Isttaniokaksini / Science Commons

Isttaniokaksini, the Blackfoot name bestowed on the new Science Commons Building for transdisciplinary science at the University of Lethbridge, means deep knowledge and awareness growing out of the unknown. The new 32,600 s.m. collaborative science facility is sited in the iconic coulee landscape adjacent to University Hall, one of Arthur Erickson’s most iconic works. The project fulfills Erickson’s original vision for a connected campus, establishes leadership in the emerging field of transdisciplinary science and sets an exemplar for climate-responsive, low-carbon science research buildings. While the core driver was to embody the University’s ethos of pragmatism with a highly flexible and efficient structure, the design respects the legacy of Erickson’s intersection of landscape and architecture and protects the long-term viability of University Hall. The project’s location at the northern edge of the campus aligns with the University’s priorities to protect the campus ecology and realizes a long-term vision to complete the definition of Coulee Quad, creating a continuous campus loop of pedestrian circulation. In contrast to Erickson’s strategy of slicing through the landscape, the Science Commons draws the coulee landscape within establishing the building’s public realm and collaboration spaces while effectively negotiating the topographical differences between the upper and lower campus. A single storey glazed link connects the north end of the iconic ‘street’ of University Hall and a pedestrian bridge connects to the upper campus to the west. Four flexible lab ‘loft’ bars or neighbourhoods are strategically placed to define the public realm and to optimize access to views and natural light. The creation of the ’ piazza’ to University Hall’s ‘street’ reinforces Erickson’s vision of the University as a ‘marketplace.’ The larger atrium and main event space, is characterized by a dramatic visual connection to the east coulee landscape and physical access is offered by way of access to the East Terrace. The central auditorium, clad inside and out with corten steel, anchors the building solidly to the landscape. The research and public areas are highly transparent reinforcing the concept of science on display and visual connectivity to the iconic coulee landscape. The building massing is unified through upper and lower solid bands establishing a horizontal expression reflective of University Hall. The landscape approach is restorative, re-instating pre-existing coulees buried during the construction of University Hall. The design capitalizes on Lethbridge’s unique climate, one of the sunniest and driest places in Canada, for passive energy. A double-façade system for perimeter offices and glazing with large-scale ‘light scoops’ on the east and south elevations draw light deep into the core. Designed to outperform the 50% baseline typology of conventional lab buildings, it anticipates 78% energy use reduction for support spaces and a 60% reduction for the lab spaces. The architecture of Isttaniokaksini realizes the vision to create the most advanced science building in Canada—an incubator for transdisciplinary discovery. Planned for many generations into the future, the design creates a highly sustainable, flexible, and supportive platform to discover solutions to the challenges facing humanity, nature and the universe.