Artistic Academy

Founded in 1923, Brentwood College School on Vancouver Island is a co-educational university preparatory school for students in grades nine through 12.  Centred on the Arts, this 47 acre oceanfront campus includes an array of fine arts, performing arts and academic facilities, including a 16,000 sq.ft. visual arts studio and two digital media studios. The final segment of a ten year campus development plan, the new Visual Arts and Global Studies Centre provides the school with an additional 30,000 square feet of teaching space.

This two-storey building was constructed of concrete and heavy timber, and was rendered entirely in Building Information Modelling by the Architect and all consultants including Read Jones Christoffersen. The heavy timber roof incorporates several undulating roof forms, and features a 25’ high central atrium with a curved, asymmetrical roof shape.  In response to one design challenge, the team developed an innovative truss design for the atrium roof, which incorporates a double glulam top chord, steel cable bottom chord, and laminated structural glass king post.

In addition to Structural Engineering Services, RJC also provided a “Best Practice” Building Envelope review for the Client. Working alongside the Architect, the team assisted in refining the Building Envelope for optimal performance, suited to the elements experienced on British Columbia’s West Coast.