2009 CISC Steel Design Awards of Excellence Finalist



The Alberta Pipe Trades College is a specialized industrial training facility designed to provide full apprenticeship and upgrade training in Gas-Fitting, Steam-Fitting / Pipe-Fitting, Plumbing and Sprinkler Systems trades.  The building provides 4,350 square meters (47,000 sf) of space on 3 floors comprised of shops, classrooms, demonstration labs, student amenity space, administrative and instructor offices as well as storage. This robust program had to be accommodated within a limited site area on UA Local 488's Edmonton campus, yet these facilities are able to handle over 1,700 apprenticeship students per year. Construction of the $25 million facility began in the fall of 2007, with completion in March of 2009.  Design features include a sophisticated mechanical system that incorporates displacement ventilation for shop spaces and is exposed as much as possible to serve as an educational device itself.  This project was also named a finalist in the 2009 CISC Steel Design Awards of Excellence competition for its innovative composite structural system that allowed for stiffer floors over longer spans with more efficient use of steel members.  The design and construction of this facility was completed under the auspices of Hartwig Architecture Inc. as prime consultant, with Frank Hilbich as project architect from initial concept to completion.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Status: Completed | 2009