LEED v5: Notable changes in the second public comment drafts
Grace Village Centre of Hope: A home for those in need sets benchmark for zero carbon and net zero energy
Empowering Tomorrow’s Building Leaders: CAGBC Emerging Green Professionals
Representing Reality: Why Materials Matter
Windows + Doors for Passive House Projects
Innotech Windows + Doors is a Canadian manufacturer of high-performance windows and doors. The Defender 88PH+ System combines decades of fenestration knowledge to deliver a robust window and door system that is not only Passive House Institute certi ed, but that also delivers the air, water and structural performance required for highly sustainable housing developments.
Welcome to the Fall issue of BC Focus
I am pleased to welcome you to the fall issue of BC FOCUS, part of a series of regional publications from the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) and Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine.
The fall is always a busy time for CAGBC. We joined 75 other green building councils in September to celebrate World Green Building Week. Led by the World Green Building Council, this year’s focus put the spotlight on building the transition to low-carbon, resilient, and sustainable buildings. CAGBC’s new micro-credential program will help advance this transition. Launched in September, the new program aims to build proficiency in lowcarbon concepts and the application of our Zero Carbon Building Standards. You can read more about the ZCB Micro-Credential in our article on page 19 of this issue.
We also host our annual federal advocacy day in the fall. The event brings together industry leaders, public servants, and parliamentarians to explore how green buildings can unlock value and benefits that create jobs, drive innovation, and play an important role in the development of sustainable and affordable housing.
CAGBC will publish a whitepaper exploring how the federal government can ensure its response to Canada’s housing crisis balances quantity and quality with low-carbon, energy-efficient, and affordable housing.
We’re also engaging with our members and stakeholders to ensure that Canada’s building sector is represented in the development of the next version of LEED®, the world’s most widely used and impactful building rating system.
CAGBC supports the continuing evolution of LEED by organizing stakeholder-based LEED v5 Accelerator groups that, along with our Technical Advisory Groups and LEED Advisory Committee, review and assemble Canadian feedback. In this issue, you can read more about some of the changes the USGBC has made as we move through the second review period.
There’s a lot to cover in this issue, and even more is coming from CAGBC, including a new embodied carbon white paper, a commercial real estate decarbonization report and action plan developed with REALPAC, and The Place Centre, and programs to guide building owners in planning the transition of their assets. I hope you’ll stay connected as we continue to support our members in their ongoing sustainability efforts. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for our annual conference— Building Lasting Change returns to Vancouver, June 18-20, 2025. I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Thomas Mueller President & CEO, Canada Green Building Council
Canadian Directory of Products and Services
for Sustainable, HighPerformance Building
SITE | LANDSCAPING | RAINWATER HARVESTING
ACO Systems
Visit our on-line Directory to see hundreds of listings of companies which supply products and services for sustainable, high-performance building. Listings are organized by Product Category and by LEED Category. Our LEED v4.1 Directory is created with the help of our partner:
Filterra Bioretention Systems/Langley Concrete Group
Molok North America Ltd.
Roth North America
Wishbone Site Furnishings
STRUCTURE & EXTERIOR ENVELOPE
Airfoam Industries
Arriscraft
Canada Brick
CAYAKI Charred Wood/ CFP Woods
CBC Specialty Metals and Processing
Engineered Assemblies
Fraser Wood Siding
475.Supply
International Timberframes
Live Roof Ontario
LP SmartSide
MAPEI Canada
N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd.
Radon Environmental
Sapphire Balconies Ltd.
Siga
Thames Valley Brick & Tile
Tremco CPG Inc.
THERMAL, WINDOWS & DYNAMIC GLASS
Cascadia Windows & Doors
Duxton Windows & Doors
Inline Fiberglass Ltd.
Innotech Windows + Doors
JELD-WEN Windows & Doors
KALWALL
Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems
NZP Fenestration passivhaus windows and doors
Unicel Architectural Corp.
VETTA Windows & Doors
COATINGS AND INTERIOR
Century Wood Products Inc.
Dulux/PPG
Eco Building Resource
Forbo Flooring Systems
ELECTRICAL | PLUMBING | HVAC | RENEWABLES
Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing Inc.
Big Ass Fans
Daikin Applied
Ecopilot Real-Time Energy Management System
Fantech Canada Ltd
Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.
RadiantLink In-wall Heating
Sharc Energy
Sloan Valve
Tempeff Inc.
Teritt Indoor Environmental
TRANE
Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc.
GREEN DESIGN SUPPORT + PROFESSIONALS
Canada Green Building Council
Canadian Precast Concrete Quality Assurance
Certification Program
Efficiency Nova Scotia
Entuitive
FABRIQ architecture
Green Building Initiative
Save EnergyNB
wekʷanəs tə syaqʷəm Elementary School
Bright, open plan connects students to
the outdoors
By hcma
wəkʷanəs tə syaqʷəm Elementary School is the Vancouver School Board’s first completed school to be constructed entirely of prefabricated CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels, a material that reduces embodied carbon and makes for a calm and inspiring learning environment. The school is part of a Vancouver School Board pilot project to assess the possibilities of mass timber for future schools.
The $22.4m, 3,385 sq m / 36,436 sq ft school, which is pursuing LEED Gold certification, accommodates 340 students in a predominantly singlefamily residential neighbourhood in northeast Vancouver. The new school replaces an older school (constructed in 1922) which was at high seismic risk, not universally accessible, and with building systems past their service life. It will remain in use temporarily as a “swing site” on the top tier of the 1.4 hectare (3.45 acre) site with the new replacement school on the middle tier, and play areas on the lower tier. The older school will eventually be demolished to make way for a future sports field.
1. The $22.4m, 3,385 sq m / 36,436 sq ft school, which is pursuing LEED Gold certification, accommodates 340 students and is part of a Vancouver School Board pilot project to assess the possibilities of mass timber for future schools. Rooftop photovoltaic modules are estimated to generate about 38% of the school’s total energy use.
Site plan
1. Outdoor court
2. Playing field
3. Playground
4. Slide
5. Landscaped sloping site
6. Parking lot
7. Fern garden
Building Section B
1. Atrium
2. Gym 3. Corridor
4. Bldg. Eng. Office
Building Section A
Floor plans
1. Atrium
2. Library
3. Principal office
4. Admin office
5. Staff lounge
6. Multipurpose room 1
7. Multipurpose room 2
8. Classroom
9. Kindergarten
10. Shared breakout space
11. Kindergarten
12. Gymnasium
13. Classroom
14. Shared breakout space
15. Prof. office
16. Resource room
17. Sensory room
2. The building form reflects a desire to break down the usual single-building massing into well proportioned, easily understandable, and smaller scale learning communities connected by a central atrium.
Karen Marler, Principal, hcma architecture + design sums up the design as, “A departure from the dark, insular schools of the past. Here, we have natural light and open spaces, textural and tactile surfaces, and places for learning, collaboration, play, and quiet retreat. Our goal was to design a place of learning that children deserve, where they feel comfortable, inspired to collaborate, and safe to explore, where they can play loudly in the gym, or find a quiet alcove to recharge.”
Level 1
Level 2
PROJECT CREDITS
CLIENT Vancouver School Board, School District 39
ARCHITECT hcma architecture + design
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Fast + Epp
MECHANICAL ENGINEER AME Group
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WSP
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Prospect & Refuge
CODE CONSULTANT Thorson McAuley
CIVIL ENGINEER Core Group
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT RWDI
BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Spratt Emanuel Engineering
PHOTOS Andrew Latreille. Image 5 credit: Michael Elkan
Drawing on engagement with school staff, the Parent Advisory Committee, and the local community, the building form reflects a desire to break down the massing into well proportioned, easily understandable, and smaller scale learning communities. These spaces are connected by a central atrium and clearly defined circulation. The massing also prioritizes integration with the local community and fits the scale of the neighbourhood.
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3. View from the fern garden to the central atrium.
4. The gym makes up the fourth building and displays the prefabricated CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels used for the entire school.
5. A departure from the dark, insular schools of the past, the new school has natural light and open spaces, textural and tactile surfaces, and places for learning, collaboration, play, and quiet retreat.
6. A glazed, double-height atrium at the heart of the school contains a feature stair which leads to the second-storey connecting bridge.
The compact, legible cruciform floor plan divides the two-storey building into four volumes, and segments the school into smaller, defined quadrants that operate at a relatable and appropriate scale where children can feel comfortable. Unlike more traditional school design, the floor plan opens up circulation and avoids narrow hallways. The result is a school unified by shared spaces that encourage collaboration among students and teachers.
Three volumes accommodate the school’s four learning communities, administration, library, multipurpose rooms, and kindergarten pod, while a double-height gymnasium occupies the fourth volume. Each learning community is comprised of three or four classrooms that share a central breakout space, building a sense of community and connection between students in different classes and empowering teachers to teach collaboratively. The classrooms have full-height, folding glazed partitions that open onto the breakout spaces.
At the centre of the four volumes, a glazed, double-height atrium forms the social heart of the school. A feature stair – including honeycomb alcove seating tucked within it –leads up to the second storey and a connecting bridge that overlooks the gathering space below. Wayfinding in the school is intuitive. From within the atrium, clear sight lines extend north and south to the two main entrances, west to a fern garden, and east to the lower-tier playground, which the adventurous can reach by slide.
Exposing as much CLT as possible within the school was a key design goal. Its appearance unifies all the interior spaces, including classrooms, hallways, the library, multipurpose rooms, and gymnasium. The exposed mass timber brings the outdoors inside and connects students with nature. With Canadian mass timber as its primary structural material, the K-7 school is a showcase for how locally-sourced engineered wood can both reduce embodied carbon and act as a compelling design feature.
The school’s new hənqəminəm name means “the sun rising over the horizon” and was gifted by Musqueam Indian Band, who took inspiration from the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood where the school is located and, like a sunrise, the new beginning for this school community.
HCMA ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN IS LOCATED IN VANCOUVER, VICTORIA, EDMONTON AND CALGARY.
THE WORKSHOP PROJECT
Infill building sets design standard for transitioning neighbourhood
By Aaron Knorr
Originally a single-family community, the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood transitioned to light industrial uses in the 1940s. More recently, the area has introduced emerging digital and technology employment. When our client approached us to design a new building to host both office
and industrial uses in the heart of the neighbourhood, we recognized a unique opportunity to help define the future character of this transitioning neighbourhood through building materials, public space, and building performance.
1
1. The façade, with glazing supplied by Phoenix Glass, is organized as a modular system which allowed for prefabricated construction on the constrained urban site.
Site plan
1. Building lobby
2. Lane entry
3. Bike room
4. Ground floor retail
5. Patio space
6. Multi-purpose laneway
The Workshop is a reflection of, and innovative catalyst for, its emerging context. The project represents an evolution of the industrial typology as a proposition of adaptability and an elegant modular expression.
The Workshop emerged from a city-initiated rezoning policy to create an innovative industrial hub in the heart of the traditionally light manufacturing district of Mount Pleasant. As one of the first buildings designed under the new policy, the project sought to create a strong identity reflecting the character of the existing neighbourhood; to foster an active and engaging public realm within the new emerging district; and to exceed city policy requirements for sustainable design and energy performance.
Context served as the primary driver for evolution of the design, with the intent to create a strong and dignified presence that would reflect the historical, typological, and material heritage of its industrial surroundings. Starting with the zoning context, the project presented an opportunity for the infill site to reintroduce innovative industrial and high-tech office uses to an evolving light industrial context. The massing setback dictated by the zoning bylaw was interpreted as an opportunity to create meaningful connections to outdoor space throughout the building.
The building’s service core was positioned along neighbouring property line to consolidate support spaces while maximizing daylighting opportunities for flexible and contiguous leasable space. The building envelope further supported the creation of an adaptable framework for creative workspace. The façade is organized as a modular system which allowed for a prefabricated approach to reduce the overall construction timeline and facilitate installation on a constrained urban site.
The fundamental expression of the Workshop is one of timelessness and a strong formal identity. The material palette draws its inspiration from the historical, typological, and material heritage of the project’s industrial context. Each material brings natural texture, patina, and a meaningful link to the character of this place through time.
The tectonic order of the building facade reflects the adaptable organization of the planning and a modular approach to assembly. The pure geometric massing dictated by the zoning bylaw is articulated by the folded modular glass-fibre reinforced concrete panels that offer a sense of depth and a play of light and shadow over the course of the day and year.
2. and 3. A rooftop patio, mid-building terrace, and internal courtyard provides light and access to the outdoors for building occupants.
4. The Workshop emerged from a city rezoning to create an innovative industrial hub in the heart of the traditionally light manufacturing district.
Upper suite
level garden
Rieder facade detail
1. Off-site pre-fabricated facade module
2. Low-E curtain wall glazing unit with full-height integrated vent
3. Mineral wool insulation and aluminum framing
4. Formed glass-fibre reinforced concrete panels
5. Modular aluminum weather canopy
The main lobby represents a poetic contrast to the ordered expression of the exterior. A panelized copper wall brings warmth and evokes the brewing tradition that once predominated in the neighbourhood—and is now re-emerging in a new form. A soft, curving wall of Venetian plaster serves as an elegant foil—a flowing surface that links entrances at different levels across the site.
The Workshop is imagined as a pioneering project within an evolving neighbourhood—one that sets a design standard and catalyst for an active public realm. With this objective in mind, the ground floor program is well-connected to the surrounding streetscape with transparency and building entrances on all sides. Terraced seat steps were incorporated into the design along the lane, providing opportunities for social engagement and a stage for cultural events.
PROJECT TEAM
ARCHITECT Perkins&Will
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Introba
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WSP
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Hapa Collaborative
CIVIL ENGINEER WSP
BUILDING ENVELOPE Morrison Hershfield
GENERAL CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Wycliffe Construction
PHOTOS Ema Peter Photography
5. The industrial space on the ground floor opens directly onto the lane with terraced seating to engage with the neighbourhood.
6. and 7. The copper-clad conduit draws people into the building and links entrances across the site.
Some of the most important contributions the building offers are its connections to the outdoors designed to enrich the daily experience of building inhabitants as well as cultivating a new public life within the neighbourhood’s industrial laneways.
The advanced energy efficiency and thermal performance of the building goes beyond what is currently required by city zoning. Integrated sustainable design strategies improve performance and reduce operating costs while improving the experience for inhabitants. The design of the building envelope carefully balances the proportion of highly insulated cladding with large floor-to-ceiling windows that capture views and invite daylight into the building. Full height pop-out operable vents integrated into the curtain wall assembly also provides occupants the opportunity for natural ventilation. The heating system is connected to a district energy network that captures and reuses waste thermal heat to reduce overall carbon emissions.
The exterior uses a prefab formed glass fibre-reinforced concrete exterior cladding panel, one of the first of its kind in North America.
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Cold Air Distribution – a novel approach to meeting Passive House cooling loads?
By Andrew Peel
The Passive House Standard was developed with the intent of designing and constructing buildings whose space heating load could be entirely met through the ventilation supply air required for adequate indoor air quality. Early examples, including the Stadtwerke Hannover Passive House estate in Hannover, conclusively demonstrated that this goal can be achieved in practice.
As Passive House expanded into climates requiring active cooling, this goal was expanded to include meeting the entire space cooling load via the ventilation supply air. However, delivery temperatures of around 13oC limit the cooling capacity of the ventilation supply air to a level that is generally inadequate for this purpose. To increase the cooling capacity, it is theoretically and practically possible to reduce the supply air temperature. Indeed, ASHRAE has developed a designer’s guide to cold air distribution (CAD), a cooling strategy to which ventilation supply air cooling belongs.
To date, CAD has been applied to industrial and commercial buildings. However, mechanical designers are uncomfortable adopting such an approach for residential buildings, due to three primary concerns:
1) The risk of condensation on the diffuser, caused by an indoor dewpoint temperature that is higher than the colder supply air temperature.
2) The risk of occupant discomfort, due to improper mixing of supply air and room air, leading to air dumping and cold draughts.
3) The risk of mould growth on the interior finish in the vicinity of the diffuser due to reduced surface temperatures.
The author has undertaken laboratory experiments to determine under what conditions CAD is feasible in residential buildings. An instrumented suite mock-up was created within two identical test chambers located within a rooftop test facility of the University of Toronto. The mock-up was intended to represent a typical residential suite room.
The investigation examined the influence of the following key parameters on the three risks noted above:
• supply air flow rate,
• supply air velocity,
• diffuser type,
• diffuser location,
• insulation thickness,
• air and vapour sealing,
• diffuser coating, and
• position in room.
This innovative solution is a funding recipient of the Phase 2 of the Building for the Future Round of the Housing Supply Challenge. This challenge, administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, seeks to remove barriers to housing supply in Canada. Peel Passive House has received funding from an undisclosed source to pilot CAD in six multi-unit residential buildings across Canada. The buildings cover a wide cross section of geographic areas, climate zones, provinces, tenant demographics, small and medium size, rural and urban, and new builds, and retrofits. Beyond implementation, substantial product development is required to meet the more demanding technical specifications and to mitigate common implementation issues in construction.
Images showing reduced ceiling temperature along supply air path.
Image of a fog test showing supply air stream flowing along ceiling and being diluted as it mixes with room air.
ANDREW PEEL IS PRINCIPAL OF PEEL PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTING LTD.
CAGBC LAUNCHES ZERO CARBON BUILDING
MICRO-CREDENTIAL
New micro-credential helps build proficiency in low-carbon concepts and applying the Zero Carbon Building Standards.
The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) recently launched its Zero Carbon Building Essentials Micro-Credential, a new leaning path designed to help green building professionals develop the knowledge needed to advance carbon reductions.
“The growing demand for low-carbon building solutions requires building professionals to acquire and integrate new skills and knowledge now,” says Thomas Mueller, CAGBC President and CEO. “Drawing on 20 years’ experience delivering high-quality green building training and the expertise we gained from our Zero Carbon Building program, CAGBC’s new microcredential will provide the key concepts and insights that Canada’s building professionals need to advance decarbonization today.”
The ZCB Micro-Credential was developed to support Canada’s building sector and meet growing demand for low-carbon buildings and retrofits. With only five years left to meet 2030 carbon reduction targets and another 25 years to achieve decarbonization, Canada’s building sector needs to act now to be prepared for the lowcarbon future.
The ZCB-Essentials Micro-Credential builds on insights gained from creating and implementing the Zero Carbon Building Standards, Canada’s first and only building standards focused solely on carbon reductions. Now with over a hundred certified buildings and hundreds more registered, CAGBC has created a microcredential for building industry professionals seeking to better understand zero-carbon concepts.
“Zero-carbon buildings and retrofits require specific skills and knowledge,” said Mark Hutchinson, CAGBC’s vice president of Green Building Programs and Innovation. “Project teams need to be more integrated and collaborative, using common terminology and approaches that everyone involved can understand, from design through to construction and building operations.”
ZCB-Essentials will focus on low carbon fundamentals and help establish an industry-wide lexicon. The micro-credential starts with the live and interactive “Introduction to the Zero Carbon Building Standards” webinar. Five on-demand courses explore key topics including making the business case for zero carbon, Thermal Energy Demand Intensity, the Zero Carbon Balance, Embodied Carbon and transition planning. To complete the micro-credential, a new interactive workshop will provide a practical look at the latest ZCB Standards.
Participants that complete the micro-credential will receive a ZCBEssentials badge through Credly, a global Open Badge management platform. With Credly, participants can secure and share their ZCBEssentials badge, demonstrating their knowledge of zero-carbon principles to clients and employers.
“Launching a micro-credential for the Zero Carbon Building program is one of the many ways CAGBC continues to advance decarbonization in the Canadian real estate market,” said Mueller. “Along with projects to support transition planning, our Learning program is helping prepare the building sector workforce for Canada’s lowcarbon future.”
To learn more about the micro-credential, visit cagbc.org/learn.
LEED V5: NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFTS
By USGBC with CAGBC
The first public comment period for LEED v5 garnered nearly 6,000 comments across three rating systems: Building Design and Construction (BD+C, which includes New Construction and Core and Shell Development), Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) and Operations and Maintenance (O+M). CAGBC’s committees provided nearly 5% of those comments on behalf of the Canadian market.Since the close of that period, the community of LEED volunteers, as well as USGBC and GBCI staff, have diligently reviewed each comment, responded and made revisions. The results of that work are found in the newest rating system drafts available as part of LEED v5’s second public comment period.
The changes range from language clarifications to more substantive rating system structure and credit requirement changes. Below, you’ll find some of the more notable changes. The full list of comments and responses, along with the new drafts, are available at usgbc.org/ LEED/v5.
GLOBALLY APPLICABLE
USGBC understands that LEED customers are looking for information on how LEED intersects with global taxonomies and the assurance of global applicability and support. They plan to create international compliance paths for all global regions, and to provide guidance for relevant taxonomies for the regions as part of that compliance path development.
DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION
The first public comment draft featured many new concepts to the rating system, including a series of prerequisite assessments. While the comments applauded the progress in these areas, they also called for adjustments in language and scope to address potential barriers and provide clarity. In response, the new drafts hone the approach to each assessment with the intention of laying a foundation that can be built on over time.
In some cases, it was determined that requirements of credits and/ or prerequisites worked better in a packaged format. For example, Sustainable Sites (SS) prerequisite Resilient Site Design was folded into SS credit Enhanced Resilient Site Design. Other credits were merged together. Many credits also saw adjustments based on spring feedback including Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, and Materials and Resources. You can read more about these tweaks at usgbe.org.
OPERATIONS + MAINTENANCE
The rating system was streamlined based on feedback, with a reduction in the total number of individual strategies from over 65 to 24, focusing on what is most impactful and repackaging content to be easier to understand.
Many comments referenced that users appreciated the performancebased approach from LEED v4.1. The second public comment draft has been rebalanced, with 80% of points connected to performance and 20% of points connected to strategies.
Now that these approaches have been decoupled, it is clear which credits are connected to performance and those connected to strategies. This was done by prioritizing the strategies with outcomes not achievable through performance data, versus those with outcomes that overlapped with performance.
Strategies and outcomes have been further prioritized according to: what can make the biggest positive impact on projects; that the operations and maintenance team can influence; that could be implemented in less than a year; is less complex or resource-intensive; and, can apply to many types of projects. Visit usgbc.org/LEED/v5 for more information.
GRACE VILLAGE CENTRE OF HOPE
A home for those in need sets benchmark for zero carbon and net zero energy
By Mike Woodland
Salvation Army Grace Village Centre of Hope is a 175-bed transitional housing and supportive living facility which accommodates three distinct programs that focus on stabilization housing, transitional housing and supportive living. The new facility replaces an existing outdated building that SA operated in downtown Edmonton which did not meet current or future needs. The new building in north central Edmonton was completed in 2023, and has made an immediate social impact on helping the hard to house while demonstrating the Salvation Army’s transition to low carbon buildings.
1.With its zero carbon and net zero energy transition plan the building is expected to save approximately $6 million in energy costs over its life span.
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The design demonstrates a level of respect and independence to a sector of our population that is struggling with addiction and mental health issues and need a safe place to make the transition back into the community. The three programs are grouped into three wings that have private bedrooms with shared washrooms and common area lounges with other support spaces. On the main floor there is central administrative area and common dining room. Other unique features of the design include multiple courtyards and garden areas around the building with landscaping, plants for First Nations healing, and gardening therapy spaces including a large roof top patio on the second floor in the central wing.
Site plan
1. Main entrance
2. Drop off
3. Visitor parking
4. Staff parking
5. Residence parking
6. Quiet garden
7. Residence/visitor patio
8. Community garden walk
9. Community/resident garden planters
10. Grace Manor
1. Sleeping room 2 Lounge
3.. Staff office
4. Resident washroom
5. Resident shower room
6. Quiet seating area
7. Meeting room
8. Counselor Room
9. Laundry 10. Elevator
11. Cleaning/storage
12. Dining room
13. Nursing station
14. Kitchen
15. Receiving
16. Staff Room
2.The compact site includes multiple courtyards and garden areas around the building.
3.Common area lounges with other support spaces are found among the bedroom units.
4.The common dining room on the main floor.
5. Main board room configured for smudging ceremony.
17. Boardroom
18. Main reception
19. Chaplin
20. Outdoor terrace
METAFOR’s scope of work included developing the Functional Programme for the facility, assisting SA in the evaluation of multiple sites for the new building, rezoning the site and assisting in the community engagement and stakeholder workshops. Through this process METAFOR and the design team assessed multiple approaches to SA goal of achieving a high level of energy efficiency and using this project to set a new benchmark for how SA can achieve zero carbon and net zero energy building design on this project and future projects.
Building energy efficiency is achieved through a rigorous process of parametric energy modelling analysis. The various design iterations evaluated the effects of how the building was sited to achieve key exposures that improve passive heating and cooling, then evaluate the effectiveness of building envelope insulation, air tightness, window to wall ratio and glass performance. The goal was to make the building envelope as energy efficient as possible with out compromising day lighting and views.
Once the building form was set the team evaluated HVAC systems to determine which system provided the best opportunity to meet zero operational carbon and future proof the building to meet net zero energy use in the future with addition of renewable energy.
Energy efficiency is achieved with an R-60 roof and R-32 wall assembly with triple-pane glazing and thermally-broken exterior door frames. The building HVAC system utilizes the combination of geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling, heat recovery in each wing and back-up gas boiler. Electricity use and CO2 from the back-up gas boiler is offset with a 235,500 kWh/yr photovoltaic array which can be expanded in the future to make the building net zero energy use.
Building section A 1. Main entrance
Main lobby/reception desk
Sleeping room
Multi-purpose room
Classroom
Laundry
Boardroom
Outdoor patio
Dining room
Cleaning/storage
Roof top mechanical space
Attic space
Front elevation
PROJECT CREDITS
ARCHITECT METAFOR Architecture Inc
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Protostatix
MECHANICAL ENGINEER TWS
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Wave Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEER Design Works
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Design North Landscape
BUILDING ENVELOPE Morrison Hershfield
ENERGY MODELLING CONSULTANT Revolve Engineering
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Synergy Projects
PHOTOS Christophe Bernard Photography
Electricity use and CO2 from the back-up gas boiler is offset with a 235,500 kWh/yr photovoltaic array which can be expanded in the future to make the building net zero energy use. The use of a natural gas back-up boiler was strategic to optimize the reduction in C02 output until the Alberta electricity grid is further decarbonized, at which time the design allows for the switch out of the gas back-up boiler to an electric boiler.
To make the project a reality SA had to be creative in developing a funding model that took advantage of grants that aligned with their vision of energy efficiency, accessibility and future proofing the building to meet net zero energy.
SA was able to secure $150,000 in CMHC seed funding to help with the initial schematic design and feasibility of how to achieve the over all energy efficiency and universal accessibility goals. This funding kick started the journey to zero carbon /net zero energy ready and further allowed the team to apply for $6.6 million in grant and loan funding through FCM / GMF, secure $10 million from CMHC co-investment fund for energy and accessibility, and secure $2.5 million funding from the City of Edmonton Affordable Housing Investment Plan.
The outcome of these funding initiatives allowed the building team to achieve the design goals, which means the building will save approximately $6 million in energy costs over the anticipated life span of the building.
MIKE WOODLAND IS PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT, AAA, AIBC, SAA, OAA, LEED AP, MRAIC AT METAFOR.
6. A prominent timber canopy announces the main entrance.
7. The large roof top patio on the second floor of the central wing. 8. The three program wings have private bedrooms with shared washrooms.
Empowering the Green Building Leaders of Tomorrow
By Abiran Raveenthiran
The CAGBC’s Emerging Green Professionals (EGP) Executive Team is driven by a commitment to spearhead transformative change within the green building industry. The primary goal is to nurture the professional growth of students and young practitioners. They achieve this through educational programs, career development avenues, and networking events.
DYNAMIC DESIGN COMPETITIONS:
Emerging Green Builder article from SABMag goes on this page
The EGP Executive Team recognizes the importance of fostering creativity and innovation within the green building sector. To achieve this, they organize dynamic design competitions that challenge members to think outside the box and come up with sustainable solutions to real-world problems. The Design Charrette competitions, taking place every fall, provide opportunity for collaborative multidisciplinary ideas at an early career stage.
CONCLUSION:
Participating in EGP events unlocks a spectrum of advantages, including:
- Engaging Social and Networking Events
- Mentorship from Industry Experts
- Informative Educational Seminars
- Career Development Opportunities
- Dynamic Design Competitions
NETWORKING EVENTS:
One major advantage of being part of the growing EGP community is the opportunity to engage in social and networking events. These gatherings provide a platform for like-minded individuals to connect, share experiences, and build professional relationships. The green building industry is a changing and rapidly innovating landscape with a plethora of opportunities for collaborative work environments.
In 2024, the EGP Executive Team is creating opportunities for EGPs to meet other young professionals through relaxed social events throughout the year, and with industry professionals through our annual spring Mentorship Program.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:
The goal of the EGP Executive Team is to support the growth of green building professionals by offering educational programs that bring in experts from across the green building industry. These aim to equip EGPs with the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in the sector. From webinars to interactive charrettes, the EGP Executive team provides a platform to empower members to stay up to date on industry trends, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable practices. Keep an eye out for our Speaker Series Virtual Event in April!
The Emerging Green Professionals play a crucial role in shaping the future of the green building industry in Canada. As the driving force behind transformative change, EGPs embody the spirit of innovation and collaboration needed to create the next generation of green emerging leaders.
The Emerging Green Executive Team is committed to bringing networking and mentorship, education and design opportunities to young professionals. Joining the EGP community opens doors to a world of opportunities for young professionals aspiring to make a lasting impact in the green building sector.
Abiran Raveenthiran is the Vice President and Co-Founder of VxV Solutions Inc., a leading lighting controls and IoT/Ai building technology agency and integrator. He also serves as an Executive Member of the Canada Green Building Council’s Emerging Green Professionals Team.
Information: www.linkedin.com/company/cagbc-egp/
REPRESENTING REALITY: WHY MATERIALS MATTER
By Lindsey Wikstrom
In 2019, the United Nations published its Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction. The document included an estimate that the global construction industry will build the equivalent of New York City (including all five boroughs) every month for the next 40 years. This represents an enormous quantity of material, much of it slated to be concrete and steel, composed of minerals extracted from the earth and produced using enormous amounts of non-renewable energy. There is no expectation that the rate of construction, which is fastest in Asia and Africa, will slow in the foreseeable future.
These projections have significant negative implications for the planet, and reinforce the urgency for us to focus on reducing the environmental impact of the materials and energy we use in construction. While both the concrete and steel industries have invested heavily in research, development and demonstration projects to reduce their carbon footprints, they can only do so much.
The huge volume of construction means there is ample opportunity for mass timber and other biogenic materials to improve the situation. Their contribution may be as structural members, insulation, cladding or interior finishes. Mass timber can also contribute to the preservation of existing structures, as its light weight can make vertical additions more feasible, densifying rather than demolishing buildings.
One of the challenges we face in transforming the industry is the degree to which the process of design is rooted in tradition and abstraction.
DRAWING VERSUS BUILDING
It is common that architects create drawings, not buildings. Even those of us who do create buildings, do so after the creation of drawings. With this primary focus on drawings, we are acutely aware of graphic representation as a form of communication and decision making.
When we draw two parallel horizontal lines, with the space between flecked with triangles, everyone understands this as a concrete slab. Similarly, four parallel horizontal lines can be understood as a 3-ply CLT panel.
Whatever it is we choose to represent, we generally interpret it as a discrete material or object, rather than considering the broader social, environmental and economic implications embedded in it.
SITE 6: LOG EFFICIENCY
SITE 9: BALLOON FRAME
SITE 7: TRUCKING
SITE 8: RETAIL
When our two parallel lines represent concrete, we consider its strength and availability, but we can't ignore its implications related to the extraction of sand, gravel and water, and the heat intensive processing of cement containing some combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and other mined ingredients.
When our four parallel lines represent 3-ply CLT, we must consider its strength and availability as well as the implications of harvesting, milling, sanding, gluing and pressing, and whether the manufacturing partners are focused on zero waste and forest regeneration or not.
In both cases, we must also consider and accept the implications of time for manufacturing, transportation, installation and (in the case of concrete) curing. We should also factor in the social and economic benefits of local sourcing as opposed to importing materials from a distance. All of these considerations are latent in the lines we draw.
REPRESENTING REALITY
These considerations bring a much greater depth and breadth of meaning to the decisions we make about materials and design. While the multitude of quantitative and qualitative metrics can be tabulated, a new form of graphic representation can assist us to compare and communicate our options.
In my equirectangular 360 drawings, all stages of a material lifecycle are drawn as spatial environments, where people work, and material is transformed.
SITE 10: NEIGHBORHOOD
This shifts the focus from how buildings are conceived as performative beautiful geometry internal to a property boundary to an external choreography of how they are materialized.
If we accept that the primary responsibility of an architect is for the health, safety and wellbeing of the public, these drawings can also help us to extend the sphere of that responsibility to those involved at every point in the supply chain. In this context, material specification is an affirmation of environmentally, socially and economically responsible sourcing from resource extraction to product installation to deconstruction.
It is also empowering for the students and young architects I work with, as every line they draw is imbued with meaning, even if they are only selecting bathroom tiles. There is an enormous responsibility and activism in sourcing ethically.
A CONSISTENT APPROACH
This methodology can be transformative, as it embeds a new set of values and metrics into the decision-making process. To date, it seems like the only materials that are subject to this kind of scrutiny are those that come from our forests, for which we demand third-party certification of sustainable forest management and chain of custody documentation.
While forestry practices in North America should put more focus on diversifying tree species and the value-added products they produce, this is nonetheless an unbalanced position when we are not also demanding information on iron ore mines for steel production, or bauxite extraction for aluminum.
IN CONCLUSION
Whatever materials we consider, we should apply the same criteria to the selection process. Environmental and Health Product Declarations can be supplemented with information on labour practices along supply chains, the social and economic benefits of local procurement, as well as other data.
The practice of recording and presenting this information graphically can be a powerful tool in promoting cultural change within the design and construction industry - moving these practices from the margins to the mainstream.
LINDSEY WIKSTROM IS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF MATTAFORMA, A NEW YORK-BASED DESIGN PRACTICE THAT DRAWS ON A PARALLEL PROJECT OF MATERIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TO CONCEIVE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AS AN ACTIONABLE MEDIUM TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE PLANET. SHE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE 2017 BOOK EMBODIED ENERGY AND DESIGN.
CANADIAN GREEN BUILDING 2024 AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS
to the winning teams
Institutional (Large) Award: UBC MacLeod Building Renewal, Proscenium Architecture and Teeple Architects. Top left : Proscenium Architecture + Interiors (l to r) : Ben Nielsen, Alissa Foss, Kori Chan, James Bligh. Top right : Teeple Architects (l to r) : Myles Craig, Avery Guthrie, Stephen Teeple.
Institutional (Small) Award: Windermere Fire Station 31, S2Architecture and GH3* Architects.
Top left: S2Architecture (l to r): Linus Murphy and Erin Jess.
Top right: gh3 Architects (l to r): Mark Kim, Pat Hanson, Raymond Chow, Joel Di Giacomo.
Bottom: EcoAmmo (l to r): Angela Li, Andriana Beauchemin, Steph Carter, Madeleine Drake, Tim Tewsley, Hannah Li.
The annual program to recognize excellence in the design and execution of all types of sustainably-designed, high-performance Canadian residential and non-residential buildings and interiors, both new and renovated.
Residential (Small) Award: Heimaklettur House, MOTIV Architects Inc. ( l to r) Madeleine Cardin, Jackie Rosborough, Asher deGroot, Kristina Le, Tracey Mactavish.
Residential (Small) Award: Bird’s Wing Passivhaus Duplex, ONE Seed Architecture. (l to r) Allison Holden-Pope, Hannah Griffiths, and Emily Reddy.
Mixed Use Award: Cheko’Nien House, Perkins&Will.
The Perkins&Will design team : Alex Minard, Kaz Bremner, Jana Foit, Adrian Watson, and David Damon with Kimberly Baba, Prachi Bhinde, Markus Brown, Aidan Carruthers, Cheney Chen, Cillian Collins, Paul Cowcher, Mahdiar Ghaffarianhoseini, EJ Hamilton, Jessica Kim, Rafaela Kirloss, Neal Li, Manuela Londono, Khuyen Luong, Heather Miller, Jennifer Miller, Nariman Mousavi, Rick Piccolo, Adrienne Rademaker, and Spencer Todd.
Technical Award: BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, J. Robert Thibodeau Architecture + Design Inc.
(l to r) : Harsh Mehra, J.Robert Thibodeau, Marjorie Beaulieu.
Residential (Large) Award: Foxglove Supportive Housing and Shelter, NSDA Architects.
(l to r): Larry Adams and Ken Wong.
Technical Award: Gabion House, Waymark Architecture. (l to r): Mizraim Garduño, Will King, Graeme Verhulst, Sarah King, Stephen Sprenkle, Ana Ahumada, and Shari Khadem.
Existing Building Upgrade Award: Little by Little Studios, pico ARCHITECTURE inc.. (l to r) : Michelle Peake, Tim Horton, Gail Little, Evan Jameson, Bobbi MacLennan. Missing: Jon Ferreira, Julia Evancio, Diego Kerzer. Photo by Douglas Little Photography.
Thanks to our sponsors and jury
Sindhu Mahadevan
Studio Lead and Head of R&D at MGA Michael Green Architecture (MGA), Vancouver
Daniel Ling
Director and Principal, Montgomery Sisam Architects
OAA, AIBC, SAA, AANB, NSAA, AIA, MRAIC, LEED AP
National Sponsors
Category Sponsors
Peter Osborne
Architect, AIBC, AAA, SAA, MAA, OAA, FRAIC, LEED ® AP Partner, GEC Architecture, Toronto
FIRE STATION 8: Advancing Sustainability with Filterra in Alignment with Burnaby’s Climate Action Plan
By Amin Rajabi
The City of Burnaby has teamed up with Simon Fraser University to build Fire Station 8 on Burnaby Mountain, enhancing emergency response times and community safety. Construction began in 2023 with completion expected by late 2024, followed by full operational capacity in early 2025.
Burnaby is managing the planning, design, and construction of Fire Station 8, while SFU provided the land at no cost. Key features of Fire Station 8 include a gross floor area of 15,000 square feet, three drive-through vehicle bays, a dedicated decontamination space for crews, and seismic design to meet post-disaster standards. Additionally, the station supports Burnaby’s Climate Action Plan through sustainable practices, such as using low-carbon energy with no natural gas, an energy-efficient envelope, a stormwater management system to reduce runoff impact, minimal material usage in interior finishes, reflective roofing to lower solar heat gain, and a solar-ready roof for future net-zero energy goals.
What is a Filterra?
The project incorporates Filterra, a cutting-edge stormwater treatment system that uses high-performance bioretention to remove pollutants efficiently such as heavy sediments, metals, hydrocarbons, and debris. It includes specialized filter media and offers pre-treatment for both above-ground and shallow underground storage needs.
Validated by the ISO 14034 Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program, Filterra’s long-term effectiveness is assured through strict quality control. Designed for urban settings, it’s ideal for applications like parking lots and residential streets, meeting the 80% total suspended solids (TSS) removal standard commonly required for urban runoff management.
It serves as a Low Impact Development (LID) solution for heavily developed sites due to the extremely high flow rate treatment provided by the engineered media. Filterra can be configured in many ways to enhance site aesthetics, integrate with other LID practices, or improve runoff reduction through infiltration below or downstream of the system.
www.langleyconcretegroup.com/products/filterra
Installation of the precast concrete Filterra stormwater treatment system at Fire Station 8.
