Gates Foundation draws help from Canadians

Canadian consulting engineering firms have helped to design the new campus in Seattle for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Morrison Hershfield of Toronto provided building envelope consulting services for the two long buildings which curve and weave across an 8-acre site in the city next to the Seattle Center.

RWDI of Guelph, Ontario, provided consulting services on wind dynamics. Arup was consultant for structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, audio-visual and IT services, while KPFF was civil and structural engineer.

Opened in May, the campus cost $500 million and is going for LEED Gold certification. It houses 1,000 staff who work for the Foundation and who were formerly spread out working in five leased buildings.

There are two long buildings, and a planned third building to the east of them. The buildings have 10 feet wide glass window panes to allow plenty of daylight inside, open meeting areas and large cantilever sections. There are a 1-million gallon rainwater storage system and several green roofs. The foundation’s goal is “helping every person have the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.” A visitor’s centre on the site is set to open at the end of this year.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft.