The new LEED Gold facility for Dalhousie University is designed to support the growing field of precision agriculture research and located at a prominent corner of the Agricultural Campus in Truro. The program serves as the digital compliment to the traditional workshops on campus and provides a combination of highly adaptable mechatronics labs, digital manufacturing workshops, environmental testing labs, and environmentally controlled greenhouses with collaboratively focused office and meeting spaces. 

The inspiration evolved from conversations with researchers about their work, creating an architectural expression to celebrate the seemingly contrasting intersection between agriculture and digital technology. The facades balance the warmth of Terra Cotta with the coolness of Concrete, the softness of greenery with high-tech Metal screens. Each material is used in a multitude of ways – framing, layering, screening, and articulating the program - and composed with a playfully approach to utility that sparks curiosity and celebrates contrast. sparks curiosity and celebrates contrast.

Status

Ongoing

Our Role

Architecture

Client

Dalhousie University

Location

Truro, Nova Scotia