Retrofits by Reimagine

WSP PLACE, EDMONTON, AB

EXISTING BUILDINGS AS NEW, BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE & HEALTHY SPACES

Retrofits

by Reimagine REIMAGINE.CA

• Reimagine

\,rē-i-’ma-j n\

: to imagine again or anew ; especially : to form a new conception of : re-create

RE-SKINNING THE ENVELOPE

Reimagine acknowledges that in an era of extreme climate change, it's crucial that we renew aging buildings.

REIMAGINE ARCHITECTS LTD. | RETROFITS BY REIMAGINE •

The cover of this brochure celebrates our most dramatic retrofit: WSP Place (formerly Associated Engineering Plaza). No longer a drab 1970s tower, the building now offers vibrant, modern office space at the crossing of 109th Street and Jasper Avenue, a key entryway into Edmonton’s downtown core. The facelift isn’t just skin deep - the reimagined WSP Place was designed to LEED Gold standards. WSP Place’s transformation delivers triple bottom line benefits: environmental, socio-cultural and economic.

Most building facades reach the end of their lifecycle and require replacement every 40 to 50 years. Many of the buildings constructed in the 1960s and 70s are reaching the end of their lifespans, and are due for renewal.

This creates an opportunity to refresh the appearance of these buildings, making them more attractive, vibrant and engaging. It also creates the opportunity to incorporate sustainable features into the building’s skin that save energy, reduce operational costs and enhance occupant health and comfort.

A retrofitted building envelope also presents opportunities for renewable energy generation through the integration of photo-voltaic cells, solar hot water heating and even wind energy collection. When combined with operable windows, exterior sunshades and daylit workspaces, these buildings become more comfortable to work in, less expensive to operate and better for the planet.

THERMAL SCAN SHOWING BUILDING ENVELOPE LEAKAGE FROM SERVUS CORPORATE CENTRE, (EDMONTON, AB) LIGHTER COLOURS INDICATE HIGHER LEVELS OF ENERGY LOSS

SERVUS CORPORATE CENTRE (EDMONTON, AB), REBORN AS A DAYLIT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE

WSP PLACE, EDMONTON, AB

ENERGY SAVINGS

DAYLIGHTING

HEALTHY INDOOR SPACES

Buildings lose lots of energy through inadequately insulated walls, windows and roofs. A high-performance building envelope (a continuous, fully sealed membrane that encases the whole structure) provides greater insulating value, and dramatically reduces the amount of energy a building uses.

Buildings constructed in the 1960s and 70s were often fitted with small windows This decision was made to save energy, yet created a new problem: an increased reliance on electric lighting.

Retrofitted buildings are more healthy for the planet, and more healthy for the people who use them. Along with the many energy-saving merits of a retrofitted building come many health and comfort benefits.

In addition to an improved envelope, energy savings are achieved through passive systems like natural daylighting and ventilation, and exterior solar shading. Photovoltaic arrays can be integrated into a building’s facade, sunshades or on the roof to generate electricity on site. These strategies reduce a building's dependence on mechanical systems, which can also be upgraded for even further savings.

This form of lighting is free, abundant, and completely carbonless.

Where electric lighting is required, LED fixtures are specified. These fixtures use 75% less electricity than incandescent fixtures, and last much longer. Due to the energy savings they offer, LED lighting upgrades pay for themselves in a short amount of time.

The pandemic taught us that air quality is important. Happily, a design element that Reimagine has always favoured, greatly helps create better air quality: operable windows. Big windows also make for more enjoyable spaces by providing occupants with outdoor views and a sense of connection to nature. These benefits have bolster worker health and productivity, which have been shown to greatly affect a company’s profitability.

Large windows also allow for more flexible floor plans and an efficient use of space. An efficient use of space allows more people to be more comfortably situated within a given floorplate, and an open, daylit office can be quickly and inexpensively rearranged to accommodate staff changes.

REIMAGINE ARCHITECTS LTD. | RETROFITS BY REIMAGINE •

Reimagine is a leader in building envelope technology, having designed some of Canada’s most efficient buildings in some of its harshest climates, including the Greenstone Building in Yellowknife, the first LEED® Gold project in the Arctic.

Our team uses careful planning to maximize the amount of windows in the building envelope. We also use highperformance glazing that admits plenty of light but minimal heat transfer. Ultimately, the majority of areas within most floorplates can be lit by natural light.

Why retrofit existing buildings?

Edmonton 10225 100 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0A1 Canada +1 780.429.3977

Calgary 200 - 1550 5th Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 1K3 Canada +1 403.460.4177

Bucharest

WSP PLACE, EDMONTON, AB

Bulevardul Hristo Botev,

FISCAL SAVINGS

ESG REPORTING

• • • • •

•

Lower operating costs Increased rental rates Reduced energy consumption Shorter payback timelines Longer equipment lifecycles

•

TENANT RETENTION AND SATISFACTION

• • • • • •

Enhanced thermal comfort Improved day lighting Improved air quality More productive workplace environments Education and engagement Fewer sick days

Corporations are increasingly reporting on their environmental policies and associated actions Recognized brand integrity and value through the ‘triple bottom line’ of economic, social, and environmental consideration

1st Floor, Unit 1 Bucuresti 3rd District, Romania 030237 +40 722.394.316

Vancouver 6070 Granville St. Vancouver, British Columbia V6M 3E1 Canada +604.404.7899

UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION

• •

Construction was done overnight, during non-office hours Keeping the building fully occupied and maintaining revenue during construction boosted the business case for reimagining the building

REIMAGINE ARCHITECTS LTD. | RETROFITS BY REIMAGINE •

LONG-TERM VALUE

• • •

educed exposure to long-term risk R Enhanced asset competitiveness in the marketplace Measurable return on investment (ROI)

innovated envelopes Increasing the performance of existing buildings, via reimagined building envelopes

30% of our projects are reimagined existing buildings