Smith Carter re-visited
The right stuff for first LEED Platinum in Manitoba
by Heather Smith
Most companies now understand that well designed physical space can have a positive impact on employee well being, productivity and, by extension, the corporate bottom line. In June 2004, Smith Carter opened its new corporate headquarters, located on a 2.2-hectare pie-shaped lot in Winnipeg’s south end.
The 4600sq.m building represents a departure from traditional corporate architecture and clearly demonstrated that a high performance building is one of the most effective ways to leverage the intellectual capital embodied in the knowledge and experience of employees.
The design reflects both comprehensive technical analysis of environmental systems and performance, and an equally thorough investigation of the varied social interactions essential to foster innovation and ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the firm. Having set a goal of LEED® Gold, it became apparent during the certification process that LEED® Platinum was achievable – a goal realized earlier in 2009.
SC3 [so-called because it is the firm’s third head office] is located on a previously developed site close to existing municipal infrastructure and public transportation services. The building itself is pressed low to the ground, within a restored landscape of prairie grasses and spruce forest – a microcosm of the Manitoba prairie grasslands and the Canadian Shield. Habitat has been restored and enhanced to support a variety of wildlife, and an Innovation credit was awarded for the retention of 150 mature trees and the dedication of 50% of the site to naturalized landscaping. The design incorporates Xero-scaping techniques and storm water management/ treatment via bio-swales and detention ponds.
The landscape design contributes to 25% of the LEED® credits, as well as to substantially reduced consumption of potable water relative to the base building standard.
At SC3, washroom configurations are unconventional. There are six separate female staff washrooms and six separate male staff washrooms, all of which are equipped with dual flush toilets. Male washrooms also include a waterless urinal. Two similarly equipped washrooms are also available for client use.
Water-efficient design accounts for 10% of the LEED credits, including an innovation credit for exceptional performance in water conservation.
All architectural and engineering disciplines collaborated to implement measures such as geothermal heating and cooling, extensive natural daylighting, provision of a premium building envelope, and a building orientation that optimizes natural features of the site with passive environmental opportunities.
The majority of annual heating needs are supplied from an open-loop geothermal heat pump system, while high-efficiency natural gas boilers provide supplemental heat during peak loading periods. Free cooling is provided through ground well water circulated directly in the cooling coils.
A demand ventilation system adjusts outside airflow rates actively in response to actual CO2 levels, drawing fresh air through intakes located near the spruce grove. Operable windows connected to the building automation system provide natural ventilation whenever outdoor conditions permit.
The electrical system features modular ‘plug and play’ power and data cabling to work stations, permitting easy reconfiguration. Ambient lighting in the studio is provided by metal halides, with individually controlled task lighting. Dimmable ballast fluorescents are used elsewhere and all lighting is controlled by occupancy sensors.
These and other measures achieve an estimated 92% savings in space cooling, 76% for fan power and 56% for space heating – a level of performance that contributes to 21% of the LEED credits.
To the greatest extent possible, the design team researched and specified durable, locally-manufactured materials with high recycled, regional, and rapidly renewable content. Regional materials comprise over 26% of total content, supporting local manufacturers, and reducing the impact of transportation. Nearly 5% of products are based on rapidly renewable agri-fibre.
The materials strategy was not confined to research and specification but embraced design innovation. A king-pin truss roof structural system with long-span decking on a standard 600mm module reduced steel quantities by 30%, while, bolted structural connections with exposed-fastener cladding and finishing assemblies facilitate future expansion, repurposing, and end-of-life disassembly, recycling or reuse.
Responsible selection of materials and behavior during construction and occupancy contributed to 15% of the LEED credits, including an Innovation credit for recycled content.
The creation of an excellent interior environment began with an integrated approach to design and explicit spatial quality objectives. It included careful product selection and control of construction activity to avoid contamination, and has continued on through occupancy. The LEED credits for Indoor Environmental Quality account for 30% of the total.
In sum, the collaboration, staff mentoring and exchange of knowledge that has taken place throughout this process – and continues through daily operations - has helped support the business transformation objectives set out at the project inception.
Heather Smith leads the Advanced Strategies at Smith Carter.
Credits
- Client Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated
- Architect Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated
- Structural Engineer Smith Carter Architect and Engineers Incorporated
- Mechanical/Electrical Engineer Smith Carter Architect and Engineers Incorporated
- Landscape Architect Smith Carter Architect and Engineers Incorporated
- General Contractor M.D. Steele Construction Ltd. photographer Gerry Kopelow
Materials
- Structure Poured-in-place concrete, precast concrete, structural steel
- Exterior Wood panel cladding, and stainless steel cladding, curtain wall, Solera skylights by Advanced Glazings
- Interior Ceilings by Armstrong, raised floor system with carpet tile, low-VOC paint; Toto EcoPower Faucets and Grohe faucets, Water Matrix waterless urinals, dual flush toilets; lighting by Lithonia, Ledalite, and Color Kinetics, lighting controls by Lutron
- HVAC McQuay air handling units, geothermal heating and cooling, natural gas boilers, building controls by Siemens
Project Performance
- Energy Intensity [building + Process Energy] 505MJ/m2 /year
Saving relative to model building 51%
Based on energy model. Actual use may vary slightly. - Water Consumption from municipal sources 82 litres/m2 /year
Saving relative to model building 47% - Local materials [800 km radius] by value 26%
Recycled material content 40%