Bay Cannon is a 6-storey mid-rise affordable housing development located in Hamilton, Ontario. This 55-unit, 53,000 sq.ft. building constructed in accordance to Passive House standards, is an excellent example of energy-efficient and sustainable construction practices due to its high performance super air-tight building envelope, triple glazed windows, 0 thermal – conductance and energy recovery ventilation mechanical system.
The project was developed by CityHousing Hamilton and designed by Kearns Mancini Architects Inc. Engineering work for the project was handled by Kalos Engineering Inc., while Schilthius Construction Inc. provided the general contracting services for the project. Fritz-Alder Precast supplied the hollow core slabs and On-Site Mobile performed the erection work.
Bay Cannon was constructed using hollow core slabs, DELTABEAM®, wide flange steel columns, and reinforced concrete cores for lateral stability. As a result of the combination of materials and methods, the construction process has progressed significantly. For the construction of the building's six floors, DELTABEAM® provided multiple benefits that addressed specific design and construction needs.
Because of the project's design constraints, reducing the overall floor thickness was an important step to increase headroom. DELTABEAM®, with its integrated two-hour fire rating, was utilized in the project. This not only eliminated the need for additional fireproofing but also accelerated the construction process and significantly cut fireproofing costs. The adoption of bolted or slotted connections between beams, columns, or walls further expedited the construction process by eliminating the need for welding.
Besides the benefits offered by DELTABEAM®, the use of precast hollow core slabs provided three other significant advantages. About 6,000 square feet of slabs were installed in a single day, which greatly shortened the construction process. Due to the fact that the slabs were manufactured in a factory and installed on site, weather-related delays were minimized. Additionally, hollow core slabs do not require shoring, which allows for immediate access to the site.
Span sizes, which were either very small or very large, presented challenges to the project.DELTABEAM® was able to address these challenges effectively by providing structural support while optimizing space and headroom.As a result of this blend of innovative solutions, the Bay Cannon Affordable Housing project was able to meet both its design and construction objectives efficiently.
