ÉCOLE J.E. LAPOINTE SCHOOL MODERNIZATION

École J.E. Lapointe School in Beaumont, Alberta was in dire need of a modernized school. With the exception of the addition of a number of portable units, the school hadn’t been upgraded in any significant way since 1985. The nearly 600 students attending the school could benefit a great deal from the school being upgraded, with modernization being directly linked to the academic outcomes of students, and the satisfaction and performance of teachers. Knowing how much was at stake, Arrow Engineering was ready to do its part in helping to upgrade and modernize this Alberta school and ensure that current and future students and teachers could flourish.

The junior high school hosts students between grades 7 and 9, with a capacity of up to 600 students. The project undertaken by Arrow Engineering would see the complete modernization of the 52,377 square foot school, involving the addition of a brand new gymnasium, repurposing the school’s current gym into CTS, and the creation of modular classrooms, dedicated science labs, modern music, art and drama rooms, and modernized administrative suites for staff members.

Arrow’s team of experienced mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineers went to work in delivering design and consultation services for the complete modernization of the existing École J.E. Lapointe School. This included the creation of a flexible student gathering space, a well-equipped servery, as well as the creation of a modern gymnasium featuring hardwood flooring, spectator seating, and storage facilities.

The major modernization of the school is due to be completed in November 2019, as the school has remained in operation and the construction has been phased to allow the school to remain open.

In addition to the mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil services, our team also delivered energy modelling design and consultation for the implementation of a 52kW solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-generation system on the school’s new gym roof. Educational components have been included such as energy dashboards in the main lobby to stream real-time electrical PV generation values. Following this, our team provided fire alarm design and verification witnessing services for the school’s fully upgraded addressable fire alarm system.

 

Tekarra Lodge in Jasper, Alberta needed three new single storey buildings on the existing Tekarra Lodge site. These new buildings were to be used by staff members and included a staff lodge with a kitchen and living space, a laundry facility, and a caretaker residence. Arrow was proud to take on this project, as it would provide much needed upgrades to the Tekarra Lodge site and benefit the wellness and enjoyment of present and future Tekarra Lodge staff members.

Tekarra Lodge offers its guests a rustic getaway in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Its staff quarters required a modern replacement that would continue to comfortably house up to 11 staff members and give them easy access to a kitchen, living space, and laundry facilities. Arrow’s civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers went to work providing engineering design and consultation for three single storey staff housing facilities with a total square footage of 6,100.

The Arrow team reviewed designs for the staff housing replacement project, providing feedback and recommendations made by our engineers. During the lifespan of the projects, our engineers discovered that existing service to Tekarra Lodge’s old building would not be sufficient, requiring a site re-evaluation and service upgrade.

The first phase of the Tekarra Lodge staff housing replacement project involved mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural engineering design and consultation for the 3,500 SF staff lodge, which included 11 bedrooms, a kitchen, and sufficient living space. The second phase of the project involved engineering design and consultation for a 1,400 SF public laundromat facility that would be used by Tekarra Lodge staff and guests, as well as a 1,200 SF caretaker residence.

Arrow’s team of engineers worked closely with officials at Tekarra Lodge and other project members to craft facilities that would serve as a beneficial upgrade to the site and would be sufficient for Tekarra Lodge staff members.

Major modernization to improve the educational outcomes of current and future students.

 

Grande Prairie’s St. Kateri Catholic School required major modernization in order to improve the educational outcomes of its students, and to improve the morale and performance of the school’s teachers and administrative staff. The school has a capacity of around 550 kindergarten to grade 8 students, all of whom will benefit from the modernization.

Arrow Engineering was proud to get involved in the project, offering its expert design and consultation services. With the educational outcomes of St. Kateri Catholic School students hanging in the balance, Arrow’s team went to work.

St. Kateri Catholic School is an institute that aims to nurture and engage students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. In order to help its students and teachers succeed, the school required a major modernization effort, including structural modifications, the removal and reduction of hazardous materials, and upgrading and replacing vital mechanical systems. With this in mind, Arrow’s team of mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineers began the design and consultation of this major project.

Arrow Engineering’s team of engineers are highly experienced in designing and consulting on projects in the educational sector. Our team took the needs of the school into account, transforming the existing open courtyard into a brand new modern library featuring high-end lighting. Our engineers also met St. Kateri’s need for additional windows, finishes, and other important aspects of the modernization process.

Our team also designed and implemented sustainable systems for the school, with a 80 kW solar power system being installed on the school’s roof, and a 2.5 kW solar tracker at the ground level near the school’s entrance. While the project is due to be officially completed in summer 2019, the majority of construction work has already been completed and the project is in its revisiting stages. This is mostly due to the school remaining operational throughout the project lifespan, and the construction being phased as a result.

Redesigning and revitalizing a landmark theater and a major part of Edmonton’s booming arts and culture scene.

The Roxy Theatre, once a key part of Edmonton’s diverse entertainment and artistic scene, was destroyed in a fire on January 13th, 2015. Generous public fundraising and government funding made it possible to rebuild and redesign The Roxy, making it bigger and better than ever before. With the theatre meaning so much to Edmonton’s artistic community and the public at large, Arrow Engineering was overjoyed at the opportunity to take part in the theatre’s redesign and reconstruction.

Originally opened in 1938, the Roxy Theatre, or The Roxy to locals, immediately became a hotspot for Hollywood’s latest and greatest movies. While it was popular because of its diverse lineup of movie offerings, the theatre became popular because of its comfortable and spacious seating arrangements, and for its air conditioning – a rare but welcome feature for the period. Eventually, the Roxy fell under the banner of Odeon Theatres of Canada, and later to other cinema chains. In 1989, the theatre was sold to the Theatre Network, who transformed it into a popular venue for live theatre. With the Roxy’s destruction in 2015, the Edmonton theatre and art community have lost a cherished performance space, and business on 124th Street and 107th Avenue came to a standstill.

With the aim of redesigning a new and improved hub of Edmonton’s theatre and art community, Arrow Engineering’s team of mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineers went to work in designing the new theatre, and offering expert consultation services. The reconstructed Roxy Theatre was designed to include three new performance spaces to allow local artists to flourish and perform comfortably.

The revitalized Roxy Theatre has been designed to include a main theatre that will seat 200 people, a smaller 100-seat theatre, as well as a rehearsal hall for performers and administration and support areas to round out the facility and allow it to once again become a hub of Edmonton’s arts and culture scene. In addition to design and consultation, the Arrow team provided energy modelling services for the new Roxy Theatre.

When the Salvi Group identified the opportunity to develop a high-end condo building in Sherwood Park, Arrow’s Structural, Mechanical and Electrical teams were hired to assist in this modified design-build. Savona at Centre in the Park is intended to act as Salvi Groups’ “keystone project,” and will set the stage for future luxury multi-residential living spaces.

Savona is comprised of two, four-storey timber-framed condominium buildings (120 combined units), with a single level of underground parking for tenants. Savona has communal space via a common area terrace and is intended to have an underground car wash and a fitness studio. All units are finished with high-end luxury finishes. A three-story office building (Savona Centre) is located alongside the condo buildings and includes a two-storey underground parkade and retail space. The office building is intended to be multi-use and will contain Strathcona County Library parking space.

Arrow was hired directly by the Salvi group for a modified design-build process and has worked closely with the Salvi Group’s Construction Manager. This project style is a testament to our teams’ collaborative nature and has required a large amount of communication directly with the client, as any changes – including all site-related items – were discussed with the ownership group as they arose.

Throughout this process, our team has gained an advanced understanding of client goals and objectives and has helped us to deliver our designs in alignment with these goals.

As a part of its larger operations in Fort Saskatchewan, Plains Midstream Canada was expanding and required a new building to house the company’s administration and controls for its rail facility. The building, which is located on the periphery of the existing gas plant, needed to withstand a potential blast and keep occupants safe, if ever faced with a gas leak.

These two safety requirements called for Arrow’s close and considered attention when completing the engineering designs and construction administration for this building. In order to complete the project on the tight timeline, Arrow’s structural team utilized a unique timber option for a blast-resistant bunker, keeping the project on schedule.

Throughout the construction process, the civil team worked closely with Plains Midstream’s team to mitigate the issue of large amounts of groundwater in the construction area, which was potentially problematic to the property’s stability. By collaborating, the two companies removed the risk and added a 5,000-gallon, above-ground, skid-mounted-foundation storage tank to the site.

The mechanical department ensured a sensitive gas detection system was incorporated into the building design, removing the risk of hazardous gas leaks. If any amount of gas above the normal levels is detected, the entire mechanical system stops drawing exterior air into the building.

Arrow’s team was responsible for all of the disciplines, which allowed for a great deal of collaboration.

“It was nice to be able to work with a lot of new people. From tank suppliers to contractors, we were able to gain a better understanding of how they work and what challenges they face on their end.”

 

Sobeys Sherwood Park is currently under design and is located within the old Target location in Sherwood Park Mall. Delivered working alongside the Kasian team, this design bid build is slotted for completion in March 2017; currently, it’s anticipated that this project will exceed this timeline.

In 2015, Sobey’s head office moved to Calgary as a result of changes in ownership and shipping associated with Sobeys’ purchase of Safeway. As a result of this, much of the knowledge base surrounding the design of new Sobeys’ locations was lost as employees’ changes positions. This has proven to be a challenge for our design team, as they’ve had to work closely with Sobeys to ensure that prototypical designs are understood and enforced throughout new design. This design process has required an incredibly collaborative approach to design – something the Arrow team is well known for.

Arrow’s Mechanical, Electrical and Structural teams are hard at work navigating the requirements of Sobeys prototypical designs, while working with a new ownership group. The Sobeys Sherwood Park location contains all the trappings of a standard Sobeys location, including administration offices, warehouse and receiving space, front-of-house equipment and display shelving in the store area, along with a deli, bakery and a juice bar.

Three rooms in the Century Casino were set to be renovated in coordination with Emcee Construction & Management and Jennifer Jordan Interior Design. Arrow was brought in to engineer the changes to their two poker rooms, one of which was a high-limit room that involved top-quality finishings, as well as overseeing the demolition of an existing food and beverage area within the casino.

The outdated rooms were set to be modernized and updated to world-class standards. Arrow was responsible for ensuring the casino could remain in operation while renovations were completed. In order to maintain a fully operational casino, work was carefully completed using a phased approach. Throughout the process, Arrow’s electrical department coordinated with the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to ensure that all elements of lighting and cabling were done within regulation.

As part of the project management of this renovation, Arrow supervised and recommended changes to meet the high standards of the design while staying on budget. Though the project was faced with numerous change orders, many of which resulted in increased costs, Arrow worked to find creative solutions to make sure budgets and timelines were maintained as closely as possible.

As the project continued, Arrow utilized the experience they gained during the initial phase to streamline the process and improve client communications, allowing for a faster and easier build process.

 

“Part of the renovation was a relocation of a number of VLT’s. This required the electrical team to take a close look at the existing electrical work to determine how it to best utilize the existing structure without reworking the entire space.”
– Kevin Mattai, Lead Electrical Engineer

This well-established fertility clinic, based out of Abbotsford, British Columbia, was preparing to move into the Edmonton market and was in need of a facility to meets its very specific clinical standards. Arrow, in partnership with Architecture Tkalcic Bengert and PCL, worked together to renovate an entire floor of an existing downtown office building.

Due to the nature of the clinic, very detailed plans were provided by a lab consultant to ensure the safety and success of the practice. In addition to general structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering duties, the Arrow team paid special attention to the laboratory and procedural rooms. This included careful consideration of the wavelengths of lighting in laboratories, with specific ranges being harmful to the production and storage of sperm and embryos.

High-sensitivity alarms were also installed to detect oxygen depletion and low levels of nitrogen in the cryogenics freezers. Maintaining the integrity of the lab and surgical areas were of the utmost importance, so additional backup generators were added to ensure all vaccine fridges and procedural spaces were always in operation.

In addition to the specific electrical needs, the mechanical team ensured that the lab and surgical rooms were designed to maintain specific pressurization to eliminate risks of contamination.

Arrow’s meticulous attention to detail, and willingness to learn resulted in a highly functional facility that met the highest industry and clinical standards.

“It was rewarding to be involved in a project like this. Not only did it mean that people might potentially be able to have a baby who weren’t able to get into a clinic before, but we were able to learn so much that went above and beyond our regular scope.”
– Kevin Mattai, SR. Project Manager, Electrical 

Arrow worked closely with Plan Works Architecture and Southward Developments on the engineering and development of the new Symmetry Dermatology medical facility. The owner was seeking a state-of-the-art facility to house his dermatology practice in a precast turnkey property. In addition to the building tenant improvements, the owner requested both an underground and above-ground parking lot. This proved challenging due to the space restrictions of the lot and the close proximity to neighbouring buildings that shared access to the property.

Arrow was responsible for the logistics of the property. The civil team designed the grading, put in measures to prevent flooding, installed inspection ports as opposed to manholes, and planned carefully to reduce amount of earthworks to save the client money. The interior of the building needed to meet the highest safety standards for a medical facility and required precision electrical engineering to support the high-end equipment.

As the project moved forward, the owner requested a change of design so that he could operate out of the entire building instead of just the top floor. With some redesigning, Arrow was able to utilize shared spaces to save the client money, and reduce the amount of change orders necessary.

“The design of the base building and the tenant improvement was done by different designers. Because we were working on both we did everything we could to reconfigure the work in a way that would reduce any redundancies in order to save the owner money.”