Sustainability Studio
A how-to on greening the small office
by Jeff Ranson
Within the three billion square feet of office space in Canada are countless small offices - a class of space that has often been overlooked by the green building movement. The Sustainability Studio, located in downtown Toronto, is an attempt to address this issue.
Just 250sq.m in area, the Studio was created by The Innovolve Group to house some of Canada’s leading sustainability groups and to be a reflection of their ideals. The result is a healthy, attractive, adaptable space that serves as a tool of engagement and education in sustainable design, and an incubator for environmental initiatives.
The choice of location was critical. Emphasis was placed on selecting a site with a good community profile, nearby amenities, and existing passive design features. Within the space, sustainability goals were achieved by minimizing demolition and construction and selecting products, materials and equipment for maximum efficiency and future flexibility.
More specifically we sought:
• a location close to amenities, transit, downtown, preferably infill or adaptive reuse,
• to maximize the opportunity to utilize passive design,
• to minimize the amount of required construction and demolition, and
• to design for space efficiency, adaptability and deconstructability.
The building at 294 Richmond Street East fit these criteria. It is a zero lot line, urban infill project, that brings much needed density to a neglected corner of downtown, while at six stories it respects the scale of its surroundings. In just six floors the building houses retail, office and residential spaces enhancing the vibrancy of the neighbourhood as one for both living and working. With a zero lot-line there is no landscaping, but top floor residences have roof top gardens bringing a little green back into the city.
Daylighting
Finding a location with abundant natural light and operable windows was critical to the realization of a small energy-efficient office that would maximize occupant comfort. In the studio, 100% of the workspaces were located adjacent to an operable window, and 100% have direct exterior views through 12-ft. floor-to-ceiling windows facing east, south, and west. Solar shades are used to control light, and minimize solar heat gain in the summer.
Glass partition walls and open planning allow natural light to penetrate deep into the space and fresh air to flow throughout the office. While an initial model of the lighting indicated a power density of just 9.5 watts/sq.m the reality is on most days, the lights stay off.
Water
While there was little opportunity to affect the base building water utilization, office fixtures were designed to minimize consumption. Dual flush toilets and low-flow faucets were installed throughout, and an Energy Star dishwasher was added to save both water and energy from washing dishes. One of the most innovative yet cost effective products in the office is the automated bathroom faucets that are powered by a solar cell.
Energy
Elsewhere, other systems were chosen for efficiency and economy at this small scale. Zoned temperature control, programmable thermostats and individual light control ensures that systems are only in use when and where required. Mechanical heating and cooling is done through two Energy Star natural gas furnaces. All electric power used in the studio comes from 100% renewable sources through Bullfrog Power and all appliances and electronics are Energy Star Certified.
The main workspace is lit with T5 fluorescent lamps and reflective pendants utilizing up to 91% of available lumens. LED bulbs are used for both task lighting and overhead lighting in the kitchen - less than 50 watts in total.
Life Cycle Approach
Once the initial design was complete - maximizing the opportunities to work with the existing building and systems - materials were selected with a lifecycle view toward sustainability.
Over 80% of the built office can be completely disassembled, moved and reused. The furniture systems, seating and modular walls have been calculated to reduce waste from a future renovation by as much as 98%, and are designed to be disassembled into their basic components for recycling. Carpet tiles are adhered with adhesive strips instead of glue, and can be individually replaced as needed, or completely removed and transported to a new location.
By sharing the experience gained on this project, our hope is that we can help accelerate green building market transformation in the small office sector.
Jeff Ranson is a Senior Associate with The Innovolve Group Inc.
Credits
- Client The Innovolve Group
- Architect & Interior Designer HOK
- Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Jain & Associates
- LEED Consultants Ecovert
- General Contractors Revision Ecovation
- Workspace Consultants Brigholme Interiors
Materials
- Interior Low-VOC paint on CertainTeed ProRoc drywall, denim Insulation, carpet tiles by InterfaceFLOR, Forbo Marmoleum [linoleum] flooring; light fixtures with OSRAM Sylvania T5 lamps, Philips LED under-cabinet fixtures, SLOAN “Solis” bathroom faucets, dual flush toilets, office furniture systems by Haworth, ceiling tiles by Armstrong