In Canada’s Northern provinces, air travel is often the only link to the outside world – to major centres in the south as well as between remote towns. For the expansion of Chibougamau-Chapais Airport, the EVOQ and ARTCAD architectural firms designed a modern glazed steel-wood terminal construction in reference to the locally natural resource rich forest region.
Local glulam and cross-laminated timber panels were used in the construction. In addition to wood, glass and the colour white are the dominant features. The hall’s overhanging wooden roof spans twelve metres and is supported by a slender, white steel structure. This delicate supporting structure fully reflects the architectural concept of transparency and airiness. Also adhering to this concept are the two glass façades, which are supported by a post-and-beam construction comprising local timber.
For the glazing, the architects opted for the neutral COOL-LITE® XTREME 70/33 II solar control coating from Saint-Gobain Glass, which combines high light transmission with maximum thermal interior comfort. The Canadian artist Emmanuelle
Gendron created an art project for the glazing as a tribute to the Eeyou Istchee region, its forests, lakes and a culture deeply rooted in Cree traditions.
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COOL-LITE® XTREME 70/33 & 70/33 II
COOL-LITE® XTREME 70/33 and COOL-LITE® XTREME 70/33 II, respectively the annealed and to-be-tempered version of the product are the most transparent and neutral triple silver coating, bringing ample natural light into buildings while blocking two thirds of solar heat.