Soprema Manufacturing Facility [Ontario] | ELEMA

Client :Soprema Canada
Architecture :Lemay
Area :7,900 m² (85,000 ft²)
Photos Credits :David Boyer Photographie

The project involves the construction of a 7,900 m² (85,000 ft²) manufacturing facility located in Woodstock, Ontario. The steel structure must comply with a free inner height of 10 m (34 ft) in addition to being able to support a variety of manufacturing equipment either suspended (conveyors) or located on the roof (water towers, mechanical units, solar panels, and others).

Beyond the manufacturing and warehousing spaces, steel components have been designed to support the brise-soleil as well as huge outdoor silos. As an architectural feature at the entrance, the conference room is cantilevered approximately 4.5 m (15 ft). The plant is aiming for LEED Silver environmental certification and a life cycle assessment of the entire building has been completed.

Technical challenges :

Fast-track project requiring phasing of the building in order to accelerate fabrication of the structure.
Integration of owner process design into the base building structure, including slab-supported equipment, roof-supported equipment, and large storage silos supported on concrete rafts and on steel framing.
30 m (98 ft) long-span roof structure above the main process area using open-web steel girders.
High-quality architectural features throughout the building exterior, including a cantilevered office block and 14 m (46 ft) clear-span steel truss that creates a striking portal at the main entrance of the building.
Future load allowance for photovoltaic equipment on roof.

Notable solutions and innovations :

Use of ‘’trench and pour’’ soil-formed spread and strip footings to adapt to local contractor market.
Fibre-reinforced slab-on-grade design allowing concreting to be done directly from delivery trucks.
Architecturally detailed Vierendeel truss solution with steel HSS sections for the main entrance portal.
Elegant round HSS chevron cross bracing used in office areas allowing high quality architecturally exposed steel.