CARLETON UNIVERSITY EXHAUST TOWER

If you visit Carleton University in the winter a novel way to approach it is by lacing up your skates right by Canada’s Parliament building and follow the Rideau Canal (the largest skating surface in the world) for about 5 miles to Dow Lake. On the shore of this lake is the university campus. One of the older buildings that makes up this bustling university of almost 30,000 students is the Steacie Chemistry Building. It’s inside renovation and the construction of a much taller adjoining building meant the end of the line for the myriad exhaust systems cluttering its roof.

New building code called for higher exhaust stacks than the old roof could safely support. Hence a standalone adjacent tower to artfully conceal the stacks was specified.

"Many a future specifying engineer will have a daily subliminal demonstration of the amazing problem solving power of Hot-Dip Galvanizing!"

In plain view of tens of thousands of students, faculty and visitors every day a striking tower design was called for. It had to sturdy enough to support the large exhaust ducts coming from the Steacie Building and rigid enough that wind deflection wouldn’t tear apart those ducts. The high strength and low cost of structural steel was an ideal fit for the demanding physical specifications and Hot-Dip Galvanizing was a natural partner especially with harsh Canadian winter conditions and corrosive lab emissions flowing in those ducts.

All involved appreciated that the availability of several large bath and high capacity Hot-Dip facilities in the region ensured rapid single dipping of every bulky three-dimensional section. This minimized fabrication cost as well as on-site assembly. The full immersion method of Hot-Dip and careful cooperation with the fabricator and engineer insured in and out zinc protection of all the large and small diameter tubular sections, something paint systems can never match.

The amazing abrasion resistance of galvanizing and its cathodic protection back up plan made installation a breeze with no touch-ups or kid-gloves required. Now complete and in service with bright red decorative panels the tower-chimney makes a striking appearance on this busy campus while insuring what will likely be nearly a century of corrosion-free service. Many a future specifying engineer will have a daily subliminal demonstration of the amazing problem solving power of Hot-Dip Galvanizing!

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