Industrial — DAO | Algorithmic & Timber Architecture

Elevating Everyday Buildings.

INDUSTRIAL

Cambrian Heights
Sudbury, Ontario

Designed to accommodate the objectives of the City of Sudbury’s official plan through rezoning, this mass timber industrial building is one of the first of its kind in the area. Originally designed with a steel structure, the shift to mass timber was pursued in response to external factors impacting market conditions for steel, which has encouraged a wealth of opportunity for sustainable and durable design that will maintain its integrity for years to come. One of the key drivers influencing the layout of this building was the opportunity for tenant flexibility across multiple units without impact to the office and facility elements anchoring the public frontage.

The design process included the use of custom parametric analysis to define the optimal placement of the 46,500sf building alongside various site features. Factors such as light industrial activity access and fluid cost estimates were evaluated through a blend of traditional design methodology and algorithmic intervention to achieve improved construction and budgetary outcomes.

PERIOD 2019 - 2025
STRUCTURE Mass Timber
SCALE 2 stories
FLOOR AREA 46,500 ft2

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
MASS TIMBER Nordic
STRUCTURAL Tall Pines Engineering
SITE STRUCTURAL Kirchhefer + Englobe
MECHANICAL SNC
ELECTRICAL SNC
CIVIL Tulloch Engineering
GEOTECHNICAL Terraprobe
CODE CHM

SERVICES Algorithmic Design
Site Plan Approval
Rezoning
Landscape Design
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Enhanced CA

Herold Industrial Park
Sudbury, Ontario

A combination of existing building renovation and new build, the design parameters of this site were heavily constrained by its proximity to two major highways and flood-plain Conservation requirements. The existing building was refurbished with new exterior cladding and roofing, while the new build was designed as a mass timber structure on the heels of its success at sister-project Cambrian Heights Industrial.

Added complexity was introduced with a tenant fit-up in parallel with interior base building construction. The intent for user flexibility at the initial stages of design were exercised with an expansion of the original mezzanine level and a newly defined front entrance structure. Throughout, the mass timber remains a prominent feature and highlights the shift to aesthetic industrial design.

PERIOD 2020 - 2025
STRUCTURE    Mass Timber (New)
   Pre-Eng (Exist)
SCALE 2 stories (Both)
FLOOR AREA 18,800 ft2 (New)
   21,500 ft2 (Exist)

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
MASS TIMBER   Nordic
STRUCTURAL Tall Pines Engineering
SITE STRUCTURAL Englobe
MECHANICAL SNC
ELECTRICAL SNC
CIVIL    Tulloch Engineering
GEOTECHNICAL Terraprobe
CODE CHM

TENANT BASE DAO Makami Nordic SNC
TENANT FIT-UP JLR

SERVICES Record Drawings
AHJ Compliance
Master Planning
Site Plan Approval
Landscape Design
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Tenant Fit-Up (Partial)
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Webbwood Industrial
Sudbury, Ontario

Designed to expand an existing building’s warehouse capacity, a renovation and addition were commissioned with the added value of providing a more prominent street presence on the major arterial road running behind the existing site.

Currently in the design phase, mass timber will be utilized for the structure of the warehouse addition and incorporated into the existing building as a wrap-around exterior canopy structure, providing cover from the elements for both the front entrance and main loading dock. The duality of the exterior and interior wood elements will connect the two interventions across the existing building, ensuring the final built form reads as a cohesive whole.

PERIOD 2023 - 2026
STRUCTURE Mass Timber (New)
Steel (Existing)
SCALE. 1 story
FLOOR AREA 7,375 ft2 (New)
6,470 ft2 (Existing)

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
MASS TIMBER Nordic
STRUCTURAL Anthony Spick
MECHANICAL TBD
ELECTRICAL TBD
CIVIL Tulloch
GEOTECHNICAL Englobe

SERVICES Record Drawings
3D Scans
Site Plan Approval
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit

Armstrong Industrial
Sudbury, Ontario

Extensive renovations and new interventions were key aspects of this project, with the intent to maintain as much of the building’s original integrity as possible. Thorough renovations included new roof and wall cladding, additional windows, and interior layout modifications, while the new construction of a defined front entrance structure, loading bay addition, exterior loading ramp with foundation underpinning, and garbage enclosure were integrated into the existing project.

While these interventions were originally prepared for an unknown future tenant, the leasing of the space to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore added interior fit-up work to the design scope. As a hub for the sustainable rehabilitation of existing goods, this renewed building will continue to reflect Habitat’s ethos for years to come.

PERIOD 2022 - 2024
STRUCTURE Steel
SCALE 2 stories
FLOOR AREA 7,588 ft2

PHASE (1)(2)
CLIENT Bloomington Developments
STRUCTURAL Komri Engineering (1) & Shield Consulting Engineers (2)
MECHANICAL Komri Engineering (1) & Shield Consulting Engineers (2)
ELECTRICAL Komri Engineering (1) & Shield Consulting Engineers (2)
CIVIL C2S Engineering (2)
GEOTECHNICAL Englobe (2)

PHASE (3)
CLIENT (TENANT) Habitat for Humanity
STRUCTURAL Komri Engineering
MECHANICAL Komri Engineering
ELECTRICAL Komri Engineering

SERVICES Record Drawings
Minor Variance
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Tenant Fit-Up
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Lapointe Industrial Sudbury, Ontario

A straightforward renovation, this building was given new life with the replacement of its exterior insulation, cladding, windows, and doors. As a result, the thermal performance of the envelope was improved to provide additional cost savings throughout.

Despite the simplicity of the above project work, additional interventions have been discussed for future design and construction on this site.

PERIOD 2023 - 2024
STRUCTURE Steel
SCALE 2 story
FLOOR AREA 70,805 ft2

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
STRUCTURAL Makami Group
MECHANICAL TBD
ELECTRICAL TBD

SERVICES Record Drawings
3D Scans
Building Permit

Algonquin Industrial
Sudbury, Ontario

The front entrance of this existing building was made more prominent with the addition of an ACM panel structure to enhance the street-facing façade and provide a dedicated place for company signage. Included in the scope was the new configuration of an accessible entry sidewalk and an overhead canopy, the latter of which was not pursued to construction.

PERIOD 2022 - 2024
STRUCTURE Steel
SCALE 2 stories
FLOOR AREA 7,653 ft2

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
STRUCTURAL Komri Engineering
ELECTRICAL Komri Engineering

SERVICES Record Drawings
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Enhanced CA

Fielding Industrial
Lively, Ontario

This project focused on the renovation of an existing building that provided unique heavy industrial and extractive industrial functions. Situated in an area populated with old buildings supporting the local mining industry, the updating of the existing steel structure was required to extend its operational lifespan. The energy performance, finishes, and M&E operational capacities were all upgraded as well to meet the needs of a new tenant, which will positively benefit the building throughout and beyond their lease.

PERIOD 2017 - 2018
STRUCTURE Existing Pre-Eng Structural Steel
SCALE 1 story + mezzanine
FLOOR AREA 12,250 ft2

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
STRUCTURAL A2S
MECHANICAL SNC Lavalin
CONSTRUCTION Probity Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHY Braeden Martel

SERVICES Record Drawings
Building Permit
Enhanced CA

Headquarters
Sudbury, Ontario

The design process for the addition of a second-storey office over an existing warehouse building proved to be an interesting challenge. Not only would the addition cantilever over the structure in two directions, but rooftop access and mechanical equipment were to be concealed within a new roof form. The merging of the old and new would be achieved by integrating the existing fin features of the warehouse below to maintain continuity between built forms. Though the project was ultimately abandoned, it remains a useful exercise in renovation strategies that can be applied to future projects.

PERIOD 2022
STRUCTURE Wood
SCALE 2 stories + Existing

CLIENT Bloomington Developments
STRUCTURAL Komri Engineering
MECHANICAL SNC
ELECTRICAL SNC

SERVICES Record Drawings
Site Plan Approval
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit