office facilities. The predicted service life of most

components equals or exceeds the Design Service Life of the building.

The design and construction of the Mosaic Centre is the subject of a

documentary, commissioned by the client in order to share the lessons

learned with the broadest possible audience, and inspire others to emu-

late or surpass the achievements of this project. u

KEnT MCKAy IS COMMunICATIOnS DIRECTOR AT MAnASC ISAAC ARChITECTS, EDMOnTOn. SEE hTTP://ThEMOSAICCEnTRE.CA/DOCuMEn-TARy.

Wall section: interior to exterior

-Gypsumboard-Woodstud2x6withmineral woolinsulation-Plywoodsheathing-Peelandstickmembrane

-Rigidinsulation2in.XPS-Semi-rigidmineralwoolinsulation, 4in.,withverticalsteelgirts-Airspace-Fibreglass-framecurtainwall

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Flashing

InteriorExterior

MAtErIAL Fibreglass-framecurtainwallfittedwithFibrerglassCurtainWallVentAdaptorunitsandfibreglasswindowsbyCascadia Windows and Doors;buildingenve-lopeintegratedphotovoltaiccladdingpanels;geoExchangetiedtoVRFwater/airmulti-split;tempeffRG5400&RGSP2700energyrecoveryunits.•Readtheone-pagecasestudydescribinghowtheCascadiaFibrerglassCurtainWallVentAdaptorsmaintainedthethermalperformanceofthecurtainwall:http://www.sabmagazine.com/uploads/editor/documents/case%20studies/cascadia%20mosaic%20case%20study%20.pdf•Readtheone-pagecasestudydescribinghowthetempeffenergyrecoveryunitscontinuetooperateatpeakefficiencyincoldweathertocontributetonet-zeroperformance:http://www.sabmagazine.com/uploads/editor/docu-ments/case%20studies/tempeff%20case%20study%20for%20mosaic.pdf