Affectionately nicknamed “The Palace” by the employees, this 162,000 sq. ft. metal frame building is the International Headquarters for Agrium Incorporated.

Gracing the south side of Calgary at McLeod Trail and Canyon Meadows drive, Agrium Place was originally the vision of Agrium’s President and C.E.O. Mr. John M. Van Brunt. The building came to fruition and was officially opened June 17, 1999 by Mr. Van Brunt and Mr. Willard E. Olauson, President and C.E.O. of Opus Building Corporation.

The exterior as well as the rotunda is embellished with Tyndall stone a partly dolomitic limestone of Late Ordovician age (about 445 million years old), from a geologic unit known as the Selkirk Member of the Red River Formation. The most common fossils found are the corals, particularly the sunflower coral. There are also brachiopods, gastropods, and cephalopods. Snail fossils and nautiloids are also present and range in size.

Building Lay-out
A two-story underground parking structure with 176 stalls provides the base for this unique building. Parkade air quality is supplied by two system-air make-up units in conjunction with two exhaust fans all being closely monitored by the Building Operating System.

The reception or “Farmhouse” greets visitors to Agrium Place. Entering through the link the area opens to the rotunda where a stage can be viewed from all floors.

A Fitness Centre is located on the main floor and is open to employees year round. The main Cafeteria is located too on the main floor beside the computer training room. Here meetings are held for many of the departments.

Offices are mainly located on the second, third and fourth floors. With atriums on both east and west sides of the building as well as spacious coffee/kitchens. The architectural design of the atriums provides an abundant source of natural lighting. Also with the building’s unique design allows the building to have two thirds of the offices with windows.

Heating Systems/Air Systems
Primary heating is supplied by a hot water heating system powered by two 1268 KW Weil-McLain cast iron sectional heating boilers, with humidification from a 1134 KG/H Weil-McLain steam boiler.

In addition to the heating system four Trane Intellipak roof top units supply air conditioning and have the capability of heating supply air to assist the heating system.

Building Operating System
The mechanical operation of Agrium Place is controlled from a central computer using the Siemens’ Apogee system. This allows dial in from remote locations allowing staff to monitor the system from home or on the road 24 hours of the day.

Life/Safety Fire System
Agrium Place is equipped with an Edwards EST# 3 Analog Integrated Multiplexed Fire System. This system is connected to the Building Operations System and will automatically page the Facility Staff within seconds of an alarm allowing quick response by the Facility Staff. The system has a programmable software applications, modular hardware, LED and Switch control functions. In conjunction with the main panel Agrium also has two secondary panels located in other areas of the building to assist in system reliability.

The building is also equipped with a standard fire sprinkler system with isolations at each level including split systems for each of the parkade levels. Supplementing the sprinkler system there is four fire hose cabinets per floor located at each stairwell. In addition there are over 100 fire extinguishers located strategically throughout the building.

Health and Safety
Agrium is very proactive in the Health and Safety with a company wide “Safety Council” and yearly audits of all sites.

Agrium Place has a Lifepak 500 A.E.D. (Automated External Defibrillator) on site and is a member for the City of Calgary 911 defibrillator responder program. In conjunction with the AED training courses on CPR as well as Standard First Aid and Advanced First Aid courses available on site.

A health room is located on the second floor behind the passenger elevators with oxygen and basic first aid equipment available. There are a number of employees trained in basic first aid as well as some with advanced skills. In the event of an emergency all calls go through main switchboard that then dispatches the first responders to the location.

Emergency Power System
Emergency power for the fire, security and computer room is monitored by a Mitsubishi 9600 UPS system and backed up by a 100,000-watt diesel generator and Kohler Transfer switch located in P1 for extended power interruptions. Emergency lighting will automatically come on as soon as the transfer switch starts the generator.

Security
Security is provided by a Chubb system with a CCTV system monitoring the interior as well as the exterior of the building. Card access doors, glass breaks, motion sensors, door alarm devices and magnetic locks throughout the building is secured through the building security computer system which is a stand alone system that too is powered through the building’s emergency power system. Agrium also has onsite security personnel as well as mobile units checking the building.

Awards
Agrium has been featured in various publications and is proud to be the recipient of many design awards including the IES Award of Merritt in 2000 for lighting design and layout. The Building Contractors Association, North American drywall designs award and the 2002 B.O.M.A. Building of the Year Award for 100,000 to 500,000 sq. ft. category.



First published May 2002