ABSTRACT
The utility company Manitoba Hydro found a site where they decided to consolidate office space from 19 locations in the metropolitan area. The site has excellent access by public transportation, by bicycle and by car. With a range of 90° C from the lowest and the highest measured ambient air temperatures, Winnipeg, Manitoba, is one of the coldest large cities on the planet. The air is pre-conditioned by heating coils placed in a low bench along the window wall, supplementing the solar gain. In cold climate locations at high latitudes, solar gain is sometimes useful from east-and west-facing facades. The double-skin facade is typically sealed on cold winter days, acting as a thermal buffer much like a thermos flask. The combined effect of a transparent facade, narrow 11.5-meter-deep floor plates, and high office loft ceilings allows 85 percent of the building to be sufficiently lit by natural light.
