Projects

Mr. Jake – Structural Insulated Panels

Owner: Mr. Jake

Architect: Sherri-Lynn Design

General Contractor: The Homeowner

Location: Lake Simcoe, ON

Concept: Approx. 4000sqft high efficiency home on lake Simcoe ON.

Challenge: Mr. Jake wanted to build a high efficiency dream home by Lake Simcoe.  The land is too close to the water, therefore the water table is high. Another challenge is that he required much higher standards in his home than the average home, nearing a net-zero home.  So we needed to find solutions that work hand-in-hand to guarantee the best result in terms of comfort and energy efficiency. Mr. Jake also was not happy that he is losing approximately 200sqft for the mechanical room.

Solutions: Structural Insulated Panels of 8.25” thickness for the walls were used, providing an effective R-value of R32, along with high efficiency triple-glaze fiberglass windows.  What was important is to provide him with a mechanical system that capitalizes on the efficiency of the building envelop, saves him space while running on a low energy budget. Thermaray’s radiant ceiling panels offered a high efficiency, comfortable heating system, and freed up the mechanical room which initially was supposed to house the furnace and other mechanical components.  Additionally, Mr. Jake saved on the sizes of the joists needed for his floors and ceiling, as there are no more large heating ducts passing through them, only an 8” duct for the ventilation system.

Acier d’Armature de Beauce – Earth Thermal Storage

Owner: Acier d’Armature de Beauce (AAB)

Architect: CRÉA Architecture

General Contractor: Construction Binet

Location: Beauceville QC.

Concept: 20,000 sqft factory with approximately 2,000sqft of office spaces for a total of 22,000sqft

Challenge: AAB considered Hydronic radiant heating system, however, the fabrication machine they were planning to install, needed to be bolted to the slab, risking damaging the hydronic tubes installed in the slab. Another challenge is to control the operation cost with the consistently rising gas prices.

Solution: Earth Thermal Storage radiant heating panels are installed 7 – 11 inches below the slab eliminating the risk of damage should the heavy machines be bolted to the slab. The thermal mass that will be built under the slab, will allow AAB to capitalize on Hydro-Quebec’s flexible rates by allowing them to draw energy from the grid during the low-peak, cheaper rate hours. In addition, unlike natural gas, Hydro-Quebec’s rates are a lot more consistent.

Other added benefits of going with the Earth Thermal Storage radiant heating system:

• Cheaper system to purchase than the hydronic system
• Cheaper system to install
• Saved AAB on slab insulation cost, as the system does not require and is exempt from insulating the slab
• Cheaper operational costs
• Significantly reduced the size of the mechanical room
• Allowed for better zoning and control
• Maintenance free and no replacement parts
• Zero CO2 emission produced by the Earth Thermal Storage radiant heating system

Stackt Market – Radiant Ceiling Panels

Owner: Stackt Market

Architect: LGA Architectural Group

General Contractor: Astound Group

Location: Downtown Toronto

Concept: Artisanal Market built of shipping containers stacked on top of each other

Challenge: Containers don’t have enough room for ducts. It is also complicated to bring in a natural gas line to them. A compact energy efficient solution was needed as alternative.

Solution: Architectural series radiant ceiling panels provide consistent warmth to the spaces created, in an energy efficient way. The electric panels, installed in the ceiling, are a compact alternative to bulky and unpractical conventional options. The controls are electronic thermostats controlled by the occupants of the containers.

Shopify Customer Service Centre – Waterloo, ON

Project Owner: Shopify

Architect: LineBox Studio

Mechanical Engineers: Smith and Andersen

Location: Waterloo ON.

Concept: Modern customer service office

Challenge: With the modern look and open concept desired for Shopify’s new offices in Waterloo ON, came some heating challenges as the windows were too big, and the forced air system specified was not sufficient to compensate for the heat lost through those windows efficiently.

Solution: Petra’s architectural series radiant heating panels provide gentle, consistent heat that warms up the windows directly and efficiently without the need to warm the air. This process of radiation allows for a more comfortable environment, reduces energy consumption, and eliminates cold draughts, while providing more decentralized controls to maximize comfort.

Queen Victoria Hot Yoga Studio

Owner: Vic Studio

Architect: Maria Gonzalez

General Contractor: Reliance Construction Group

Electrician: La CIE Electrique Britton Ltée

Location: Westmount QC

Concept: A Hot Yoga Studio in the Heart of the Westmount

Challenge: To create a hot yoga studio, where temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celius, without blowing uncomfortable hot air on Yogis, taking into consideration the age of the building and the size of the windows in the studio.

Solution: After a detailed heat loss analysis, Petra’s Architectural Series radiant ceiling (Metal radiant ceiling panels) provided the best heat for the space. The client is able to adjust the temperature to meet the needs of the hot Yoga student without creating an uncomfortable current through blowing hot air. In terms of energy consumption, it is by far the most energy efficient option since it eliminates infiltration and exfiltration and provides a consistent heat from ceiling to floor.

The Nouvelle Scenes Theatre

Engineers: WSP

Electric Contractor: Dandrew Technologies

Location: Byward Market, Ottawa, ON

Concept: A culture center and theatre

Challenge: This modern building has a perimeter with 22 ft high windows, which creates a challenge to warm up the space and to warm up the surfaces of the windows to avoid condensation and cold draughts, in an efficient way.

Solution: The Architectural Series radiant ceiling panels provide an energy efficient solution as the radiant heat warms up the surfaces of the windows, reducing the delta temperature between the ambient air and the windows’ surfaces. The result is a comfortable space, with no cold draughts, no condensation on the windows and a massive saving on the energy consumption and maintenance costs.