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In the face of a growing climate crisis, honeybees have been the subject of considerable interest worldwide. As crop pollinators, the insects, which have been diminishing in number, play a vital role in our food system, aiding in the production of fruits and vegetables.
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With hundreds of working hives, the University of Guelph’s internationally renowned agricultural college is a leader in honeybee study. Soon the Ontario institution will have a building to match its reputation and to bolster its research: the aptly named Honey Bee Research Centre, designed by Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima Architects.
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Envisioned as a low-carbon mass-timber complex, the centre will serve as a campus landmark that combines educational programming, research, ecological functions and public space. Emerging from a swath of terrain near the university’s arboretum, the structure is defined by a glazed facade and sweeping roofline topped with a stout interpretive tower that acts as both a solar chimney and a pollinator-friendly habitat. Inside, the light-filled facility will contain a flexible learning space, classrooms, research labs, an exhibition area, a café and a gift shop.
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The centre’s exterior and surrounding landscape are thoughtfully designed to reflect the overall building plan and to act as an extension of the structure.
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Cultivated plots and working hives will serve both ecological and educational purposes, providing refuges for honeybees (as well as other wildlife) while underscoring the need to protect their ecosystems. A ground-level pathway leads to a public rooftop garden where edible and flowering plants support honeybee activity.
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The construction of the complex will strongly reflect its eco-conscious ethos. All lumber will be sourced from a sustainably managed forest that mandates regeneration of all harvested areas. Designed to meet LEED Gold standards, the facility will also make use of passive design features, including daylight harvesting, a high performance envelope and a rainwater collection system. And when the centre opens (sometime in 2022), natural ventilation is expected to maintain a comfortable climate for 25 per cent of the year.
Firm Moriyama & Teshima Architects (Toronto, Canada) Team Diarmuid Nash and Veronica Madonna with Jay Zhao, Nicolas Mayaux, Rutuja Atre, Melissa Poon, Luis Quezada, Pooya Aledavood and Olivia Keung
Moriyama & Teshima’s ambitious upcoming building for the University of Guelph takes the win in Concepts: Unbuilt Buildings.