Life Sciences
From the era of Alberta’s first oilfield developments through the space age to the age of computers and high technology, we’ve seen the world of engineering change. And we’ve changed too. We’ve embraced new opportunities and broadened our horizons.
Hemisphere Engineering had been regarded as a leader in mechanical and electrical engineering for 30 years, when in 1986, one project set a new direction. That year, Hemisphere Engineering won the opportunity to design and commission the Canadian Science Center for Human and Animal Health (CSC) in Winnipeg.
The $145M facility was the first of its kind in the world combining both human and animal research. When the facility opened in 1997, showcasing the Bio Safety Level (BSL)-4 laboratories that are capable of housing and handling the world’s most deadly viruses and infectious diseases, it delivered a design configuration and control accuracy that was unmatched in the world and became a “global benchmark” for high containment laboratories.
Hemisphere’s groundbreaking engineering work at the CSC, solidified our position as the recognized industry leader in engineering design and commissioning for a new era of facilities in what is known as Life Sciences.
Over the course of our subsequent 20+ year involvement in the life sciences field, Hemisphere’s activities have ranged from designing BSL4 laboratories to nanotechnology, clean rooms, pharmaceutical production centers, clinical trial spaces for food research, and sophisticated animal housing areas.
Whatever the life sciences project and wherever we work, Hemisphere consistently “leads the field” in cutting edge engineering solutions.
- U of Saskatchewan, Academic Health Sciences
This facility accommodates animal holding/research, biomedical research labs and academic offices for Medicine/Biomedical departments, Pharmacy and Nutrition and other health sciences disciplines as required.
Completed: 2010 Construction Value: $52.7M
- U of Saskatchewan International Vaccine Institute (INTERVAC)
Hemisphere was engaged as Biocontainment Engineering Specialists to provide design engineering expertise for the International Vaccine Development (INTERVAC) center at the University of Saskatchewan.
Completed: 2009 Construction Value: $90M
- U of Alberta Center for Interdisciplinary Science-Phase II (CCIS)
CIS Phase 2 was the consolidation of several departments of the U of A’s Faculty of Science. The project was designed for LEED Silver certification.
Completed: 2009 Construction Value: $218M
- U of Alberta Institute Of Nanotechnology
The National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) is a first generation Nano-research facility, the first such facility in Canada.
Completed: 2006 Construction Value: $40M
- Level 3 Lab, Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Neil Crawford Center
This is a world class level 3 biocontainment laboratory designed and constructed to meet Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) “Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities”.
Completed: 2003
- Agri-Food Discovery Place
Agri-Foods Discovery Place is located on the University of Alberta Farm and is dedicated to applied research activities in the areas of food safety, ag-industrial technologies, functional food, and natural health products, and facilitating commercializable opportunities through initial stages of the value chain.
Completed: 2006 Construction Value: $15M
- Canadian Science Center for Human and Animal Health
This is the only facility in the world in which human and animal laboratories are accommmodated under one roof at Biosafety Level 2, Level 3, Level 3+ and Biosafety Level 4 (suited lab).
Completed: 1997 Construction Value: $145M
- K.S.Avicenna
A 288 m2 expansion to the existing building – KSA Biotech Center. The new space is utilized as a preproduction pharmaceutical process facility.
Completed: 2005 Construction Value: $3.5M
- Sembiosys Genetics
A spin-off from the University of Calgary, Sembiosys is a privately held biotechnology company where focus is on the development of high value protein and oil body based products.
Completed: 2001
- Laboratory Centre for Disease Control
A renovation and addition to an existing building in Tunney’s Pasture completed in 1995. Similar design considerations to the Canadian Science Center and design strategies were used up to and including Level 3 containment (controls and commissioning).
Completed: 1995 Construction Value: $20.9M
- U of Alberta Electrical Engineering and Computer Research Facility/Education Teaching and Learning Centre (ECERF/ETLC)
ECERF/ETLC are two buildings joined together through an atrium and provide space for research and teaching in the Electrical and Computer Engineering field.
Completed: 2000
