Join ASHRAE Toronto for a mechanical tour of Ripley’s Aquarium, led by their Director of Facilities and Life Support Systems. Tickets include General Admission to the aquarium, reptile exhibit "Dragons", and behind-the-scenes tour. This BOMA-certified facility was designed with the challenge of high humidity levels and corrosion due to salt-laden air in mind, and is equipped to comfortably host thousands of sight-seeing tourists daily, while providing life support for the 20,000 marine animals housed in its 2.5M gallons of recycled salt and freshwater exhibits.
Experience the 96-meter acrylic tunnel under the aquarium’s "shark lagoon" served by dedicated outdoor air single-zone constant volume and VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) systems. Visit the chiller plant maintaining the Canadian Waters exhibit at a cool 10°C for the Giant Pacific Octopus and Kelp Forests that live there. Learn about the aquarium’s day-to-day operations and involvement in programs to protect endangered species, and see how aquarists propagate coral, jellyfish, as well as feed and transport sharks and other large animals. Will you be brave enough to pet a stingray?
Join us afterwards at Boston Pizza for a presentation on the engineering and design of the aquarium, followed by a networking and social hour. Brought to you by the Refrigeration Committee!
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Special Notice:
We are excited to announce a presentation by Steve Orchard, P.Eng. and Partner at TMP (The Mitchell Partnership Inc.), the Toronto-based mechanical engineering firm that worked on this project.
SPEAKER
Steve Orchard, P.Eng.
Partner, The Mitchell Partnership
Steve Orchard, P.Eng. is a Mechanical Engineer and Partner at The Mitchell Partnership who boasts 20 years of diverse experience. He specializes in energy-efficient mechanical systems and net-zero buildings.
Steve's portfolio includes commercial buildings, institutional projects, sports and entertainment venues, and residential projects.
Tour Highlights:
- General Admission: Enjoy the aquarium's exhibits from 2:00 PM
- Guided Walkthrough: The Director of Facilities will lead us on scheduled tours of the mechanical rooms where we will observe real-time operation of the aquarium’s comfort and aquatic life support systems, including saltwater, freshwater and air injection loops serving the tanks, 35 HP pumps turning over 2.5M gal water hourly, chiller plant, boilers, foam fractionators and more!
- Technical Presentation: The project team will showcase some of the unique design features and technical challenges of the facility
Date and Time: Thursday, February 20, 2025 @ 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tour Location: Ripley's Aquarium, 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9
Parking: Discounted rates available through Southcore Financial Centre's Southcore Parking site.
After Hours Location: Boston Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, 250 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3G5
After the tour, we'll gather for a presentation by the design team, and networking session, where you can enjoy refreshments and connect with like-minded professionals. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network, share experiences, and build valuable connections in the industry.
Agenda:
- 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM - Lobby Meet Up & General Admission
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM - Scheduled Tours
- 4:30 PM - Group heads to Boston Pizza @ 250 Front St W
- 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM - Speaker Presentation
- 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Social + Networking
Spots are limited and online registration is mandatory. Walk-ins not allowed.
Please feel free to contact us if you need further assistance:
Andrea Russell
ASHRAE Toronto Refrigeration Committee Chair
[cttc@torontoashrae.com]
[andrearussell@live.ca]
ASHRAE Toronto Chapter | 4936 Yonge Street. #2748 Toronto, M2N 6S3
