"outdoor"

“We Were Looking for a Product That Would Seamlessly Transform an Indoor Living Space into an Outdoor Space, Yet Still Provide Strong Assurances Against Wind and Rain.”

Ratcliff was chosen as the architect to design the new three-story, 60,000 square foot San Jose Downtown Health Center that includes urgent care for adults and children, primary care for pediatric, OB/GYN and family medicine, behavioral health services, laboratory, pharmacy and radiology departments. Their design takes advantage of glazing’s ability to draw natural light from the outdoors to create a warm, pleasing atmosphere that promotes healing. Part of the hospital’s exterior curtain wall had to be fire rated for one hour and meet seismic requirements per SB 1953 as well.

Crosstown Condos, a landmark development in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood, represents the future of modern urban living, blending quality construction, sustainability, and thoughtful design. Set adjacent to the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown LRT Line 5, the community offers seamless transit connectivity alongside state-of-the-art amenities.At the core of its expansive outdoor terraces and rooftop patios lies Envirospec’s Canadian-made PAVE-EL Pedestal system, a solution that proves smart infrastructure can deliver long-term value.Challenge:The project included large outdoor amenity spaces across multiple residential towers. These spaces required a raised pedestal system that could ensure perfect levelling, long-term durability, effective drainage, and performance in all seasons — all while being cost- and material-efficient.Solution:Envirospec’s PAVE-EL Pedestal system was selected for its precision engineering, durability, and ease of installation. Unlike screwjack systems that require full pedestals throughout, PAVE-EL’s modular approach allowed installers to use half pedestals along patio edges and quarter pedestals in corners, reducing material requirements significantly.This not only cut material waste but also reduced installation time and labour costs, with installation completed in approximately one-third the time compared to traditional systems. Backed by a 40-year track record of zero product failures and a 25-year warranty, PAVE-EL offers peace of mind along with proven long-term performance. Outcome:Material Savings: Smart use of half and quarter pedestal sizes reduced overall pedestal material needs.Cost & Time Reduction: Faster, simpler installation led to lower labour costs and project efficiency, allowing construction teams to move on to the next stage of the project more quickly.Performance: Patios achieved perfect levelling and drainage, enhancing resident comfort, enjoyment and outdoor usability.Sustainability: The polyethylene-based system is designed to last over 100 years, with a 25-year warranty, aligning with the development’s long-term sustainability goals and reducing environmental impact. Withstands all natural temperatures on Earth. Made in Canada: Supporting local innovation and supply chain reliability.By leveraging the versatility and durability of the PAVE-EL system, Crosstown Condos showcases how innovative construction solutions can elevate both form and function in modern developments.

The newly opened Exploratorium has brought energy and excitement to the city's bustling waterfront. EHDD transformed the historic Pier 15, built in 1915, to a 330,000 square foot indoor and outdoor campus, being touted as the largest net-zero building in the city and potentially the largest net-zero museum in the world. SAFTI FIRST® supplied a total of 19 pairs of 45-minute steel doors 11 pairs on north side and 8 pairs on the south side using SuperLite® II-XL 45 IGU in GPX® Builders Series Fire Protective.

About the ProjectThe Qatar National Library covers over 42,000 sq. metres and houses millions of books, e-books, historic texts, manuscripts, periodicals and more. The entire building has been envisioned to look like a single room with clear views of the surrounding areas. Tying into the entire project’s overarching theme, the architect designed the building to resemble a diamond. A sunken patio in the heart of the building provides light to the office spaces while also serving as a transition space between the harsh outdoors and the sanctuary of books inside.The ChallengeThe customer’s vision for the library required panels that offered clear views with minimal to no reflection.

This new 120,000 square foot, state-of-the-art convening center features a 1,000-seat auditorium that is large enough to host the entire MBA class. The glass atrium floods the multi-purpose lobby with natural light, as well as provides a visual connection between the interior of the building and the outdoor environment. To maximize transparency, SAFTI FIRST® met with the architects during the design phase to create a large, 2-hour, glass wall that separates the lobby from the auditorium while providing a visual connection between them. Since this 2-hour glass wall also serves as the entrance to the auditorium, deciding on a 90-minute door system was of upmost important. SAFTI FIRST®’s in-house engineering department provided design assistance, system details, engineering calculations and support from the planning phase all the way to the submittal process.