The University of Calgary’s Child Development Centre is the largest project in Canada to achieve LEED Platinum certification. The 125,000 sq. ft. facility focuses on supporting organizations working together for the benefit of children. The vision was to functionally integrate different disciplines of the University’s research departments with Calgary Health Region practitioners within the space. The University had also mandated that all new capital projects be built to a high level of sustainability.

“The vision, budget and timelines were ambitious,” according to project architect Judy MacDougall, an associate at Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning, Calgary.

Three options for the north and south exterior skin facades were considered—aluminum composite material panels, 3.2mm painted aluminum panels and 1.2mm zinc panels. RHEINZINK® was selected and approximately 25,000 sq.ft. of Preweathered Graphite Grey horizontal reveal panels were utilized to clad the north and south exteriors of the four-story building.

“Zinc was the preferred choice from the beginning,” MacDougall said, “but we wanted to make sure we had other options in case it proved too expensive. As it turned out, the RHEINZINK was very competitive and was the least expensive option. We did work a lot with the design and tried to get the maximum amount of material from the coil.”

“Aesthetically, we like the natural color of the zinc and, of course, its durability,” reports MacDougall. “The Graphite Grey offers a very nice patina and the material oxidizes very slowly in Calgary due to the drier climate. RHEINZINK is really a nice product to work with.”

Fabrication and installation of the RHEINZINK panels was done by Thermal Systems KWC Ltd., Calgary.