Feasibility Study for University of Toronto: Facilities and Services Trades Workshop in the McLennan Sub-Basement

The objective behind this feasibility study was to assist the University of Toronto to determine the suitability of relocating Facilities & Services (F&S) Trades Services into the McLennan Physical Laboratories (255 Huron Street) sub-basement and parking level on a temporary basis, to accommodate future laboratory use by Arts & Science, and to permanently relocate the class 10,000 ATLAS Labs to an alternative location within the same building. Also, viable options for the usage of the space once F&S permanently relocates to the Data Sciences Centre at 215 Huron Street were presented including accommodating a physical connection to the future Astronomy & Astrophysics (Site 9a) building.

Project Team

Principal-in-Charge: Alan Fraser; Resource Principal: Kevin Stelzer; Project Architect: Kevin Pu

Location

Toronto, ON

1,930 m²

Area of Work

Study Completion

December 2020

The McLennan Physical Laboratories was constructed in 1967 in a post-modern style designed by Shore and Moffat, and has been the home of cutting-edge research in physics, astrophysics, and astronomy for the last 50 years. It is one of the tallest public buildings on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto, and shares basement parking and loading docks with the adjacent Lash Miller Chemistry Building and the future Astronomy & Astrophysics building. The functionality of the former linear particle accelerator lab (Linac Lab) for the Physics Building was the driving force for the design of the sub-basement and basement levels, which are the proposed temporary locations of the F&S Trades Services (F&S). Characteristics of the lab include 1.8-metre thick concrete walls dividing the spaces, 1.5-metre thick concrete waffle roof, 4.9-metre high ceilings in the main lab spaces with 3-ton and 10-ton industrial cranes, which was purpose built to conduct experimentation in linear particle acceleration. This feasibility study explored and proposed selective interventions to this unusual structure - and the associated existing mechanical and electrical services - to accommodate both the needs of the F&S, and the future flexibility of the space for Arts & Science Department.

overall site plan of McLennan and Lash Miller showing scope of feasibility work and future considerations

The feasibility goals are as follows:

• To provide valuable insight and certainty to pursue renovating the basement and sub-basement levels for the purposes of F&S Trades Services shops and stores and mitigate unforeseeable risks.

• To maximize net assignable area

• To achieve the F&S Services occupancy (full time & seasonal)

• To enhance the circulation, security and safety of the basement parking and loading area

• To enhance the building envelope

• To allow future access to the new Astrophysics Building to the south

• To integrate sustainable measures into the design of the F&S Trades Services spaces

• To analyze risk of acoustic and vibration disruption to adjacent teaching and laboratory spaces during construction works and throughout the daily operations of the F&S Services.

• To allow for future flexibility for Arts & Science to occupy the sub-basement and basement levels once the F&S permanently relocates to 215 Huron Street

Programming

Egress and Access

Impacts at Grade

Class of 10,000 Clean Room

1) WIDENING OF THE BASEMENT RAMP
The feasibility of widening of the basement ramp from Ursula Franklin Street to accommodate two-way traffic was studied. It was determined that this would eliminate the need to share access, thereby eliminating the occasional necessity to have vehicles backing up on the street, on the ramp, or in the loading area.

The ramp would need to be widened to approximately 6.5m from its current width of approximately 4.8m. If a formal pedestrian access (walkway) was also to be included, an additional 1.5m would be required.

existing basement parking 7 loading docks - view north

proposed basement axonometric with widened ramp

2) RELOCATION OF THE BASEMENT BICYCLE SPACES
Relocating the basement bicycle parking spaces to an enclosed space outside of the basement level for improved safety by removing the usage of the one-way ramp from Ursula Franklin Street was studied as an improvement to consider for the near future.

Locating a secure 20 stall bicycle enclose to the west of the ramp on a raised platform next to the walkway was proposed. The existing 3 steps from the street level can be modified to accommodate a bicycle ramp.

proposed bike storage axonometric

proposed bike storage lockers relocation massing

Programming

Egress and Access

Impacts at Grade

Class of 10,000 Clean Room

EXIT STAIR ADDITION TO BELOW GRADE
We studied the expansion of the stairs at Lash Miller Area and proposed improvements to access the street level.

proposed exit stair addition axonometric

proposed stair expansion at lash miller lightwell area

photos of existing conditions at existing exit stair including sub-basement entrance, interior stairwell, roof, and exterior doorway

proposed stair expansion at lash miller lightwell area

Programming

Egress and Access

Impacts at Grade

Class of 10,000 Clean Room

PROGRAMMING
The consultant team completed a detailed feasibility study which determined that the feasibility goals are achievable through the recommendations below.

F&S Trades Services Program Recommendations