2021 Premier's Awards of Excellence in Design
Architecture
Award of Excellence
Conexus Building Communities
Situated within Wascana Park, this structure provides a new headquarters for Conexus, Saskatchewan’s largest credit union, and is designed to cultivate collaboration and knowledge exchange across boundaries in support of a broader purpose for community building. It integrates Regina’s first business incubator, shared public amenities and programming space in an innovative and non-traditional mixed-use format. The resulting scheme bookends the western edge of the campus and helps revive the adjacent, historic Darke Hall with shared lobby/event space, new accessible entry and building services, providing a lifeline for the celebrated, but derelict, auditorium.
The design celebrates the adjacent Darke Hall Auditorium by pulling the large volumes of the pavilions away from the historic structure, while interfacing at grade with an amenity link that transforms the auditorium functionality without marring its delicate exterior. The projects’ ground floor grade is pulled from the south end of the site. This decision strategically connects Wascana park users with the existing lower level of Darke Hall; offering fluid pedestrian access at grade to a new public lobby and the previously inaccessible historic auditorium.
Collaborative work zones, including informal lounges and breakout spaces, are sliced into the arrangement of pavilions creating several multi-storey atriums that are enveloped by a mass timber roof which extends the experience of the park into the heart of the structure. These spaces offer opportunities for people to wander, see one another and enjoy key views of College Avenue Campus and Wascana Park.
“Well executed all around - nice materials, excellent integration of old and new.”
“Excellent project that respects the adjacent historic building through clear integration of rhythm and overall form both in plan and elevation. Appreciate the strong connections to the site, consistent use of materials, and quality of space.”
“Improved access and increased utilization are evident in the programming and design decisions. Well done.”
Award of Merit
1080 Architecture, Planning and Interiors Ltd.
Bert Fox Community High School Cultural Room
“A quiet simplicity that I assume would then let any activity taking place in the room become the focus instead of the architecture.”
“Authentic and thoughtful. Love the simplicity.”
“Successful use of materials and the detailing is appropriate for use/exposure to the elements. Although perhaps not unique it does feel quite timeless and is a good contribution to civic architecture.”