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Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto
Ontario

The support system for the insulated cladding panels is installed on the steel diagrid.

The support system for the insulated cladding panels is installed on the steel diagrid. An ironwork welds a connecting extension to the diagrid to support the cladding system. These steel sections are welded to the WF diagrid web to create a surface upon which to attach the cladding system. Approximately 10,000 of these connectors will be welded to the frame to support the cladding framing. A view of the cladding support system at the west end of the crystal. A closer view of the cladding subsystem that will support the insulated panels. Close up view of the attachment of the sub system to the steel frame. Detailed view of the sub system showing the connection of the parts and ability to adjust to size. Connection of the cladding support system to the steel diagrid. After the insulated panels are installed, pressure strips seal the joints and additional connectors are installed in preparation to receive the next layer. Multiple cranes are used to install and seal the insulated panels. The window frames are installed. The frame section is extremely deep to enable it to project beyond the skin system. An aerial view of roof cladding in progress. The cladding installers work from a scaffold just beneath the roof surface. The crane lowers the insulated panel to the workers on the roof for attachment. Workers carry on with cladding operations. An overall view of the crystal from below with a significant portion of the sub system installed. Due to expansion and contraction of the steel diagrid below, and changing weather conditions, many of the "come alongs" in the city were employed to hold the subframes in position. A view of the western crystal with the insulating panel system nearing completion. A close up view of the channels being installed over the insulating system that will support the final layer. Workers sit atop the crystal completing cladding operations of the insulating layer. An overall view of the crystal with most of the insulating layer complete. A close view of the juncture between the glazed and insulated areas of the skin. Workers in a crane lift carrying out cladding operations. An aerial view of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal showing the insulating layer complete. The channels are being installed on the roof that will support the titanium cladding. Construction workers are tied off for safety reasons while working at these elevations. To work on the inclined roof, workers use rope systems similar to those used by mountain climbers. An insulating panel is attached to the crane for delivery up high. The thickness of the insulating panel can be seen, as well as the profile that allows it to fit in the frame. A closer view of the skin system showing the window penetrations and geometry. The final titanium cladding system is held out from the insulating layer to allow for drainage. Here at the west end of the crystal you can see the installation of the final titanium cladding layer. The geometry of the windows poses challenges for the cladding installation. The titanium pieces are installed on the channels. A corner detail, almost complete.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

The cladding system used on the ROM was very different from that used on Libeskind's previous crystal structure for the Denver Art Museum. Where Denver used a simple insulated cold formed steel infill system with titanium "shingles" as cladding, the ROM employed a complex prefabricated girt system that was attached to the steel diagrid using some 10,000 connectors. The grids had to be able to adjust to both the structural steel support system, as well as to expansion and contraction.

Insulated panels were fitted into the framing and sealed, forming the weather tight barrier. Channels were attached to this layer of cladding that would support the extruded titanium cladding. The final layer acts as a rain screen and is permeable by air and water. A heating system has been installed on the roof to promote winter melting and to prevent ice dams.

Photos: Terri Meyer Boake

The Construction of the Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum

The addition to the Royal Ontario Museum is one of the more recent projects by Architect Daniel Libeskind. Libeskind has become renowned for his use of the structural steel diagrid as a formgiver for his architectural "crystal" buildings, as can also be seen in the Denver Art Museum. The steel fabrictor and erector, Walters Inc., of Hamilton, had to take greater than normal care in both fabricating and erecting the components in order to ensure a proper fit amongst the various parts. This included extra care in the installation of the cladding system - through the hot summer and cold winter periods.


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