Location: Lethbridge, Canada.

Architect: KPMB + Stantec.

The Destination Project at the University of Lethbridge is a new Science and Academic Building that aims to improve overall campus connectivity, create a transdisciplinary collaborative environment for research and teaching, establish a supportive environment for active learning, establish a symbol of the university’s commitment to sustainability, and establish a contemporary icon that respects the past while looking toward the future. The building is designed to invite the landscape inside, using it as the prime organizing element of the four principle research neighborhoods and teaching programs. The connection to the north end of University Hall occurs at the main street level through a transparent bridge connection. Quality collaboration space is critical to the success of a transdisciplinary environment.

The architecture acts as the backdrop and enabler of the desired culture for teaching and research at the University. Interaction spaces of varying scale and type are interwoven throughout the building and its program, resulting in three tiers of collaborative space: within research neighborhoods; between research neighborhoods, and at the scale of the whole building. Two principle atria define the interior landscape. The South Atrium and the North Atrium frame dramatic views of the surrounding coulee landscape, flood the interior with natural light, and connect programs vertically.

The project is LEED registered and is targeting LEED Gold certification. Through natural ventilation strategies and effective daylighting, the building will exceed traditional standards for building comfort and quality of space. The south facing winter garden provides significant energy performance enhancement and is a lasting symbol of the University’s commitment to sustainability. The design for the Destination Project opens a new page for the University of Lethbridge. Grounded in a strong response to the landscape and reinforcement of the iconic University Hall, the Destination Project brings a new clarity to the broader campus, establishes a prominent identity for science and the campus, and sets Lethbridge University proudly on a course toward its future, while respecting its rich and important past.