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

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Sustainable design and mixed housing aim to make lives better

Regent Park is Canada’s largest and oldest public housing project. Located on 70 acres east of the downtown core, it replaced one of Toronto’s worst slums with a “garden city” development that, despite the best of intentions, isolated and stigmatized the community.

By Peter Clews

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Jury comments - Here is a fabulous example of the reuse of a derelict building that brings life back to an abandoned area of the city. Re-use rather than tear down is the best starting point for sustainability, and the project is also targetting LEED Gold certification through high-efficiency HVAC, and electrical and water conservation.

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While Canada’s reputation for environmental advocacy and policy-making took another beating at the recent G8 Summit in Italy, at a grass roots level there is much good work being done.  (more…)

Jury comments - This is a building that makes us want to visit. It makes clever re-use of insulated precast panels integrated into the walls, and smart use of passive heating and natural ventilation that has a sense of “reclaiming lost knowledge.”

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Phase I "SYNERGY"

Jury comments - The project sets the future course for high density communities that are fully sustainable and designed to a central plan.  It’s a model for an industrial site that has self-sufficiency in waste and water handling, and energy generation.  The plan is so good that even public spaces feel private, and we can only hope that Dockside Green becomes the new standard for our cities.

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A top-flight jury anchors the launch of the 2009 SAB Canadian Green Building Awards , the second annual celebration of Canadian green design.
The SAB Canadian Green Building Awards recognize excellence in the design and execution of Canadian residential and non-residential buildings of all types, including new construction, renovations and interior design projects. Winning projects are chosen based on criteria of sustainable design, architectural excellence and technical innovation. (more…)

Stantec Toronto

View across the atrium. Work stations are held back from the windows to maximize the penetration of natural light

by Dathe Wong

This rehabilitation and conversion project brings the 170 employees of various disciplines who make up Stantec’s Toronto operation into one 4,925 sq.m integrated work environment - making a strong statement about the company’s commitment to sustainable design. (more…)

Pavilion a first in new sustainable development plan for lemurs

The main approach skirted by the moat. The Valley Zoo Makira Outpost provides indoor and outdoor accommodation for lemurs and visitors, and is the first building to adopt the new sustainable development principles of the zoo’s master plan.

by Troy Smith and Laura Plosz

Lemurs are native to the island of Madagascar, and most remaining species are now listed as endangered or threatened - largely due to habitat loss from deforestation. While conservation of lemurs in Madagascar is a high priority, the country’s poor economic situation and the lemurs’ limited range make protection and preservation an ongoing struggle. (more…)

Careful design delivers high quality work space on large scale

The building is arranged in two parallel, four-storey wings, offset from one another and oriented with their long sides facing due south to take maximum advantage of solar exposure.

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This new 51,100 m2 head office building, located on a 9.9 hectare site, represents a major initiative in Loblaw’s ongoing commitment to the environment and its employees. The client’s objective was to provide a high quality work environment, one that would embody and reflect the company’s own philosophy of sourcing with integrity, making positive differences in the community and in the way we operate culturally, socially and environmentally at work and at home. (more…)