Prince Albert RCMP Detachment
Corrections, Policing
Total Project Size: 10,400 sq.ft.
Year: 2012
Budget: $5,412,000
The site, surrounded by Jack Pine, is at the edge of the Boreal Forest adjacent to the highway that rises from the North Saskatchewan River bank. A fringe of the open prairie surrounding the City can be seen as the hill is crested. The Detachment is embedded within the forest, acknowledging the forest in its own terms of scale, form, proportion, texture, color, light and material.
Intent: The Prince Albert Detachment Design celebrates the unique character of this place. The Northern Boreal Forest is a defining characteristic of the community; thus the design seeks to build a bridge to the community by creating a pride of place that can be shared. This shared pride reinforces the RCMP as a cornerstone of good community while seeking a sensitivity to the environment by aiming for LEED Gold Status.
Design Philosophy & Approach
- The color palate and material textures are derived from the site. Local plant materials were gathered and all selected colors could be found in these samples. These include black-greens and deep browns of the canopy, the greens, greys and sands of the forest floor, with a splash of deep red found in summer berries and winter stalks.
- The context is reflected in the materials chosen for the Detachment building. Regional limestone and local rough-sawn pine are derived from the forest, and the brick is reminiscent of brickworks once fired from Saskatchewan River mud near the site.
- Landscape planting includes all local species. The landscape architect walked through the forest behind the site, and wrote the plant list from within a hundred meters of the building. Although it is a significant departure from the typical mowed lawn, it will ensure that the landscaping and building will continue to be part of the forest.
- Storm water is managed to twice the LEED requirement, and is retained in a vegetative swale. No irrigation is installed. All plants used are native and local species, which do not require consistent water and are adapted to local climate conditions. Mulch conserves water and helps foster optimal soil conditions.
- Alternative fuel vehicles and bicycle storage were accommodated.
- Energy performance is modeled to achieve 60% energy reduction over MNEBC.
- Building Thermal Envelope – Medium density spray foam was used in the wall cavity with an additional layer of type 4 EPS on the exterior, providing significantly reduced air leakage, and integral vapor and air barriers, to achieve R40 walls and R60 roof. Thermo-graphic assessment confirmed performance.
- Chilled beams provide 100% fresh air to occupied spaces while reducing fan motor loads by more than 40%.
- Low-emitting adhesives, paints, carpet and composite wood were utilized.
- Fundamental & best-practices commissioning was performed.
Key Staff
Paul Paul Blaser, SAA, AAA, LEED APBlaser, Design, Principal Architect
Contract Docs: Jeff Mannix Technical & Specifications
Contract Admin: Lilia Buza Senior Designer, Project Architect
