Group Eight Engineering Limited - New elementary school, I. L. Thomas

Six Nations of the Grand, Ohsweken

New elementary school, I. L. Thomas

Mechanical, electrical and structural engineering services for the new elementary school were assigned to Group Eight Engineering Limited. The work included planning, detail design, specifications, contract administration and general site review.

A ground source heat pump system was selected for heating and air-conditioning. The system uses 35,000 lineal feet of 1" diameter plastic pipe buried in 6-foot deep trenches that circulate an antifreeze solution to draw heat from the earth. This system is in keeping with the Band's philosophy of being in step with nature. The system has no combustion product emissions and has a 3 to 1 efficiency advantage over electric heating. The direct digital control and monitoring system are linked by telephone modem to the public works department in Ohsweken for 24 hour-a-day monitoring.

Water supply and treatment systems were developed for this new 2,540 m² building taking into consideration the inadequate, very hard water supply, available from a drilled well.

This uniquely designed school incorporates the shape of a turtle that is an aboriginal symbol of creation and represents a clan. The structural design uses hollow structural section trusses over areas requiring long spans. The slopes, dormers, valleys and ridges give shape to the animal's form.

Group Eight Engineering Limited

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