Features:

Site

  • Site conservation involved top soil and seed stockpiling during construction. Native material was later reused to re-establish native ground cover;
  • Surface water from the roof, on-site roads and parking is managed on site. Rather than directing this resource into a storm sewer, water is directed by on-site swales, filtering through the soil and replenishing the groundwater;
  • Building massing analysed and adjusted to optimize daylight penetration;
  • Selection of native plantings outdoors to minimize the need for periodic irrigation.

Energy Savings

  • Energy consumption level 52% below what is required by the Model National Energy Code for Buildings;
  • Energy savings projected to be in excess of $30,000 per year in operating costs, which offsets the cost of capital project funding;
  • Exterior sunshade devices used to limit heat gain and bounce more light further into the building’s interior.

Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Office spaces designed for optimal flexibility using raised access flooring for cabling and ventilation;
  • Individual occupant control has been realized through the use of access floors, operable windows and advanced zoning systems.

Materials

  • Material selection was shaped by the desire to use on-site resources low in embodied energy and select locally-made materials where feasible;
  • Use of low volatile organic compound and recyclable materials wherever possible;
  • Use of bolt-on elements to encourage recycling at the end of this building’s life;
  • During the construction phase, a waste management plan specified the amount of waste material to be diverted, thereby reducing the impact on the local landfill.