The site set aside for construction in the city of Quebec was completely lifeless, devoid of any kind of vegetation. And, to begin with, the architects had to make a lot of efforts to restore and improve this landscape.
Any living organism must adapt to the environment: it is a matter of survival. In the same way, the building must exist according to the laws of the place in which it is located, the architects say. The building with a total area of 3.7 thousand m2 was given an organic form and tried to take into account climatic conditions as much as possible.
The southern facade received continuous glazing, providing access to sunlight into the interior (blinds save it from excessive heat). East and West, also glass, are protected by permeable metal screens that extend the surface of the roof: the building seems to be covered with a "scarf". A wooden frame, complemented by the same finishing details and creating a spectacular play of light and shade, is taken out into the bright, sun-drenched interior space. Among these wooden volumes and surfaces are various areas for recreation, communication, informal communication.
The north side is closed from the outside world and is designed to accumulate heat in winter. In this, the most protected part of the building, there are actually workplaces of the company's employees, because even too bright sun will not prevent them here.
The Canadian office of GlaxoSmithKline has every right to be called environmentally friendly, not only due to the use of wood and attention to the surrounding landscape. Double ventilated facades, energy and resource saving systems, "chilled beams", separate climate control in different zones, radiant panel heating system (playing the role of soundproofing at the lower levels of the building), and many other technologies allow owners to use the building as efficiently as possible.
