June 26, 2012

The Art Gallery of Alberta received top architectural honours in CISC’s 2012 National Steel Design Awards. The national design awards were presented at CISC’s recent annual general meeting and convention held in Ottawa.

Canadian Institute of Steel Construction recognizes design excellence

MARKHAM, ONT.

The west was the best in this year’s Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) biennial National Steel Design Awards competition as western Canadian projects swept the three categories of architecture, engineering and sustainability.

The 2012 award winning projects were The Bow, in Calgary for the engineering category, The Art Gallery of Alberta, in Edmonton, for architecture and the Dawson Bridge Rehabilitation for sustainability, also in Edmonton.

The CISC said the Art Gallery of Alberta is a “stunning addition” to Edmonton’s cultural landscape.

“The Alberta Art Gallery has become an iconic building for the city’s artistic identity,” explained the CISC in a statement. “Sinuous stainless steel surfaces and complex curving geometry inspired by the aurora borealis were key features that contributed to the project’s selection as the winner.”

The rehabilitation of the Dawson Bridge scored top CISC national honours in the sustainability category.

The art gallery’s project stakeholders were architects Randall Stout Architects Inc. and HIP Architects, Associate Architect, structural engineers DeSimone Consulting Engineers and BPTEC-DNW Engineering Ltd., CISC fabricator/detailer/erector and engineer Empire Iron Works Ltd. and BPTEC-DNW Engineering Ltd. and general contractor Ledcor Construction Limited.

The Bow tower in Calgary was described as “iconic” by CISC and that it is “unique on the continent in its application of a triangular steel diagrid system to a curved building.”

“Open structure, sustainable functionality and striking aesthetics were key features of the project that contributed to its selection as the winner,” added CISC.

The Bow tower’s architect were  Foster & Partners / Zeidler Partnership Architects, structural engineer was Halcrow Yolles, a CH2M HILL company, CISC fabricator/detailer/erector was Supreme Steel LP / Walters Inc. Joint Venture and the general contractor was Ledcor Construction Limited (construction manager).

The Dawson Bridge Rehabilitation project concerned the significant repair of the century-old bridge which spans the North Saskatchewan River.

“The design team’s use of  a lightweight composite steel plate and elastomer deck system and  innovative technology to restore the bridge to the glory of its past while strengthening its structural performance for future use were key sustainable features  that led to the project’s selection as the winner,” explained CISC.

The engineer for the bridge’s rehabilitation was DIALOG, the fabricators/detailers were Empire Iron Works Ltd. and Steel Design and Fabricators Ltd. and the steel erector was Steel Design and Fabricators Ltd.

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