SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
We believe that the ramifications of sustainable practice reach beyond the essence of each work of architecture. We see sustainable design as a provocation for the rethinking of architecture. Environmentally conscious design has become an integral consideration in the architectural ‘idea’ of each project. As architects, we are responsible to both our clients and the environment. David Ellis, having designed his first earth sheltered and solar homes in the late 70’s, has continually developed a keen environmental awareness into his designs. He has continued in this belief and has become the only LEED Accredited architect in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
The practice of environmentally conscious architecture is an integrated holistic process and regardless of LEED intent, we share the common goal of integrating human and ecological concerns, combined with functionality and achieve maximum value for the available budget. Therefore if LEED status is not required, we apply similar design attributes to all our projects, yielding better environmentally conscious designs
Design starts before we place a pencil to paper as part of a proactive and co-operative approach to achieve optimum solutions. Beginning with the building’s site and its orientation, we promote ways to improve the interaction between the built form and its environs, ways to take advantage of solar orientation and to reduce electrical lighting, reduce snow build-up at entrances that require excessive maintenance, etc. The building envelope is carefully considered so that the various components interact and integrate with mechanical and electrical systems. By designing walls and glazing as a complete system, we can optimize interior light quality, lower operating costs, whilst keeping construction costs as low as possible. The mechanical and electrical systems are further enhanced to provide the best balance of fresh air and natural light, utilizing supplemental systems to ensure the building functions well in all conditions, saving energy and making the building healthier for its occupants.
david ELLIS architect is in the midst of several high profile low energy projects at the present time. These include an Alternative Energy Learning Centre that will not only showcase and explain alternative energy sources, but be run through a combination of solar, wind and bio-fuel energy sources that will create a very unique and cost effective building. The Algoma University BioSciences and Technology Convergence Centre has received LEED Gold designation. Another example is the way we used an in-ground geo-thermal system for heating and cooling the Hornepayne JK to 12 School, to save energy as there is no gas, nor oil available in that community.
HIGH TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE
david ELLIS architect is noted for the design of technically significant research and scientific buildings. He is the only Canadian recipient of the prestigious ‘Laboratory of the Year Award’ and recently has been recognised as BUILD Magazine’s ‘Best International Scientific and Medical Architectural Firm’. Further to this, he has been recognised for his contribution to science and technology in design, he has been honoured by presenting the key note address to the Commonwealth Scientific Congress, the US Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association annual convention in Chicago and the Ontario Global Trader’s Awards, in addition to lecturing at Construct Canada, Toronto, the Pittsburgh Scientific Conference and many other architectural design symposia.
Experience includes extremely large projects such as the design and leading the overall project management for five buildings for the World Bank and the Malaysia Health Development Project which integrated over 350 fumehoods, several Classes of laboratories and containment spaces, as well as Forensic laboratories, making it one of the most advanced science projects in the world.
He has just completed the new Algoma University ESSAR Science Building and was the laboratory architect and interior designer for Lake Superior State University‘s Crawford Hall of Science and Nursing Facility, designer of Bay College’s Science Building, plus nursing departments at Viterbo University Science and Ethics Building, as well as for Sault College, the majority of the largest forest research facility in Canada (Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) / Forest Pest Management Institute / Ontario Forest Research Institute (OFRI) complex). Additionally, he provided laboratory planning and design for an additional phase of work for the Malaysia Health Development Project, the Malaysian National Blood Services Building and several of their public health laboratories. He has been the architect of record for 35 years of Canada’s most well known health clinic, the Group Health Centre, including the design of Ontario‘s first Women’s Health Centre. Recently he played a major role as the original administrative principal and the designer of the Laboratory, CSR, Pharmacy, Radiology, Ambulatory Care and several other departments within the new Sault Area Hospital.
Other projects such Viterbo University Science and Ethics Building, Bay College Science Building, new IT facilities for ’Simply The Best Meeting Results’, a new programme development project at the Ontario Forest Research Institute, the Blind River Provincial Police Building, security at the OLG Casino, recent Sault Ste. Marie airport expansion projects and security enhancements. Medical projects include the new Group Health Centre Medical Learning Centre, OBGYN and new Family Practitioner’s space. Smaller, but no less significant projects include the award winning Floreani Orthodontist Offices, many small medical and dental practices, land-use master plans including the SSM International Bridge Plaza concept design for four of the last five proposed developments to the Gateway site (2 co-designed, 2 sole design), as well as custom furniture and laboratory casework design, including specialist lab furniture consulting for a internationally known scientific casework manufacturer.
HISTORIC RESTORATION: LOOKING AT THE PAST
Mr. Ellis sat on the Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Heritage Committee (formerly LACAC) for over ten years and has spent hundreds of volunteer hours working to help preserve local architecturally significant structures. He was a contributor to the most recently published Ontario Heritage Tool Kit (dated 2006), prepared by the Ministry of Culture and has taken part in many workshops and architectural evaluations. Additionally, he has extensive experience in the restoration and preservation of historic structures, including the research and subsequent design of the Summer Kitchen for western Canada’s oldest stone structure, the Charles Oakes Ermatinger House. Recently, he restored a 1906 period home originally built for the then president of Algoma Steel, has prepared the historic evaluation for registration of the Bishophurst (1872) and with Graeme Ellis, was instrumental in the registering of northern Ontario’s first industrial artifact (a Porter boilerless train engine). As the architect for the new ESSAR Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, he successfully championed for the existing Memorial Tower, to be saved and integrated into the new site plan.
Work within heritage structures brings a whole new layer of complexity to the design process. For not only are there the usual functional, aesthetic and technical issues, there exists a recognition that anything one does is in context with its historic, architectural or cultural significance. The latter, ‘cultural‘, is a newly developed priority by the Ministry of Culture for Ontario and further enhances the long-standing architectural significance criteria for designation.