THE ATHENAEUM

2015  |  UNBUILT  |  CALGARY, AB  |  CONCEPT DESIGN

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Longpre Architecture is thrilled to present to you The Athenaeum, a cutting-edge Centre for architectural knowledge collection, storage, and transmittance. This state-of-the-art facility will act as a gateway for local and international architects to access an extensive database, while also providing a location within Calgary to produce, experiment, and further the field of architecture.

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The design of The Athenaeum is guided by three principal pillars, one of which is the ambition to employ sustainable strategies throughout the project. The mechanical and environmental systems of the building follow this commitment to sustainability, incorporating both active and passive measures to ensure that the building is as energy-efficient as possible. One unique challenge that we have faced in the design of The Athenaeum is the presence of many computer servers within the building, which generate a significant amount of heat and use a large amount of power. However, rather than viewing this as a hindrance, we have chosen to embrace it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise in environmental strategy and to create a truly unique and sustainable building by harnessing the heat from the servers to heat the building in the winter. 

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In collaboration with Jason Unger, we believe that The Athenaeum represents the best of what modern architecture has to offer. We are confident that this project will be a valuable asset to the community and a testament to our team's commitment to excellence in design. If you are interested in learning more about The Athenaeum or in working with Longpre Architecture to bring your own design concepts to fruition, please don't hesitate to contact us.