CANSO CANAL CONTROL TOWER

The Canso Canal separates the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the Atlantic Ocean. Canso Causeway Swing Bridge connects Cape Breton Island with the Mainland Nova Scotia. Since its construction in 1955, the bridge has been subjected to a significant volume of vehicular and railway traffic. It is a vital communication link not only to Cape Breton Island, but also to Newfoundland. When at the Swing Bridge Control Tower looking east, you see Strait of Canso opening up to the Atlantic Ocean. Engineered Assemblies is frequently questioned by owners and architects regarding performance, sustainability, and climate of our cladding materials. Our outlook for the future in how these products and assembly stand the test of time is very topical and relevant. A prime reference would be the Canso Canal Control Tower, with strong support from Ekistics Architecture. The towers’ design performance, and sustainability stand up to even the harshest of ocean Maritime environments. Its total exposure to the frequent extreme elements; high winds and salt spray mist 24 hours a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year make this a great example of sustainable performance in extreme conditions. The Swing Bridge Control Tower features Equitone’s Tectiva TE20, and has been installed according to RVRS principles on ICF (Nudura) wall construction. It is a through coloured, HD fibre cement material that offers elegant shades of organic colour, providing a unique aesthetic. It is characterized by the fine sanded lines and naturally occurring hues within the material. These enhance the natural matt nuances that come to life through the effects of light and shade to provide a distinctive and beautiful facade. In addition to being fully frost resistant, its sustainability can achieve an A+ rating. It is compressed to high density and is composed of few raw materials – Portland cement, water, natural fibres, and sand. Equitone Tectiva’s life expectancy is at least 50 years, and its recyclability speaks for itself. It can be crushed and re- used in cement manufacture. Every Tectiva panel is unique, strongly expressing the raw texture of the fibre cement material. Equitone Tectiva comes in a maximum panel size of 1.25 x 3m (4’ x 10’) and can be transformed into any smaller module or shape in the workshop or on site. Endless design options are possible with a product like Equitone, and this makes it an ideal way to make brilliant buildings.

Panel installer: Allsteel Coatings (Port Hastings, NS), with guidance from Engineered Assemblies.