TASC 1 Building
B U R N A B Y
C A M P U S
Building Description
Building Program
School of Resource and Environmental
Management
School of Computing Science
Department of Earth Sciences
Building Area/ Cost
9,664 sq. m. (gross) / $ million
Construction
Exposed cast in place concrete, slab on
grade and partial basement
Development Manager
Bill Nelson, MAIBC
Prime Consultant
Stantec Architecture
Consultant Team
Structural: Bush Bohlman Engineers
Mechanical: Stantec Engineering
Electrical: R.A. Duff & Associates
Cost: BTY Cost Consultants
Landscape: Phillips Farevaag
Smallenberg
Code: LMDG
The 9,664 square metre three-storey TASC 1 (Technology and Sciences Complex I)
Building is the first building in the development of an expanded Science precinct on the
south side of the campus. The design incorporates a generic, modular, flexible approach to
the building layout and services. TASC 1 currently houses three main user groups:
Computing Sciences, Resource Environmental Management and Earth Sciences. The
building is organized around a clear circulation network of north-south and east-west routes
to link to the existing Applied Sciences Building to the north and in the future, link to the
TASC 2 building to the west. The departmental spaces are designed to maximize flexibility.
Design Concept
A modular planning strategy was adopted from the outset to create flexible generic spaces
that allow offices to be easily adapted from to labs and vice versa. The building is “zoned”
so the majority of labs are located on the north side of the building to take advantage of
north light without undue solar loads and wet labs can connect to exhaust risers as required
to extend to a manifold with high efficiency exhaust stacks at the roof. South side offices
take advantage of the brighter orientation with direct sun controlled by exterior horizontal
sunshades, low E glazing and roll down shades. The north south gallerias immediately
provide orientation and are also the primary social lounges and common study spaces.
Contractor/Construction Manager
Stuart Olson Construction
Figure 1: Design Model of TASC 1 South Elevation
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY • PROJECT OVERVIEW • 01
Building Concepts for Flexibility
Energy saving Design Features:
Control systems to limit and control
cooling and heating requirements
Split chillers to allow operational
flexibility and operation under partial
load conditions
Glulam wood beams span across
galleria
Figure 2: Artist’s rendering of main Entrance Lobby
Architectural/Site:
 Planning based on a framework of modular generic spaces that can be easily modified
without disruption
 Architectural, mechanical, data and electrical systems have been zoned to accommodate
access for initial and future installations
 Locate offices on the south side for brighter orientation, with direct sun controlled by
exterior horizontal sunshades, low-E glazing and interior blinds
 Supplement ventilation and provide occupant temperature control with operable
windows along perimeter offices
 Clerestory windows and light shelves above the shading elements allow daylight to wash
across ceilings to reduce the use of artificial lighting
 Storm water is detained in a landscaped area along the south side of the building.
Planting and landscaping will filter some of the fines to provide sedimentation control,
important to protect watersheds on the mountain top
 No irrigation systems through use of native and drought resistant planting
Structural:
 High fly ash concrete used in foundations
 Simple repetitive structural planning grid for lab module integrated with building
services
 Structure anticipates future floor openings for vertical services.
Mechanical:
 Operable windows are monitored so mechanical control systems minimize energy use
when windows are opened
 Atrium motorized opening windows and ceiling fans assist the mechanical systems
during seasonal extremes of hot or cold
 Controlled flow roof drains to minimize impact on storm systems
 Metered faucets on wash basins.
Electrical:
 Electrical, data infrastructure designed as “plug and play” to facilitate reconfiguration
on a continued basis in laboratories
 Occupancy sensors control lighting to conserve energy
 Light sensors automatically shut off atrium lighting when sufficient daylighting is
present.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY • PROJECT OVERVIEW • 02