Gold House of Learning joins Thompson Rivers University. . . . . . . . . . . LEED

LEED® Gold House of Learning joins Thompson Rivers University

At Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, construction is underway for the school’s first LEED® Gold building on campus. The new House of Learning is a showcase of innovative design, energy efficiency, and the use of materials and aesthetics that incorporate First Nations traditions and values. With classrooms, learning lounges, a library and the largest lecture theatre on campus, the House of Learning is a multi-use, multi-discipline facility that is open to TRU’s entire student body.

“TRU needed more library and learning space, and this building will fill that need,” says Christopher Seguin, VP of advancement at TRU. “The House of Learning also has offices and meeting rooms for our First Nations programs.”

The $32 million, 63,000 sq. ft. building is four stories, and includes a tiered assembly hall that can accommodate close to 300 students. As a LEED® Gold building, every detail of the House of Learning is purposefully orchestrated to meet the stringent requirements of the standard. Even more challenging, the building is a fast-track project that is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010. The project is currently on track to meet next year’s deadline; the third floor slab and the floor of the assembly hall will be complete this fall.

The pouring of concrete includes the installation of cans throughout the floor to accommodate radiant floor heating. “One of the mechanical systems is a geothermal heating and cooling system,” says Chris Owen, co-owner of Interior Plumbing and Heating Ltd., the firm contracted to perform the initial services and mechanical sleeves of the first phase of the project. “Geothermal will be used to generate the heat that will travel throughout the floor pipes.”

The use of materials, construction practices, mechanical and electrical designs and the optimization of energy use is just a sampling of the criteria that earns a project LEED® credits. TRU’s House of Learning is located close to public transportation, and the majority of contractors, suppliers and the workforce are local. There is an extensive use of sustainable B.C. timber and glazing, for plenty of natural light. Water conservation features include the use of indigenous drought resistant plants for landscaping, and the building’s air conditioning system is assisted by breezes that become cooler as they pass over a stone water retention pond.

“We’re aiming for 42 points,” says Prashant Pandit, project manager with Stantec Inc. “The common footprint of the building gets reduced over time. With greater energy efficiency, you have lower long-term operating costs, and the superior indoor air quality provides a healthier working environment.”

BY LISA FATTORI

A self-contained worksite that doesn’t infringe on the surrounding environment is also a consideration for LEED® Gold certification. “We have to keep in mind that this is a LEED® Gold project, so there are a few things that we have to do differently,” says Guy Mercier, president of Acres Enterprises Ltd. “There are certain procedures for disposing materials, and the equipment has to be washed down, so that dirt doesn’t get tracked outside of the site, where it will get washed down storm water drains.”

Typically, a glazing company wouldn’t be part of the design process, but because of the building’s extensive use of windows, material specifications were determined at the outset.

“The envelope and performance of the building is critical to the project, so we got the glazing company on board early on, to assist in finalizing the design,” says Steve Craig, project manager with Vanbots. All windows at the House of Learning are glazed Low-E thermal windows with UV protection, to maximize heat and cooling retention.

Interior finishes in the House of Learning reflect the unique golden hues of the local landscape and incorporate elements of First Nations heritage, such as basket weave patterns that are etched in various surfaces throughout the building. A living wall in the atrium is aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps in keeping the indoor air quality clean. From the building’s design to its final finishes and display cases of Aboriginal artifacts, the House of Learning pays homage to the cultural importance of local First Nations peoples.

“The building will incorporate themes of First Nations art and colour schemes to give a sense of history, making it not only a centre of learning, but also a centre of culture,” Seguin says. “Approximately ten per cent of TRU’s student body is Aboriginal, and we want to continue to be the university of choice for First Nations students.” ❏