Among the central objectives of sustainable design is to move the construction industry from a linear process of production, service and disposal to a cyclical one in which materials and products are reclaimed, reprocessed and reused. Materials such as steel, aluminum and some plastics lend themselves to this approach reducing or even eliminating the draw down on the Earth’s ‘capital’ of material resources.

By Hugh Perry

(more…)

Located in Toronto’s Don Valley, Evergreen Brick Works is the revitalization of a 4.9-hectare, century-old brick factory that closed its doors 20 years ago. The site has been transformed into Canada’s first large-scale community environmental centre. The reclamation of such a site poses many challenges that require detailed evaluation to determine solutions that will maximize environmental and social benefits within reasonable economic parameters.

By Megan Torza, du Toit Architects Ltd. / du Toit Allsopp Hillier

(more…)

The University of Laval established a research station for its Centre d’Études Nordique [CEN] in Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik in the early 1980s. Situated at the confluence of James Bay and Hudson Bay, and forming the western gateway to Nunavik, the settlement  is home to a bicultural Cree and Inuit community  numbering about 1500. Strategically located on the dividing line between the taiga and the tundra, the station is the main research infrastructure used by the CEN to study northern ecosystems and geo-systems.

By Jim Taggart

(more…)

Located on the southeast shore of False Creek in Vancouver, this new community centre was part of the Athlete’s Village development for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. It served as a media centre during the Games before being converted to its legacy use. The program is a mix of community based and commercial elements, all designed to serve the new neighbourhood now being developed on the former industrial waterfront lands.

(more…)

An educational tool in its own right

The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation in Penticton is a post-secondary training facility for students entering the new generation of sustainable building trades. With a floor area of 7,000 sq.m the project is by far the largest of Canada’s current contenders for the Living Building Challenge [LBC].

(more…)

Understanding Glare

Daylight harvesting in architecture is a complicated task as the most prominent characteristic of daylight is its variability. There are many methods of estimating how daylight will benefit spaces but too often the potential for glare is not properly addressed during design. This is especially prevalent in office space environments. A far too common scene is an office space with paper or foil taped to the glazing to keep glare sources from disturbing occupants. This article outlines what glare is, how it can be measured, when it is critical to analyze the potential for glare, and solutions to both keep occupants comfortable and at the same time optimize daylight harvesting throughout the year.

By David Mead

(more…)

Improved performance, reduced costs

As more new buildings are becoming LEED certified, the attention is also turning to North America’s existing building stock, which includes many inefficient, poorly functioning, unhealthy, and uncomfortable buildings. Now, building owners are looking to save operating costs as well as get their building LEED EB: O&M [Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance] certified.

By Reg Barsoum and Jon Douglas, with an overview by Susan Buchanan

(more…)

Sustainable with or without LEED

As structural engineers, Fast + Epp have been involved in many leading edge sustainable design projects, working with architects such as Busby Perkins+Will, Hughes Condon Marler and KMBR. Some projects have scored high on the LEED rating system, while others have chosen not to pursue certification.

By Duane Palibroda

(more…)

A Status Report

We are in the midst of an energy revolution. The numbers are just in from 2009, and for the second year in a row more money was invested globally in renewable power than in coal, natural gas and nuclear electricity generation combined. Technologies such as wind and solar have come of age and are becoming significant players around the world.

(more…)