Projects
Ajax Multi-Use School & Library
Completion: September 04, 2002
Location: Ajax
Total Construction Value: $48,100,000
Size: 409,029 Sq. Ft.
Kelson served as the mechanical contractor for the unique Ajax Multi-Use School Project, a 409,000 sq.ft., three-storey steel-frame facility housing both J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate (Durham District School Board) and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School (Durham Catholic District School Board) on a single campus. Opened in 2002, the project accommodates approximately 3,000 students and 250 staff, with shared facilities including a 500-seat theatre, a 1,000-seat food court, and an irrigated outdoor sports field, functioning as a community hub while maintaining two distinct, secure schools. Richardson Collegiate features a state-of-the-art culinary kitchen, while teaching labs, libraries, and study areas are fully computerized. Additional shared amenities include two libraries, a community police centre, and a community college branch office, and  a 280-car parking lot.
Mechanical Systems
Kelson was responsible for the installation and coordination of HVAC systems for classrooms, shared facilities, the theatre, and the culinary kitchen, including a theatre exhaust system integrated with emergency power and sprinkler activation. Plumbing and specialized kitchen and lab systems, including glass piping, were managed to ensure independent operation for both schools while maintaining seamless integration across shared spaces. The project’s scale and shared infrastructure required precise sequencing and coordination to meet operational, safety, and performance standards, delivering a fully functional mechanical environment on a multi-use campus. Key equipment included a Viessmann boiler and a rooftop chilled water-cooling tower. Kelson also coordinated the building automation system (BAS) from the mechanical room located within the public-school area.