GB & SS Magazine Summer 2014

Green BuildinG BUILDING Green BuildinG Green & SuStainable StrategieS

SuStainable StrategieS & SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES

SUMMER 2014

EMPIRE COMMUNITIES

& SuStainable StrategieS

Innovators in sustainable residential communities

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Farrow Partnership Architects

24

Superkul Inc | Architect

28

M. Sullivan & Son Ltd.

38

Barbini Design/Build

CHATSWORTH PROJECT & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2014

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GreenBuildinG BuildinG GreenBUILDING GreenBuildinG & SuStainable StrategieS

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SuStainable StrategieS & SUSTAINAblE STRATEGIES

SUMMER 2014

The ONE. Make No Mistake.

It’s DuPont Tyvek .

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EMPIRE COMMUNITIES

& SuStainable StrategieS

Innovators in sustainable residential communities

14

24

Farrow Partnership Architects

Superkul Inc | Architect

28

M. Sullivan & Son Ltd.

38

On the cover: Tony Pucci, Executive Vice President, Low Rise – proud of Empire’s green achievements

Barbini Design/Build

CHATSWORTH PROJECT & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

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FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK - LEED in Motion: Canada is latest report demonstrating global reach and momentum of LEED

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A MAD, MAD WORLD - Green, Futuristic Chaoyang Park Plaza breaks ground in Bejing

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COVER STORY: A STEP AHEAD - Empire Communities embraces green building and with a constant eye on the future

46

14 FARROW PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS - Eco-friendly E’terra Samara

Tree-house Villas 16 BUILDING WITH WOOD: SAFE, STRONG AND SOPHISTICATED New construction option to transform Ontario streetscapes 18 FEATURE STORY: A STEP AHEAD - Chatsworth Fine Homes doesn’t miss

a trick when it comes to helping clients incorporate sustainable design features 24 SUPERKÜL INC | ARCHITECT: +HOUSE - House for a client with acute

environmental sensitivities

DuPont™ Tyvek® is the one that delivers the best balance of properties to repel wind and rain, yet allow breathability. The one with local DuPont™ Tyvek® Specialists. The only one backed by the science, strength and warranty of DuPont™.

DuPont™ Tyvek® Weatherization Systems. An integrated product line including weather resistive barriers, sheathing tape, window and door flashing.

The one proven to work on today’s complex walls.

DuPont™ Tyvek® The ONE. Copyright © 2014 DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and Tyvek® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

27 DESJARDINS UNVEILS THE TALLEST INDOOR LIVING WALL IN THE WORLD The artwork, called “The Currents”, draws inspiration from the fascinating

view of the St. Lawrence River 28 FEATURE STORY: A CENTURY BASED ON TRUST - Values stand tall in sustainable

transition for Canada’s oldest privately-owned construction business 33 THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS SELECT THE 2014 COTE

TOP TEN GREEN PROJECTS - Projects showcase excellence in ecological

design principles and reduced energy consumption 38 FEATURE STORY: BREAKING AWAY - Barbini Design Build’s luxury contemporary

renovation offers the best green features 42 BUILDING WITH WOOD: SCHOOLED IN SUSTAINABILITY - Algonquin College’s

Perth Campus meets the Gold Standard 44 MADE IN RUSSIA - Energy-efficient dome could provide disaster relief and

be built on land or water 46 GLIMPSE INTO A POST-OIL ERA - But Solar City Tower not expected to see

the light of day for 2016 Rio Olympics

SUMMER 2014

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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GreenBuildinG GreenBuildinG & SuStainable StrategieS

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

& SuStainable StrategieS

Volume 3, Number 2 – Summer 2014 www.gbssmag.com PUBLISHER: Giulio Marinescu 416-250-0664 publisher@gbssmag.com

A MAD, MAD WORLD GREEN, FUTURISTIC CHAOYANG PARK PLAZA BREAKS GROUND IN BEJING

2109-256 Doris Ave. Toronto, ON M2N 6X8 MANAGING EDITOR: Greg McMillan editor@gbssmag.com

Giulio Marinescu Publisher

LEED IN MOTION: CANADA IS LATEST REPORT DEMONSTRATING GLOBAL REACH AND MOMENTUM OF LEED CANADA RANKS NUMBER ONE IN TOP 10 COUNTRIES FOR LEED OUTSIDE THE U.S.

C

anada stands as the largest international market for LEED green buildings and boasts more square meters of LEED-certified space than any other nation outside the United States, according to a new report released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED in Motion: Canada is the latest in a series of reports from USGBC designed to provide a holistic snapshot of the green building movement in international markets. The report equips green building advocates with the insight and perspective to understand the use of the globally recognized LEED rating system and to make a strong case for sustainable building activity.

LEED in Motion: Canada is a full accounting of all LEED activity in the nation, outlining the locations of its 1,633 LEED-certified projects, which total 22.3 million gross square meters of real estate.

“Because of the leadership of the Canada Green Building Council, our northern neighbor has become a critical ally in our mission to see a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The imperative for healthy, high-performing green buildings to enhance occupant health and mitigate greenhouse gas production is well-un2

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

derstood in Canada, and our latest LEED in Motion report showcases the country’s successes and momentum.”

“As the first country to adopt LEED outside of the United States, the Canadian building industry embraced the LEED system early on to create what is now a strong base of over 1,600 certified green building projects across the country,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO, Canada Green Building Council. “I am very pleased about our 10-year collaboration with USGBC to transform the building industry in North America. This report highlights the advanced work Canadian professionals are doing to reduce carbon emissions and affect positive change on environmental and human health issues using market-based solutions.”

To illustrate the movement toward a sustainable building sector in Canada, the report features project profiles and testimonials from green building project leaders who speak to the merits of green design and construction using the LEED system.

LEED in Motion: Canada also notes green building policies that have been critical to broadening LEED’s adoption, featuring a list of the cities in Canada that have incorporated LEED into their local building codes as well as provincial and federal green building requirements.

LEED in Motion: Canada is available as a free download on the USGBC website.

F

rom the architectural firm behind Absolute Towers in Mississauga – MAD – comes the news that Chaoyang Park Plaza, a realization of the Shanshui City concept, has begun construction in Bejing.

It marks another milestone in one of the practices of MAD’s design theory. This project pushes the boundary of the urbanization process in modern cosmopolitan life by creating a dialogue between artificial scenery and natural landscapes.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tony Lomuto Graphic Designs Unlimited LTONY@sympatico.ca Photo credits: Photo credits: Shai Gil, MAD, Farrow Partnership Architects, GG Imaging, Remistudio, RAFAA Contributors: Greg McMillan • Michael Giroux • MAD Lauren • Dando • Remistudio WoodWORKS! • Trish Montle Farrow Partnership Architects Submit articles, event, news to Giulio Marinescu publisher@gbssmag.com Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement number 42332013 Undeliverable mail return to: 2109-256 Doris Ave. Toronto, ON M2N 6X8 Printed in Canada by: CoFax Printing © 2014 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means, in any form, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of this publication.

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies does not specifically endorse the editorial, products or services presented in this magazine.

Subscription Rates Canada: 1 year $24, 2 years $40, single copy $6 United States: 1 year: $32 International: $36 Plus applicable taxes

Until next time…

Giulio Marinescu Publisher SUMMER 2014

SUMMER 2014

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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Like the tall mountain cliffs and river landscapes of China, a pair of asymmetrical towers creates a dramatic skyline in front of the park. Ridges and valleys define the shape of the exterior glass facade, as if the natural forces of erosion have worn down the tower into a few thin lines. Flowing down the facade, the lines emphasize the smoothness of the towers and its verticality. The internal ventilation and filtration system of the ridges draw a natural breeze indoors, which not only improves the interior space but also creates an energy efficient system.

Landscape elements are injected into the interiors of the towers to augment the feeling of nature within an urban framework. The two towers are connected by a tall courtyard lobby with a ceiling height of up to 17 metres.

The site and sounds of flowing water make the entire lobby feel like a natural scene from a mountain valley.

Chaoyang Park Plaza is located in the central business district (CBD) of Beijing, and is composed of over 120,000 square metres of commercial, office, and residential buildings. The site is on the southern edge of Chaoyang Park, one of the largest public parks in Beijing. Its proximity to the park will not only create breathtaking views of the city, but will also highly impact the skyline of Beijing.

At the top of the towers, multi-level terraces shaped by the curving forms of the towers are public gardens where people can gaze out over the entire city and look down at the valley scene created by the lower buildings on the site.

Located south of the towers, four office buildings are shaped like river stones that have been eroded over a long period. Smooth, round, and each with its own features, they are delicately arranged to allow each other space while also forming an organic whole. Adjacent to the office buildings are two multi-level residential buildings in the southwest area of the compound.

These buildings continue the ‘mid-air courtyard’concept, and provide all who live here with the freedom of wandering through a mountain forest.

By transforming features of Chinese classical landscape painting, such as lakes, springs, forests, creeks, valleys, and stones, into modern “city landscapes,” the urban space creates a balance between high urban density and natural landscape. The forms of the buildings mimic what is found in natural landscapes, and re-introduces nature to the urban realm.

The project expects to achieve LEED gold-certification once completed in 2016. Its use of natural lighting, intelligent building, and air purification system make this project stand out from others being built today. The ideal of “nature” is not only embodied in the innovation of green technology, but also in the planning concept. This project transforms the traditional model of buildings in a modern city’s central business district. By exploring the symbiotic relationship between modern urban architecture and natural environment, it revives the harmonious co-existence between urban life and nature.

It creates a Shanshui city where people can share their individual emotions and a sense of belonging. www.i-mad.com

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Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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COVER STORY

Moreover, Empire is the leading new home builder in Southwestern Ontario for Energy Star and the fourth largest Energy Star builder in Canada. The company, with headquarters in Vaughn, Ontario, believes that building green is

Paul A. Golini Jr. – Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Empire Communities charging an electric vehicle

A STEP AHEAD

JELD-WEN JELD-WENWindows Windows& &Doors Doorsis isproud proudtoto work work with with builders builders like like Empire Empire Communities Communities who, who,like likeJELD-WEN, JELD-WEN,value valuesustainability. sustainability. ® ® Empire EmpireCommunities Communitiesuses usesEnergy EnergyStar Star compliant compliantJELD-WEN JELD-WENwindows windowsin intheir theirbrand brand new new homes homes and and condos. condos.

Empire’s Empire’s green green team team ofofexperts expertseducates educateshome homebuyers buyersevery everystep step ofofthe theway wayononhow howtotomake maketheir theirdream dream home home asas energy energy efficient efficient asas possible. possible.

By Greg McMillan

Paul A. Golini Jr.

6

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

novative Information Home and the Green Builder Conference, while Golini Jr. serves on the board of directors of EnerQuality, a group that designs and delivers green building programs to the residential construction industry in Ontario.

Building BuildingGreener Greener Communities Communities Together Together

EMPIRE COMMUNITIES EMBRACES GREEN BUILDING AND WITH A CONSTANT EYE ON THE FUTURE “We, at Empire Communities, are the first production builder in Ontario to adopt ENERGY STAR as a standard across all product lines and in every one of our sites in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. We constantly strive to keep up and exceed current and upcoming versions of ENERGY STAR. Empire also works with trades and manufacturer partners to test and measure new technologies to employ in our homes, while always having a current discovery home in construction.

We are currently building an Optimum home at our Summerlea community which takes ENERGY STAR to the next level.”

the key to building communities and homes that will benefit both the homeowner and surrounding environment.

Empire was part of the Energy Star Next Generation 2013 committee, attended the In-

I

t’s one thing to talk about green building goals, it’s quite another to actually have a top-of-the-line track record that’s beyond reproach.

And as an undisputed leader in sustainable design and development, Empire Communities falls comfortably into the latter grouping.

“We strive to create the best possible homes to meet our customers’ evolving needs, and plan to continue innovating to make a positive environmental impact in the long-run,” says Paul Golini Jr., Empire Communities’ executive vice-president and co-founder.

The proof is in the track record. Empire was one of the first in the new home industry to offer Energy Star qualification – an international criterion for energy efficient consumer products – as a standard on every home, using the Energy Star name and logo as part of their green halo for the company.

SUMMER 2014

JELD-WEN JELD-WEN looks looks forward forward toto continuing continuing this this partnership partnershipwith withEmpire, Empire,building buildingbetter, better, greener greener communities communities together. together.

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Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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The Reliance Builder Program.

The Practical Advantage for Ontario Builders.

When it comes to awards, Empire steps to the front of the line, as well. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the company was named green builder of the year by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), a prestigious three-year run that recognizes best-in-class

builders leading the way in sustainable design and development.

Empire was also awarded the green builder of the year award by EnerQuality, a company that designs and delivers green building programs to the residential construction industry in Ontario, in

2013, 2011 and 2008.

The Hamilton and Halton Home Builder Association (HHHBA) also bestowed its green builder of the year award to Empire in 2008 and 2011, while the Waterloo Region Home Builder Association followed suit in 2012.

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Specializing in custom homes design and production / subdivision home design.

1681 Langstaff Road, Unit 1A Concord, ON L4K 5T3 “Working in concert with private sector companies like EnerQuality and government entities like Natural Resources Canada (NrCan) has contributed to the cultivation of a very healthy collaborative

building environment,” says Golini Jr. “Our combined efforts are producing structures that meet or exceed recommended green building standards, and the people of Canada are reaping the benefits

with lower energy costs, and a lower impact on the environment.”

Empire adheres to the Energy Star standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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A ba liv ti br Ta ba va C (C co p in de fi be an an C es

Empire has built two geothermal model homes in the community and this is available as an option for Imagine homeowners.

In addition, Empire has installed an electric vehicle charging station by the presentation centre and an additional one in the garage of one of their model homes to showcase how this option would appear in the home. All in all, the initiative is yet another example of how Empire is surpassing the use of Energy Star in creative and innovative ways.

“We are the first production builder in Ontario to adopt Energy Star as a standard across all product lines and in every one of our sites in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area,” Golini Jr. says. “We constantly strive to keep up and exceed current and upcoming versions of Energy Star.

“Empire works with trades and manufacturer partners to test and measure new technologies to employ in our homes, while always having a current Discovery home in construction,” adds Golini Jr. “We took a leading role in planning, marketing and constructing the Archetype Sustainable House project at Kortright Conservation Centre, a joint venture with BILD and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), and we are currently building an Optimum home at our Summerlea community (near Hamilton) which takes Energy Star to the next level.” Each Empire home is carefully designed and built to reduce energy bills and promote a healthier living environment, helping residents to save money and enjoy a higher quality of life. Golini Jr. says the company also employs a green team of

experts to educate homeowners on the inner workings of their new energy-efficient homes. www.empirecommunities.com Recognized for its outstanding attention to detail and best-in-class customer service, Empire Communities designs and builds commercial, industrial, low-rise and high rise residential, luxury new homes, and affordable housing properties. Over the past 20 years, Empire has developed some of the most successful master-planned communities in the area, including over 5,100 houses and 3,200 condominium units. Its commitment to using energy-efficient amenities and appliances sets the standard for ecofriendly living to help promote a sustainable future.

Stunning Model Suites

Quality Assurance Technician, Stephen Doty, balancing an ERV.

In accordance with these guidelines, its homes include high performance windows, taped ducts for better air tightness and upgraded insulation.

And Empire also utilizes products and services

from Reliance Home Comfort, a leading provider of heating and cooling solutions.

Empire tends to go the extra mile when it comes to sustainability. For example, in Niagara

Falls, Golini Jr. points out that its Imagine site is the most progressive green home community available to consumers from any volume builder ever in Canada.

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FARROW PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS

ECO-FRIENDLY E’TERRA SAMARA TREE-HOUSE VILLAS CONTEXT ituated at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, the site currently features a 5-star eco-resort founded by a client who is committed to creating a restorative place in the forest that harmonizes with nature.

Existing structures on the site are certified LEED Gold, and the dining room serves seasonal, organic and local foods.

The owner’s intent has consistently been to balance ecology, economics and ethics—three Es which generated the name E’Terra. From a marketing perspective, the resort aims to establish itself as “your sanctuary of choice” by addressing the mental, physical and spiritual dimensions of health.

S

INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Fabric bonnets are attached to the wooden frame and function like the leaves of a tree, providing shade and comfort while actively neutralizing airborne pollutants and odors. The bonnets are PTFE fiberglass coated non-toxic and flame-resistant TiO2 (titanium dioxide) fabric.

The self-cleaning benefits of TiO2 bonnet allow the material to break down dirt and other 14 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

organic materials through a chemical reaction with the sun’s UV rays, oxygen and water vapor present in the air.

The samara villas use composting toilets and filter the low-flow showers gray water and feed it back into the forest system. The limited amount of electricity required is gained through a decentralized PV power grid thereby generating its own energy and processing its own waste.

Materials have been chosen for their inherent economical qualities. They are non-toxic and transparently-sourced from socially equitable origins.

INNOVATION IN ADDRESSING CLIENT’S REQUIREMENTS The E’Terra Samara project takes the client’s bold eco-resort concept to the next level by making open connections with the natural beauty of this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Twelve one-bedroom villas are designed for suspension in the trees overlooking Georgian Bay. Rather than following the common practice of nailing to the tree, these structures will hug the trees through a system of dynamic tension.

The tree house as building type evokes early memories of a secluded world that fueled the imagination with a fresh outlook on life in a natural setting. It suggests a free spirit and positive approach to healthy living in contrast to spartan “health retreats” that are rooted in a philosophy of deprivation.

E’Terra Samara provides guests with the opportunity for sheltered yet direct contact with nature essentially allowing them to experience “camping in the trees.” Decades of research indicate that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems, known as biophilia.

The design emerged from a desire to not only be “in the trees” but also “of the trees.”

The dominant image is derived from the shape of a samara, commonly known as the maple key.

Samaras are recognized by their fibrous, papery propeller shape that appears in autumn and enables the wind to carry maple tree seeds (which biologists refer to as the “fruit”) farther from the parent tree than regular seeds. At night, the irregularly placed structures glow in the trees, suggesting the bioluminescence of fireflies.

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The structure will be prefabricated off-site in three sections. The construction methodology will draw from East Coast light-weight wooden sailing boat construction techniques.

Each samara villa frame will be hoisted into place and bolted together in the winter months, with absolute minimal disturbance to the delicate flora.

Locally harvested wooden frames are suspended from a simple steel shoulder and cable system that hugs the tree trunk. This construction methodology is inspired by the umbrella-like yukitsuri ropes which support the black pine tree branches in Kenrokuen Garden located in Kanazawa, Japan.

High-strength drawn carbon structural cables, made of a series of small strands twisted together like a vine, form larger cables which are attached to spiral circular rods. These rods are tied to the embedded plate connection at the wooden beams.

LARGER ROLE The E’Terra Samara project points the way for others as a leader in the eco-tourism movement.

It celebrates low impact structures that connect people directly with living things through imagery, materials and structure.

SUMMER 2014

The tree house villa concept reflects a growing awareness and appreciation for biophilic design, which is derived from the instinctive bond that exists between human beings and other living systems.

A leader in the eco-tourism movement, this project points the way as an example for others.

It celebrates low-impact structures that connect people directly with living things through imagery, materials and structure.

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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BUILDING WITH WOOD

SAFE, STRONG AND SOPHISTICATED NEW CONSTRUCTION OPTION TO TRANSFORM ONTARIO STREETSCAPES

By Michael Giroux

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Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

A

change in construction rules for midrise buildings in Ontario will not only reduce their carbon footprint through the increased use of renewable wood products, but will also create more job opportunities and increase government tax revenues – all under one roof.

The government’s recent decision to propose amendments to the Ontario Building Code to allow for the use of wood in the construction of buildings of up to six-storeys, an increase from the current four, will provide a new construction option that fully meets the health, safety, structural and fire performance requirements of the building code.

The decision is the result of participation in a lengthy, research-driven 2015 Model National Building Code of Canada process that has involved a great deal of consultation and input from expert stakeholders, including many from Ontario’s building industry, which encourages performance focused innovation.

Changes to the Code are expected to create new economic opportunity by unlocking urban development along main-streets and along key transit routes. Both are key to human scale urban intensification – so important for sustainable communities.

These changes also allow for a new construction choice that will lead to increased competition at the building materials level, the opportunity for lower costs for homebuilders and the potential for increased affordability for homebuyers. In fact, in jurisdictions where such buildings are already permitted, there is ample evidence of cost savings of 12% or more.

Changes to the Code are also aligned with the province’s 2006 Provincial Places to Grow Growth Plan. Its vision is to take advantage of existing infrastructure to support growth in a more compact and efficient way.

SUMMER 2014

This includes intensification in built up areas, and the reduction of dependence on the automobile by building mixed-use, transit-supportive, pedestrian-friendly developments. The Plan also calls for a range and mix of housing, taking into account affordable housing needs.

The Ontario building industry argued in favour of these and other benefits of a Code amendment in a 2013 report called, Unlocking the Potential for Mid-Rise Buildings. The report, commissioned by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) outlines the immense potential in neighbourhoods that have underutilized land on major avenues and corridors. It shows that mid-rise buildings are often well served by existing infrastructure and transit, and can help to meet the demand of the increasing population in cities in and around the Greater Toronto Area.

Similar changes to the British Columbia Building Code in 2009 have been credited not only for increased job creation and taxes for municipalities, but the availability of affordable housing in that province. In fact, the new wood mid-rise option is so popular with B.C. builders that more than 150 projects representing more than 250 of these buildings are either built or under construction.

The safety of these buildings isn’t an issue, as some inaccurately suggest. In fact, research shows the number of post-occupancy fire incidents does not increase with wood construction. A leading group of scientists and academics from across North America, under the direction of a team at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in British Columbia, recently completed a comprehensive study on the potential vulnerabilities of wood mid-rise buildings versus other building types. The research showed zero causalities across all construction types; similar injury rates across all construction types; and ultimately, remarkably similar fire spread with no distinguishable differences by construction type. As well, because of the design of these buildings and the use of active and passive fire protection systems, required in all building types, most fires were confined to between the room of origin and the floor of origin.

What’s more, the proposed 2015 Model National Fire Code contains many new provisions specific to the construction phase of 5- and 6- storey wood mid-rise building projects that address potential fire hazards and provide solutions to reduce risks. Once adopted by provinces, these new requirements make these buildings amongst the safest to build of any building types.

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Safe, strong, sophisticated… we look forward to seeing this construction option, already available in other Canadian and USA jurisdictions, adopted in Ontario.

Michael Giroux is President of the Canadian Wood Council

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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FEATURE STORY

A STEP AHEAD

“As the project manager, Chatsworth can make recommendations to the homeowners and guidelines for the trades to follow – for example, on-site recycling programs to limit waste removal, the benefits of triple glazed windows, or sourcing products locally.”

As Capuano points out, building custom

homes is always a challenge, whether the home has green features or not. At the same time, however, he stresses that there is more of an opportunity to incorporate green features into custom homes.

“If that is something of interest to the homeowner, yes, we can look at that,” he

says. “An average sub-division homebuilder tries to build for the lowest possible price, therefore many of them do not have special green features, whereas our clientele are building their forever home and are really invested in the project and the home’s features.”

Vision by Chatsworth.

Watershaping by BonaVista.

CHATSWORTH FINE HOMES DOESN’T MISS A TRICK WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING CLIENTS INCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FEATURES

By Greg McMillan

O

ne thing is bound to happen each time a project gets underway for Chatsworth Fine Homes – there will be a discussion about sustainability.

“Sustainability is talked about during the pre-construction phase,” says Fil Capuano, Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) and Project Manager for Chatsworth Project and Construction Management Inc. “If it is not mentioned by the homeowner, then it is something that will be brought up by Chatsworth.”

Either way, it’s a given that green considerations are front and centre with any custom home undertaken by Chatsworth, a mainstay in the construction industry for over 30 years.

“The architects we work with can factor in as much or as little [green elements] as the client would like,” Capuano says.

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Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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While LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification remains a hot topic consideration among owners, a client often “doesn’t want to go through the whole LEED process,” says Capuano.

He added that Green, LEED, and sustainability are all terms talked about regularly – clients’ minds start with questions, as they don’t understand the barrage of green terminology. They want advice and our opinion on: 1) What is a gimmick and what would be useful?

2) They think “green” is something to be done on government projects that aren’t really cost effective regardless of how you slice it; 3) They want to be socially responsible and do their part but the pocket book speaks loudly … What’s the ROI? Is this a short or long term investment?

4) Will the end result fit with the aesthetic of the project? Will I get a label that says I’m more energy-efficient than everyone else?

Some of the more common features that customers often incorporate: • Rainwater harvesting systems for landscape irrigation; • LED lighting; • Solar retrofit program; • Triple glazed windows; • Geothermal HVAC system; • Slate roofing; • Insulated concrete forms (ICF).

Congratulations to Chatsworth on being recognized for your contribution to sustainable building!

Green Certifications • Tools To Build Better & Faster • Easy To Do Business

Proud Supplier of Boise Cascade – Engineered Wood Products: VERSA-LAM®, ALLJOIST® and VERSA-STUD®.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BUILD SUSTAINABLY AT TURKSTRA LUMBER. 11 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO.

TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-855-561-1114 • TurkstraLumber.com Boise Cascade, the TREE-IN-A-CIRCLE symbol and “Great Products Are Only the Beginning” are registered trademarks mark of Boise Cascade Company or its affiliates.

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With over 30 years of experience, Chatsworth is known for its high standards, elevated level of excellence, and dedication to the latest and finest custom construction techniques. Chatsworth’s focus is to guide clients through the complex stages of construction and make sure the time involved while building is

an enjoyable and pleasant experience. Years of experience building luxury custom homes, multi-million-dollar grand estates, elaborate commercial facilities, including a luxury spa and impressive golf clubhouse, have allowed Chatsworth to excel in customer relationship management.

showcasing the:

Fil Capuano, Nancy Bland and Nick Capuano

While each project is definitely unique, Capuano pointed to a particular project along the Niagara Escarpment in Kilbride, Ontario, where creativity and cooperation were definitely applied in working specific sustainable features into the design. The owner of the house had a vision for a relaxing, completely wheelchair accessible retreat where his family could enjoy the outdoors without having to leave the comforts of home.

The house is completely geothermal, has a rainwater harvesting system and is entirely spray-

foam insulated. Working through a complicated appeal process with the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Chatsworth was able to come up with an alternate tertiary septic system that would fit the space. Part of that challenge was jackhammering a rock base during excavation.

The result: Chatsworth completed the project and the home turned out to specification. Mission accomplished. With the evolving sustainable landscape, Chatsworth has a constant goal – to keep up to date with the latest industry standards

J.F. MILLENIUM CONSTRUCTION INC.

and techniques.

To that end, key Chatsworth team members such as Contracts Manager Nick Capuano and Office Manager Nancy Bland have attended courses to help educate them on green initiatives and developments.

Capuano became a part of a local community and professional network of green building professionals when he attained the designation of Sustainable Building Advisor. Bland has been recognized as a certified LEED Green Associate and

she is regularly updated on all the latest green building practices - something that is important to both Chatsworth and its clients.

“Many people think a large luxury custom home can’t be eco-friendly, but it can be,” Bland wrote in a blog on the company website. “Our clients are increasingly concerned about being environmentally and socially responsible.” www.chatsworthfinehomes.com www.chatsworthproject.ca

3600A Laird Road, Mississauga, Ontario 9 0 5 - 5 6 9 - 2 4 0 4 | w w w. o n t a r i o h e a r t h . c o m

A ANDREWS ROOFING & ALUMINUM INSTALLATION INC.

Finish Carpentry & Custom Woodwork

YOU DREAM IT, WE BUILD IT. Fernando Goncalves Office: (416) 913-4170 • Cell: (647) 400-0368 Fax: (416) 913-0581 • Web: www.jfmillenium.com 22

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If You’re satisfied - tell others If you’re not - tell us

• Re-roofing & Repairs • Flat Roofing • Asphalt & Cedar Shingles • Slate Roofing • Copper work • Siding & Soffits • Fascia & Eaves • Skylights • Built-Up Roofing

BBB • WSIB • Fully Insured & Licensed • Costom Home Builders Services

Ph: 905-278-3722 • Email: andrew@andrewsroofing.ca Website: www.andrewsroofing.ca SUMMER 2014

Specializing in Wood Doors & Mouldings for over 25 years

SUMMER 2014

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Photo credits Shai Gil

SUPERKÜL INC | ARCHITECT

+HOUSE HOUSE FOR A CLIENT WITH ACUTE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES

S

uperkül inc | architect designed this unique home in Mulmur, Ontario for a client with allergies and acute sensitivities to dust, pollen, electromagnetic radiation and a long list of construction materials. +HOUSE sets a new precedent in Canadian environmental design by exceeding standard requirements without 24

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

sacrificing aesthetics or appearing utilitarian. The home creates a strong connection between its own insular world and its beautiful surrounding landscape while providing a truly healthy retreat from environmental threat.

The design process began with the architect and client extensively researching and testing

proposed building materials to ensure the client would not experience any adverse physical reaction. The design balances LEED criteria – the project is LEED Gold-targeted – with the client’s unique requirements. In certain situations, LEED standards, such as using materials with higher recycled content, were not suitable.

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+HOUSE’s stripped down minimalism, conceptual clarity, refined details and functional spaces integrate a wealth of health sensitive technologies. The structural walls were comprised of insulated cement-bonded inert wood fibre blocks that inhibit the growth of fungi and molds. The interior walls were SUMMER 2014

finished with a natural clay plaster, a moldresistant product that helps regulate interior humidity and temperature, and required no paint finish. Zero VOC paint was sparingly used and was generally applied offsite to avoid gas emissions. A soy-based sealer was used for the concrete polished floors and

counters, and PVC-free blackout roller shades and untreated silk and hemp fabric were used for the window treatments.

Sliding wood and glass doors at the front of the house pull fresh air in from the south, and skylights and clerestory windows on the north wall circulate it out, cooling the house.

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During pollen season, the owners can seal the interior and turn on the air conditioning generated by a pond-loop geothermal system, which also heats the house via a radiant floor system. Ducts were installed with hospital grade filters. Electrical conduit was run vertically rather than horizontally to minimize the creation of fatigue-inducing electromagnetic fields.

Construction required special protocols – no solvents, no gasoline-fired tools, and no combustion heaters.

Despite the house’s health-conscious and sustainable agenda, contemporary design feels like its impetus. The open concept interior feels welcoming and airy. A mostly opaque northern wall is sheltering while the fourteen-foot high triple-paned glass south wall provides extensive day-lighting and expansive views of the landscape and access to a long cedar deck. Cloaked by a green roof that extends the natural slope of the land, the design blurs the distinction between inside and out.

The site’s existing natural conditions were preserved and enhanced where possible. Built into a hill overlooking a pond, this linear house sits on the footprint of a previous dwelling.

DESJARDINS UNVEILS THE TALLEST INDOOR LIVING WALL IN THE WORLD

Nearly a dozen mature trees were transplanted to a local nursery to protect them during construction and replanted once the house was complete.

Low-maintenance local grasses and plantings reduce irrigation, and integrate with the local ecosystem. A permeable driveway mitigates

storm water run-off.

This carefully considered house exemplifies a new architectural approach that marries aesthetic and environmental concerns to create thoughtful domestic spaces that are balanced, natural and sustainable.

THE ARTWORK, CALLED “THE CURRENTS”, DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE FASCINATING VIEW OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

T

he new Desjardins building in Lévis houses the tallest interior living wall in the world. The artwork, “The Currents”, was designed

by Green over Grey, a design firm specializing in the creation of living walls (aka green walls or vertical gardens). For this project, they drew inspiration from the views of the St. Lawrence River visible from Quebec City and Lévis.

“When Desjardins began work on revitalizing the Cité Desjardins de la coopération in 2011, we wanted to find a tangible way to show our commitment to sustainable development and enrich our employees’ work environment through meaningful initiatives, such as this beautiful living work of art” stated Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

“According to our research, this living wall is the tallest indoor vertical garden in the world,” said Patrick Poiraud, co-founder of Green over Grey. “The wall is fully hydroponic (i.e. soil-free) and incorporates plants that thrive in similar vertical environments found in nature, like on tree branches and next to waterfalls. The end result is a visually pleasing piece that provides cleaner indoor air and improves both the acoustic quality and the value of the property.”

The green wall complements the new building’s eco-friendly concept, which is expected to receive LEED gold certification after completion September 2014.

FACTS • More than 11,000 individual plants artfully arranged according to colour, texture, pattern and size covering a 15-storey wall of the new building at 150 rue des Commandeurs, in Lévis.

• Plants are growing in a hydroponic system (i.e. soil free) made of 100% synthetic recycled materials.

• Green over Grey eco friendly panels are built from 1.5 metric tons of recycled water bottles and plastic bags.

• The living wall is 213 feet high (65 meters) with a total surface area of 2,139 square feet (198 square metres).

• 42 plant species, including philodendrons, monsteras, fig trees, ginger, snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata), elkhorn ferns (Platycerium bifur-

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catum), scheffleras, clusias and banana plants.

• Spathiphyllum ‘Mauno Loa’, commonly known as peace lily, is one of the most effective oxygen-producing plants that clean and purify the air.

• According to the NASA Clean Air Study, the peace lily—native to tropical regions of the Americas and Southeast Asia and known for its distinctive white flower—eliminates significant amounts of pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, which are found in photocopiers and construction materials.

• Plants are laid out to evoke the beauty of the St. Lawrence River as seen from the Quebec and Lévis areas, which were chosen due to the cities’ close ties with Alphonse Desjardins.

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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FEATURE STORY

Police Headquarters, Kingston, ON certified LEED® Gold

Features incorporated into the design and construction include: a white reflective roof for reflectivity to reduce the heat island effect, optimization of energy modelling through mechanical

A CENTURY BASED ON TRUST

systems and building envelope design, as well as reflective energy efficient glazing, automatic lighting controls, the use of slag in the concrete, high recycle and regional content in the materials

used, indoor air quality monitoring, a tobacco-free environment, bicycle racks, an electric car charging station and the use of FSC certified wood products.

SNETSINGER CONSULTANTS LTD.

VALUES STAND TALL IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION FOR CANADA’S OLDEST PRIVATELY-OWNED CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

By Greg McMillan

W

hen you’ve been in the construction business for 100 years, expect to deal with a few changes along the way.

So it’s no wonder M. Sullivan & Son Limited, Canada’s oldest privately-held construction business, has been able to make adjustments seamlessly in the green building marketplace.

Based in Eastern Ontario, Sullivan has definitely moved with the times and today embraces Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification projects, showing a responsibility to be more responsible to the environment, and incorporating green ideas into its building designs and construction practices.

The company, most recently, received LEED® Gold certification for the design and construction of the Prescott Border Crossing in Johnstown, Ontario. Earlier LEED® Gold recognition was awarded for the Kingston, Ontario, Police Headquarters and the St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre, for OPG, in Cornwall, Ontario.

Roofing • Waterproofing • Design • Services Specifications • Inspections • Consultations 17 Centre Street Spencerville, ON. K0E 1X0 Phone: 613-860-1115 • Fax: 613-658-5695

E-Mail – SNETCON@MYHIGHSPEED.CA 28

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St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre, completed in 2010, for Ontario Power Generation. Certified LEED® Gold.

Low VOC paints, flooring adhesives and solvents for pipe and conduits contributed to the low-emitting materials credit. Sediment run-off controls were installed and monitored throughout the construction.

As part of the indoor air quality credit, the

building HVAC system was used to flush the air for a required duration prior to and after occupancy, which was monitored through the building’s automation system.

A third party commissioning agent was retained to manage and verify the commissioning

and training and achieve the best practice commissioning credit. Rainwater was collected from the large roof areas into a cistern and used as non-potable water in toilets and urinals. A geothermal heating/cooling system was designed for the Cornwall project.

advanced sustainable building solutions

Bouthillette Parizeau Inc. Consulting Engineers Engineering Specialties v Mechanical v Electrical v Building automation v Energy efficiency and LEED certification v Telecommunications

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY 1350 Wellington Street West Ottawa, ON K1Y 3C1 T: 613-725-2294 F: 613-724-6632 E: info@farrow-dreessen.com

We are proud to be associated with M. Sullivan & Son Ltd. having worked with their Team over many decades Ottawa 613-596-6454

Gatineau 819-778-2448

Montreal Laval 514-383-3747

Longueuil 450-651-0534

Quebec Levis 418-614-9300

www.farrow-dreessen.com 30

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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According to Tim Pruner, Sullivan’s vicepresident, business development, sustainability has become part of the firm’s culture, as it also signifies a commitment to energy conservation, life-cycle improvements, environmental responsibility and the community.

“It has become part of our firm’s culture, as the new ‘greener’ generation takes over,” Pruner says. “From recycling to energy conservation, sustainability is evident in all of our daily lives. It has become second nature and will continue to evolve as technology leads the way with new greener products, equipment and methods developed to meet more stringent environmental and energy efficiency criteria.

“We are finding now that most projects, even the ones that are not designated to meet LEED certification, are incorporating a lot of the LEED concepts and principles, so the process is working.”

At Sullivan, Pruner points out that “our success has always stemmed from our readiness to champion innovations in our industry.”

In a company brochure, it states: “We were industry leaders long before the practice of construction was divided into so many disciplines.

Our respect for the traditions of our craft – and the innovations that propel the construction industry – makes us a company of choice on challenging projects that demand specialized expertise, from hydroelectric generating stations to health-care facilities.”

Sullivan, which enjoys ongoing recognition at the Platinum level as one of Canada’s best managed companies, had an extra reason to celebrate in 2014, as the company marked its 100th anniversary with the launch of a book, aptly titled A Hundred Years on a Handshake (Lessons Learned In Building a Successful Business For Life). It had long been a dream of Tommy Sullivan ( Sullivan’s previous chairman) to have a book to preserve the history of the firm and the family.

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Back in 1924, the year of its tenth anniversary, Sullivan logged just $5,012 in revenues. Fast forward to its 100th year and the firm now boasts more than $100-million in annual sales. Collectively, the business has generated more than $4.7-billion in sales and 6,300 person years of employment to local contractors in Ontario, Nova Scotia and other provinces.

The book, though, also reveals what it took to turn Maurice Sullivan’s obsession into a multigenerational legacy as larger-than-life characters – rooted in old-world ethics – helped shape the way business is done in Canada. More than just a riveting family history, the book is an entertaining guide for anyone wishing to create and sustain a successful and long-lasting company.

Lafarge Canada is proud to have worked with Sullivan & Son over their many successful years

Learn how Lafarge provides construction solutions at buildingbettercities.ca Lafarge Canada Inc.

(613) 546-2683

Aggregates Concrete Cement 107 Lappans Lane, Kingston, ON Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

31

The American Institute of Architects Select the 2014 COTE Top Ten Green Projects “I’ve been with M. Sullivan & Son for most of my career, and it’s been an invigorating experience from the start,” Robert J. Ball, president and chief executive officer, said at the book launch back in February. “Everybody works hard all day and all night if they need to, everyone is fair and honest, and every single employee gets treated like family. I could not name another Canadian firm that has been able to say that for a whole century.”

Added Greg Sullivan, fourth-generation builder and vice president of Sullivan’s Kingston operation: “Every time we build, we put our family’s name on the line and our family’s money behind the project. We’re proud of everything we do, and still go by our original Sullivan motto – you can never do a job too good.”

Projects showcase excellence in ecological design principles and reduced energy consumption

Prescott Border Crossing in Johnstown, ON certified LEED® Gold

www.sullivan.ca A full-service industrial, commercial and institutional construction firm, M. Sullivan & Son Limited provides general contracting, construction management, design-build and project management expertise for clients in the public and private sectors.

T FIREPROOFING SPRAYED FOAM INSULATION E.I.F.S. BUILDING ENVELOPE REPAIRS

Kanata Forming Ltd.

8 Oakview Rd., Kanata, ON K2L 3G2 Phone: (613) 592-8932 Mobile: 613-850-6974 E-mail: kanataforming@gmail.com

he American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment. The projects will be honored at the AIA 2014 National Convention and Design Exposition in Chicago.

The COTE Top Ten Awards program, now in its 18th year, is the profession’s best-known recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.

They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

10 - 174 Colonnade Rd. Ottawa, ON K2E 7J5 Office: Tel: (613) 226-8180 • Fax: (613) 226-8887 aries@ariescontracting.com • www.ariescontracting.com 32

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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#10

#7

Arizona State University Student Health Services; Tempe, Arizona Lake|Flato Architects + Orcutt|Winslow The Arizona State University (ASU) Health Services Building is an adaptive reuse project that transformed the existing sterile and inefficient clinic into a clearly organized, efficient, and welcoming facility. The design imbues the new facility with a sense of health and wellness that leverages Tempe’s natural environment and contributes to a more cohesive pedestrian oriented campus. The building’s energy performance is 49% below ASHRAE 90.1-2007, exceeding the current target of the 2030 Challenge. The facility achieved LEED Platinum certification and is one of the best energy performers on campus as evidenced by ASU’s Campus Metabolism interactive webtool tracking real-time resource use.

Bud Clark Commons; Portland, Oregon Holst Architecture As a centerpiece of Portland’s 10- Year Plan to End Homelessness, this LEED Platinum project provides a continuum of services to help transition homeless individuals toward stable, permanent living arrangements. The architecture helps achieve this goal with a walk-in day center with public courtyard and access to support services; a 90-bed temporary shelter; and a separate and secure entrance to 130 efficient, furnished studio apartments for homeless individuals seeking permanent housing. The building’s design aims to de-institutionalize services and housing for the most vulnerable in our population. Sustainable features include large-scale graywater recycling, zero stormwater runoff, solar hot water, and a high-performance envelope, resulting in energy savings estimated at $60,000 annually.

#6

#9

Gateway Center - SUNY-ESF College of Environmental Science & Forestry; Syracuse, NY Architerra The SUNY-ESF College of Environmental Science & Forestry Gateway Center is a striking symbol of environmental stewardship and climate action leadership. This LEED Platinum campus center meets ESF’s goal of reducing the overall carbon footprint of the campus through net positive renewable energy production, while creating a combined heat and power plant and intensive green roof that serve as hands-on teaching and research tools. The double-ended bioclimatic form exemplifies passive solar design. Net positive energy systems integrated with the design serve four adjacent ESF buildings, providing 60% of annual campus heating needs and 20% of annual power needs.

#5

#8

Bushwick Inlet Park; Brooklyn, New York Kiss + Cathcart, Architects This project is the first phase of the transformation of the Greenpoint–Williamsburg waterfront from a decaying industrial strip to a multifaceted public park. The design team integrated a program of playfields, public meeting rooms, classrooms, and park maintenance facilities, into a city-block sized site. The park building becomes a green hill on the west side, making 100% of the site usable to the public, and offering views to Manhattan. Below the green roof is a complex of building systems – ground source heat pump wells, rainwater harvest and storage, and drip irrigation. A solar trellis produces half the total energy used in the building.

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Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt (EGWW) Federal Building Modernization; Portland, Oregon SERA Architects in association with Cutler Anderson Architects On track to be one of the lowest energy-use buildings in the U.S., EGWW is a model for U.S. General Services Administration nationwide. The project’s goal was to transform the existing building from an aging, energy hog to one of the premiere environmentally-friendly buildings in the nation. With a unique facade of “reeds”, light shelf /sunshades designed by orientation and a roof canopy that supports a 180 kW photovoltaic array while collecting rainwater, EGWW pushes the boundaries for innovative sustainable deign strategies. In addition to the energy improvements, the design reveals the history of the building, exposing the artifacts of the original builders.

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John & Frances Angelos Law Center; Baltimore Behnisch Architekten and Ayers Saint Gross The John and Frances Angelos Law Center is the first large-scale opportunity for the University of Baltimore to demonstrate its intent to pursue strategies that eliminate global warming emissions and achieve climate neutrality. With this in mind, the Law Center is a highly sustainable and innovative structure that strives to reduce reliance on energy and natural resources, minimizing its dependence on mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting of interiors. This is part of a larger comprehensive effort on the part of the A/E team to approach sustainability from a more holistic vantage point from the outset of the project.

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#1

#4 Sustainability Treehouse; Glen Jean, West Virginia Design Architect: Mithun; Executive Architect/Architect of Record: BNIM Situated in the forest at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, this interactive, interpretive and gathering facility serves as a unique icon of scouting adventure, environmental stewardship and high performance building design. Visitors ascend indoor and outdoor platforms to experience the forest from multiple vantages and engage with educational exhibits that explore the site and ecosystem at the levels of ground, tree canopy and sky. Innovative green building systems—including a 6,450-watt photovoltaic array output, two 4,000-watt wind turbines, and a 1,000-gallon cistern and water cleansing system—combine to yield a net-zero energy and net-zero water facility that touches its site lightly.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Headquarters; Los Altos California EHDD The David and Lucile Packard Foundation headquarters acts as a catalyst for broad organizational sustainability and brings staff, grantees and partners together to solve the world’s most intractable problems. The Foundation’s connection to the Los Altos community dates back to its inception in 1964. For the last two decades, as its grant making programs expanded locally and worldwide, staff and operations have been scattered in buildings throughout the city. This project enhances proximity and collaboration while renewing the Foundation’s commitment to the local community by investing in a downtown project intended to last through the end of 21st century.

Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse; Grand Junction, Colorado Design Architect, Westlake Reed Leskosky and Architect of Record, The Beck Group The LEED® Platinum renovation preserves an anchor in Grand Junction, and converts the 1918 landmark into one of the most energy efficient, sustainable historic buildings in the country. The design aims to be GSA’s first Site Net-Zero Energy facility on the National Register. Exemplifying sustainable preservation, it restores and showcases historic volumes and finishes, while sensitively incorporating innovative systems and drastically reducing energy consumption. Features include a roof canopy-mounted 123 kW photovoltaic array, variable-refrigerant flow heating and cooling systems, 32-well passive GeoExchange system, a thermally upgraded enclosure, energy recovery, wireless controls, fluorescent and LED lighting, and post-occupancy monitoring.

#3

South Elevation

West Elevation

#2 U.S. Land Port of Entry; Warroad, Minnesota Snow Kreilich Architects, Inc. This LEED Gold certified Land Port of Entry is the first to employ a ground source heat pump system. Sustainably harvested cedar was used on the entire exterior envelope, canopies and some interior walls and 98% of all wood on the project is FSC certified.

Additionally 22% of the material content came from recycled materials and 91% of all work areas have access to daylight. Rainwater collection, reconstructed wetlands and native plantings address resource and site-specific responses. The facility proudly supports the mission-driven demands of US Customs and Border Protection while addressing the sustainable challenges of our future.

Photovoltaic Array

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FEATURE STORY

BREAKING AWAY

BARBINI DESIGN BUILD’S LUXURY CONTEMPORARY RENOVATION OFFERS THE BEST GREEN FEATURES

By Greg McMillan

S

ome builders might encourage homeowners to add one or two green elements to their houses and leave their sustainability efforts at that. But that’s not the Amedeo Barbini way.

Far from it, as it happens. In fact, Barbini Design Build takes a much broader approach to any renovation or new home design – preferring to adopt a much more conscientious holistic process, according to owner Amedeo Barbini.

“Barbini takes the approach of creating the best building envelope, thereby using the smallest carbon footprint and providing comfort, a clean environment and savings to the future owner,” says Barbini. “In those cases when there is a client, we provide them with a complete shopping cart of benefits that they can choose to incorporate into their home.”

A recent project at 61 Talwood Drive in Don Mills, Ontario, serves an apt example of the Barbini way, offering a contemporary renovation on a 4,600 square-foot, two-anda-half storey home .

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It incorporates open spaces with plenty of light and a long list of green features to enhance its aesthetic appeal and create a more sustainable living environment. And the home has been evaluated as exceeding the Ontario Building Code by 36% under the Home Energy Rating System (HERS).

Located in a quiet neighbourhood, near schools and parks, the home provides a complete array of elegant design details, with the advantages of a superior building envelope and efficient heating and air-conditioning systems delivering pure air quality and energy-efficient operation.

It’s been future-proofed to evolve with the everchanging technology requirements, including a 100-amp panel for an electric car charger, plus preparation for solar paneling to be integrated with the HVAC system.

The home, says Barbini, represents how his company’s holistic mentality kicks in.

“The home performs as a total environment and all the components are experienced together,” he explains. “To say that the entire first floor that is heated hydraulically is better than the windows performing differently on the south side as opposed to the north side is not the point. All components contribute to the overall experience.”

Barbini says the whole design process needed to be considered holistically versus focusing on individual smaller elements.

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“From the planning stage, we needed to understand the mechanics and the building envelope in order to designate enough room for all the components we were implementing. One started by designing the shell, or the envelope, of the building first – that is the footprint, looking at exterior wall materials, R-values, glazing, canopies, the

designed by

roof, etcetera. Then we looked at what was put inside the walls – the mechanicals.”

After considering the long-term savings, and not just immediate upfront costs, Barbini established what would go into the home and then assembled a team of suppliers and contractors to assemble the structure, Barbini explains.

Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E6 integral.design@bellnet.ca

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“Site supervision was extremely important.

In this case, we were always working above the building code.”

Timeless Quality Designs - Since 1986

Tel: 647-388-1822 alliancestucco@gmail.com www.alliancestucco.com 40

Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

1245 Maple Hill Court, Unit 6 Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 9E8 Tel: 905-764-0435 Email: info@randastairs.com www.randastairs.com SUMMER 2014

Here are some of the specific green features included at 61 Talwood Drive: • Energy monitoring system; • Higher efficiency window systems; • Programmable thermostat; • Dual flush toilets; • Insulating from the ground up; • Garage ceiling insulation; • Sealing to prevent energy leakage; • Recovering energy from drain water; • Recovering energy from air exhaust; • Reducing indoor air contaminants; • Heating hot water as needed; • Water-conscious landscape design; • All engineering floor systems; • All LED potlights and selected fixtures.

Barbini points out that one consideration must always be kept in mind – a home architecturally designed does not necessarily have inherent green features. Those components, he says, are often selected to make the house perform more efficiently, thereby delivering savings and substantially higher comfort control.

“Simple changes in our everyday lives can help slow climate change and this includes how your home operates,” says Barbini. “Canada is the largest consumer of energy in the world on a per capita basis and we use as much energy as the entire continent of Africa.

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“Wasting energy not only hurts nature but our wallets,” he continues. “Thus, by providing tighter and better built homes, energy efficiency means lower bills as well as less pollution on our planet.

With every project that we take on, we try to outdo ourselves and really design spaces for the future.

“We future-proof the homes we design and build so that they can evolve and adapt to the requirements and the technological changes of the future. By doing this we are building way above the building code requirements and providing

the end user with a better living environment – whether it’s with air quality, mechanical systems or significant energy savings – which, in turn, lower the carbon footprint of that residence and family.

“At Barbini, whether it’s a renovation or a new home, we always recommend to our clients to do what they can to make their home more sustainable.” www.amedeobarbini.com

A comprehensive product range for all fuel types and applications.

www.viessmann.ca Green Building & Sustainable Strategies

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BUILDING WITH WOOD

SCHOOLED IN SUSTAINABILITY ALGONQUIN COLLEGE’S PERTH CAMPUS MEETS THE GOLD STANDARD

Lorenzo Donia Lorenzo Donia

lorenzo@donialtd.com lorenzo@donialtd.com 300 Newkirk Road Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3G7

300 Newkirk Road Richmond Hill, ON 42 Green3G7 Building & Sustainable Strategies L4C

Bus: 905.508.7666 Fax: 905.737.4623 www.donialtd.com

A

lgonquin College’s new Perth Campus building by GRC Architects is a 4,155 m2 (44,715 ft2) facility that combined several strategies, including sustainable wood construction, to create an efficient, environmentally responsive educational building.

The building contains two volumes, an Academic Hall and a Construction Wing, which are connected by a passageway. The Academic Hall is a single-storey, 2,463 m2 (26,500 ft2) woodframed structure with a concrete slab on grade for the ground floor. It is houses state-of-the-art classrooms and specialty laboratories as well as a student commons, cafeteria, lounge, library, fitness facility and computer access centre. The Academic Hall is the focus of this article.

The exterior walls of the Academic Hall are wood-frame with plywood sheathing. The stud cavity contains 140 mm (5-1/2 in.) of open-cell spray foam insulation, with an additional 50 mm (2 in.) of rigid insulation on the exterior, for walls that have a total effective insulating value of RSI 5.3 (R 30). Three-hundred millimetres (12 in.) of blown-in cellulose insulation in the roof provides an insulating value of RSI 7.0 (R-40), resulting in an energyefficient, high performance building envelope.

The wood siding is rough-sawn white pine that was pre-finished on all sides prior to installation.

This siding and the wood columns used in the project were sourced and milled within a few kilometres of the site. Inside the building, maple wood slats on the ceilings in the cafeteria, entrance lobby and resource centre reduce noise levels and create a comforting atmosphere. Classrooms feature maple-cased return air plenums at the exterior wall.

Solid-core wood doors, built-in wood benches, wood-framed glazed partitions, and millwork are found throughout the building. The majority of the 905.508.7666 wood structure was sourced from FSC-certified 905.737.4623 distributors and retailers.

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Using sustainably harvested wood products that store carbon, instead of non-renewable, energy-intensive building materials that require large amounts of fossil fuels to manufacture, can help slow climate change. Trees provide the only major building material that is renewable and grown by energy from the sun. Although processing wood into building products does require some energy, it is less than what is required to manufacture alternative materials and the power needs of the mills are often met by using the biomass waste (bark, etc.) created during the manufacturing process.

The total wood volume of the trusses, framing, sheathing, headers and beams of the Academic Hall, not including finishing products, is 277.0 m3.

An on-line Carbon Calculator tool hosted by the Canadian Wood Council (www.cwc.ca/ index.php/en/resources/electronic-tools) calculates that the net carbon benefit of the choosing a wood structure over alternative materials is equivalent to taking 126 cars off the road for one year.

Selective sourcing of the other materials yielded over 17.5% total recycled content and over 55% of all building materials (by cost) were sourced regionally. The general contractor also diverted over 92% of all construction and demolition waste from landfills.

Triple-glazed windows on the north façade reduce heat loss in winter, and deep overhangs and a reflective roof cover limit solar heat gain in summer. The white roof membrane on flat roof areas reduces heat island effect. The mechanical systems include centralized condensing boilers, a high-efficiency, frictionless centrifugal chiller, and a dedicated outdoor air system with 85% efficient reverse flow heat recovery. Heat is provided from ceiling diffusers and return air plenums are located at exterior walls.

There are operable windows in the classrooms and offices, clerestory windows in corridors, and daylight in all occupied spaces. Lighting throughout the building is a combination of T8 linear fluorescent lighting and TS high output lighting. As a result of these strategies, the facility costs 51% less to heat, cool and power than a similar facility designed to the standard of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 216 tons a year. A 2,000 L rainwater harvesting system is used to flush the toilets and water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as dual-flush toilets and low-flow urinals, reduce water use by more than 60% over a conventional design. Other notable water conservation efforts include drought-tolerant landscaping and water bottle refilling stations for occupants.

Awarded LEED Gold, the Algonquin College Perth Campus Academic Hall is bright, comfortable, easy to maintain and operate, and very energy-efficient. Sustainable strategies include resource conservation measures, efficient mechanical systems, locally sourced wood products, a superior building envelope, numerous water conservation strategies and a healthy indoor environment. The use of wood was cost-effective, met all health and safety requirements and created a sustainable learning environment that is positive and inviting.

This article is based on a case study published by Ontario Wood WORKS! and is printed with permission. To download the full version of the Algonquin College, Perth Campus case study, please visit www.cwc.ca/publications SUMMER 2014

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MADE IN RUSSIA

ENERGY-EFFICIENT DOME COULD PROVIDE DISASTER RELIEF AND BE BUILT ON LAND OR WATER

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ith climate change trends constantly drawing more and more attention around the world, it’s no coincidence that architects are tackling new survivalist-type designs.

Case in point: Russian architect Alexander Remizov.

Remizov, from the firm Remistudio, has taken direct aim at the problem of rising ocean levels and flood control. With apologies to Noah from the Bible’s book of Genesis, Remizov’s prototype creation, named The Ark, is a prefabricated structure that could be quickly assembled to deal with any

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emergency housing needs.

This energy-efficient domed biosphere would be built of steel, wood and durable-strength plastic with enough space to accommodate up to 10,000 people. Land-based in concept, it could also be positioned on water, with a rounded hull, allowing the structure to float. Hence the nickname.

Currently in the development stage as Remizov seeks investors, The Ark has a dome-like shape because it would utilize wind generators, with warm air accumulating near the top of the building.

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Solar panels will also be featured, with green foliage throughout and a rainwater collections system. If built on water, thermal water energy could be utilized.

In fact, heat would be collected in order to provide a constant energy supply for the entire complex, no matter what the outside environment is like.

While the concept could be used for emergencies, the theme also leaves room for more traditional environments, and could also simply be a model for future living, including communities, offices and hotels.

With the building assembly focusing on the use of ready-made materials, each structure would have a buffer zone without the need for traditional insulation. With the materials used, and a light foundation, it’s believed construction costs could also be reduced.

Designed in conjunction with the International Union of Architects’ program called “Architecture for Disaster Relief,” The Ark also features a load-bearing system of cables and arches that would allow weight distribu-

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tion – a key component when dealing with earthquake situations.

And the framework would be covered with a special foil – the durablestrength plastic – made of Ethylene TetraFluoroEthylene (ETFE), which is often called a miracle construction material. (Why? It’s strong enough to bear 400 times its own weight, for one thing, and can be stretched to three times its length without loss of elasticity, for another.)

The foil would be attached to the framework and then serve as a solar collector and also provide gutters for collecting rainwater from the roof.

As well as guaranteeing an uninterrupted energy supply, The Ark could also produce extra power for supplying adjacent housing or adaptable transportation.

Moreover, The Ark boasts a bioclimatic design. This means it connects with nature and maximizes the benefit that can be derived from a site’s natural features, topography and climate, while allowing for internal comfort conditions to be optimized.

In short, more than Noah ever bargained for … to be sure.

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GLIMPSE INTO A POST-OIL ERA

BUT SOLAR CITY TOWER NOT EXPECTED TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY FOR 2016 RIO OLYMPICS

By Greg McMillan

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ou couldn’t say that Rafael Schmidt and his team from Zurich-based architecture and design studio RAFAA didn’t give it the old college try.

But, alas, their project, called the Solar City Tower, is not expected to see the light of day when the 2016 Rio Olympic Games roll around.

They had hoped, when entering an international concept design competition back in 2010, that the project would serve as a symbolic tower that would help make the Olympics more sustainable and become a lightning rod

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for the global green movement.

However, as Schmidt told Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine, the project – which would have created renewable energy for use in the city of Rio as well as the Olympic Village – is unlikely to proceed after facing a litany of unforeseen problems.

“We ended up facing different technical, organizational and environmental problems,” Schmidt says.

Not difficult to imagine, actually, considering the scope of the original design. RAFAA placed the project on the island of Cotonduba, in Rio’s bay. It featured a massive solar system

to generate daytime-power, plus a turbinespumped water storage system (including a waterfall) to continue to provide nighttimepower.

The resulting structure was supposed to create a riveting image for all those arriving at the Olympics, either by air or sea.

But it would also have a utilitarian use, with both entrance and amphitheatre areas serving as places for social gatherings and other events. The public could access the facility and a cafeteria and shopping area were positioned underneath the waterfall to serve up a breathtaking view.

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Elevators were in place to take visitors up to observation decks and an urban balcony, situated 105 metres above sea level. There was even a retractable platform in the design, where visitors could participate in bungee jumping.

So, that was the original concept put forth by RAFAA. Then reality set in. The first stumbling block, explains Schmidt, came when UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) informed RAFAA that the area around Cotunduba Island had been designated as a World Heritage site. And UNESCO does all it can do to protect and conserve such properties.

And then there were technical flaws in the

design that were pointed out to RAFAA. “The solar panels we had in place only would produce about eight watts per square foot, so the size of the solar field to achieve our zero carbon footprint ideal would be 10 times the size of the island,” Schmidt says. “Therefore, the cost of the solar field would consume the majority of the project budget.”

He says it was determined that the salt spray and residue from the Atlantic Ocean would decrease the solar panels’ efficiency significantly – “ Not to mention the corrosion of all copper wires that connect the panels.”

The island location would have sent costs

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skyrocketing, as well, just by running electrical lines to the mainland, he says.

“Also, the energy needed to pump water to the top of the waterfall would have exceeded the turbines-generated power produced,” he says.

Despite the setbacks, Schmidt is convinced that, on some level, the idea of the Solar City Tower, has been a success.

“It shows the real challenges for the imminent post-oil era,” he says. “The project represents a message of a society facing a future, thus it is the representation of an inner attitude and awareness.”

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