CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory

CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL) is a division of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). It is among the largest research centers in Canada, with over a 100-person technical staff of scientists and technicians. CANMET-MTL is dedicated to providing an innovative research and development program designed to provide technology solutions for the Canadian industry.

Integral Group was retained to provide mechanical and electrical consulting services for NRCan’s new 145,000 ft² research facility. The $40M project is on target to achieve a 70% improvement in energy efficiency over MNECB standards.

To assure that the client’s goals were met, the project featured a truly integrated design process (IDP) with all the primary consultants on board throughout the initial design phases. As part of the design, Integral created an integrated building model that included thermal comfort analysis, energy consumption, airflow analysis, and daylighting using Virtual Environment software.

Passive architectural features include:

External shading features, including south-facing louvers and overhangs and west-facing screens
North-facing skylights
Green and reflective roofs
Façade and layout optimized for daylight penetration and glare reduction
Renewable energy integrated into building façade/envelope
Exposed thermal mass integrated with heating and cooling system

Building systems design features: