A summary of recent advances

Glazing considerations such as window area, elevation and orientation, thermal performance and solar shading to optimize natural daylighting and passive solar heat gain are very important to the envelope performance and energy consumption of buildings [1]. [BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, IBI Group and Henriquez Partners Architects, Photo: Nic Lehoux]

by Hugh Perry

Many of Canada’s commercial buildings were built over 40 years ago when there were few, if any, worries about energy performance and environmental responsibility. In an era of cheap and abundant energy, heating and cooling loads were of little concern; buildings were often clad entirely in glass with no differentiation between facades having different orientations. (more…)

Products new and re-invented for healthier interiors

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Net Zero Water

Sustainability performance at the building, neighbourhood and city scale

Emerging storm water management methods represent a key approach to sustainability of integrating ecosystems within our infrastructure. [NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, OR; Kevin Robert Perry, ASLA]

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How water and waste infrastructure strategies at different scales, from the building to the city, can respond to sustainability and other challenges. (more…)

Space efficiency and student ideas remake college

The gymnasium extension with reuse of an existing handicap ramp. The design maximizes space efficiency for the most minimal footprint – a basic of green building – and economized on the construction budget.

In 2003, the Collège Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes was both celebrating its 50th anniversary and facing major difficulties: its location between two highly competitive private schools, a series of problems related to poor building maintenance, bad use of space, and unattractive settings threatened its viability. In order to fulfill its mission, the college needed to attract a new clientele and increase its enrollment from 600 to 950. (more…)

Modest building reflects philosophy of earth-friendly products

Typical in size of so many industrial park buildings found throughout Canada, the green building qualities and architectural merit of the Accu-lift™ Flooring Systems building sets the standard for the future

by Christopher Simmonds

TAccu-Lift™ Flooring Systems in Ottawa sells and installs environmentally-friendly flooring. Its new 8,300sf retail store and warehouse has a bright, open and efficient work environment that showcases the company and its commitment to conservation principles. (more…)