Transforming an old system into a prominent feature
Built using concrete in the 1960s, the boiler room at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) needed to be replaced—in the event of a drastic situation like an earthquake, it was too close to ensure staff and patients were safe. When NRGH set out to create a new, safer facility, our team was there to help.
The Thermal Energy Centre (TEC) is a standalone, steel frame building designed to achieve post-disaster standards and a high level of energy performance. It houses three dual-fuel steam boilers with additional space for a future fourth boiler. Programmatic elements of the facility include support spaces such as a chief engineer’s office, a chemical treatment room, and a workshop. Extensive glazing along the building’s west façade allows for a clear view of the boiler system from the street, turning what was previously a hidden system into a prominent feature of the building’s architecture. The project included work within the existing hospital to connect the new steam and condensate pipes into the existing steam header system connecting via underground protected trenches and a rooftop bridge system.
Now complete, the TEC is a drastic improvement to the overall health and safety of the entire facility. It will increase the facility’s overall thermal capacity, accommodate future expansion, and to function as the engineering control centre for all the hospital systems at NRGH.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- Island Health
- Award
- VIREB (Vancouver Island Real Estate Board) Award of Excellence – Community Institutional 2022
Stefan Schulson, Associate
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