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Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto

Toronto
Ontario

Overall view of the large pod as it sits assembled, on the ground, waiting to be lifted into place.

Overall view of the large pod as it sits assembled, on the ground, waiting to be lifted into place. An ironworker at Walters Inc. in Hamilton, works on a pod section. The pods will be hung from the fifth floor by means of these special elements. The pod pieces sit on site ready to be lifted. The crane lifts the pod piece. The centre of gravity has to be found so that the piece arrives to the ironworkers in the correct orientation. The pod piece travels over to the site assembly area. The pod will be put together on the ground, and then lifted to its final position. Ironworkers receive the piece and guide it into position. The pieces arrive in this position and must be rotated to a vertical position for installation. The pod piece is put into position, carefully aligning the bolt holes for fastening. The steel beams are installed that will comprise the fifth floor and from which the pods will be hung. Although the columns are concrete, steel was selected for the floor to prevent scaffolding. A 50 tonne truss arrives at site. It will be lifted to the fifth floor level. This cantilevered beam section is reinforced with struts to prevent sag. An ironworker sits on the end of the cantilevered beam section awaiting a delivery. The crane lifts the beam section into position. The ironworkers pull the beam into its connection, then insert the bolts. The beam cantilevers, waiting for the next connecting piece. The pod sits complete on the site, waiting for construction to catch up so the lift can take place. The job site is ready for the erection of the 50 tonne truss. This column is made from built up plate sections and must take the load of the 50 tonne truss. This steel column is built into the concrete structure behind and will take the back half of the truss load. The ironworkers attach the protective guards to the truss. These are the attachments for the crane cables. The truss is lifted to a vertical position, ready to go. The crane operator must align the truss to meet the back, front and a beam at the side, precisely... An ironworker works on getting the back end of the truss down into its proper position. Both the front end over the column, and the side connection to a beam must work perfectly. The floors are completed on either side of the truss and the decking installed. Ironworkers complete work on the floor framing and decking that attaches to the truss. Steel shelf angles are welded to the truss to accept the edge of the decking. A view up one of the long steel curtain wall supports to the sixth floor above. The chain falls are in place and ready to lift the small pod. A view of the small pod from the fifth floor level. It must be lifted to this position. A closer view of the attachment of the lifting device to the pod. The pod is hoisted to its position. The pod is almost up to the required level. The steel hanger must nest snugly in the joint, then be welded. The pods are finished in drywall, forever hiding the HSS steel frames from view. A view in the atrium looking at both pods. On the top of the lower pod is a lounge. The interior is fitted as a classroom. The axonometric drawing used by the fabricator to describe the job.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

The Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto

The structural steel that was used in this project can easily be categorized into distinct components, each with their own "phase" and ideosyncracies during fabrication and erection.

The pod pieces are created using round HSS sections that are bent to take the curved form of the pod. As this steel is ultimately not intended to be left exposed, it is given a different type of fabrication treatment than if it were designated as AESS. The precision of alignment remains extremely critical as tolerances are kept to the minimum so that the pieces will fit together properly.

photos: Terri Meyer Boake

The Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy

The Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is one of the most recent "Capital Projects" to be constructed. Adjacent to the Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research", design by Benisch Benisch with local firm Architects Alliance, the pharmacy school marks the first work by the firm of Norman Foster in the Toronto area.

The school marks the high profile intersection of College Street and University Avenue, immediately adjacent to the Ontario Legislative Buildings. The tower is marked by its grand 5 storey tall atrium that features two hanging "pods". The pods are used as classrooms on their interior level, and as lounges at the top, providing an unusual perspective on the lobby space.

Walters Inc. fabricated the components for the pods in their Hamilton shop. The pods were divided into repetitive sectional components that used round HSS tubes, that were bent to suit the shape. These were shop fabricated and assembled on grade at the site. The completed pods were then lifted into their position and attached to the sixth floor via long slender steel "rods".

The pods have ultimately been clad in a gypsum board finish and provide a "reflective lighting feature" to passers by during the dark hours.

The Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy received an Award of Excellence in the Engineering Category from the Ontario Region of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction in 2006. more info

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