Project Overview
When Angstrom Engineering, an international nanotechnology company, embarked on plans to build their new headquarters in Cambridge, our team supported the development with engineering and environmental expertise.
The facility was designed to drive innovation, meet growing demand and accommodate growth. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the 50,000-ft2 structure holds both manufacturing and office space, with exceptional flow between the two areas. To help reduce the environmental impact of the building, energy-efficient elements were incorporated into the design, including solar panels, a solar window and glazed doors to harness natural light and reduce energy consumption.
MTE’S Involvement
The site chosen for the new facility was a greenfield in an expanding area of Cambridge. Our geotechnical engineers and hydrogeology team first joined the project to assess the soil and groundwater conditions of the property and provide recommendations to guide the site design. To accommodate potential future expansion, our civil engineers designed the site to allow for additional developments to be built without major disruptions to the existing building or infrastructure.
The facility is part of the Creekside Industrial Subdivision, which meant that we had to consider the overall stormwater quantity and quality targets established in the Freeport Creek Sub-watershed Plan. This added to the complexity of the design, as it required the team to carefully coordinate their plans with the adjacent natural areas to ensure that stormwater runoff was properly managed and would not adversely impact the sensitive natural environment.
To tackle this challenge, we worked closely with the City of Cambridge, Grand River Conservation Authority and the project team to navigate the requirements and develop a comprehensive plan that would meet the needs of the entire subdivision while also addressing the specific requirements of Angstrom Engineering’s new facility.
Our structural engineers designed the single-storey building with a partial mezzanine office at the front and a welcoming double-storey entrance lobby and vestibule. Steel framing was chosen as the primary construction material for its durability, cost-effectiveness and strength-to-weight ratio, allowing for long spans and large open spaces.
The manufacturing space includes a pre-clean and clean room, an industrial-sized nitrogen compressor installation and a built-in crane for moving heavy equipment, which will make the process of transferring and manipulating large machinery safer and more efficient.
The facility holds a large manufacturing shop, offices and boardroom areas, all constructed of structural steel, insulated-metal panels, and aluminum composite panels. This combination of materials allowed for an accelerated construction schedule while still maintaining the structural integrity of the building.
Awards:
Association of Canadian Engineering Companies – Grand River Chapter | 2023 Award of Merit | Platinum Award
Project Team:
Angstrom Engineering (Owner)
ABA Architects Inc. (Architectural Design)
Fortech Engineering Ltd. (Mechanical/Electrical)
Hill Design Studio (Landscape Architecture)
Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc. (Construction Management)
Kieswetter Excavating Inc. (Excavating Contractor)
ACL Steel (Steel Contractor)
