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FAQs - LEED Canada Accredited Professional (LEED AP) Program

Certified Projects in Alberta

ACQUA + VENTO

The ACQUA + VENTO residential condominium represents Windmill Developments’ desire to bring environmental sustainability into the public consciousness, establishing a benchmark for mixed-use residential and commercial developments in Canada. Designed by Busby Perkins+Will, this green development is pursuing LEED^® Gold certification. By incorporating innovative green strategies, the building’s environmental impact will be minimized while providing a high-quality interior environment for inhabitants.

Bison Courtyard

The structure of Banff’s Bison Courtyard is a culmination of imaginative design, historical preservation and sustainability that mimics the beauty of its Rocky Mountain surroundings. One ecological innovation is the project’s three-tiered vegetated roof, providing a natural habitat for birds and insects. Rainfall and meltwater are collected and used for toilet flushing and irrigation. In addition to low-flow toilets using cistern water, the project includes composting toilets, water-conserving faucets and showers, and waterless urinals. Composting of organic waste – using a dedicated chute into the basement – is part of the building maintenance program. Energy-efficient equipment and air-handling units are located throughout the building, and thermal values of the building’s walls and roof have been maximized. Windows have been designed to maximize day lighting and occupant sensors installed to further minimize use of artificial light.
www.arctosbanff.ca

Canmore Civic Centre

Officially opened in June 2004, the Canmore Civic Centre houses municipal offices, council chambers, the Canmore Museum and Geo-Science Centre and off-hours multipurpose community facilities.

Awarded a LEED^® Silver Certification from the US Green Building Council in January 2005, Canmore‘s Civic Centre is the first Alberta and fourth Canadian project to receive this honour. The Centre is 40 per cent more energy efficient and uses 55 per cent less water than traditional facilities.

Child Development Centre

The Child Development Centre (CDC) is a partnership between the University of Calgary, the Calgary Health Region and other supporting organizations interested in working together for the benefit of families and their children with a range of developmental conditions.

The CDC is a 125,000 square foot facility opened its doors in October and cost $23 million to build project consisting of office, laboratory and child care space. The CDC facilities will be located on the southwest corner of the University of Calgary campus, immediately adjacent to the Physical Plant.

Attainment of LEED platinum status was the primary driver in the design of the CDC building.

The centre became the highest scoring LEED certified building in Canada with 57 points and became the highest scoring cold climate LEED certified building in the world. The LEED rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The point-based rating system covers six areas: site development, water and energy efficiency, material selection, indoor air quality and innovation of design.

The CDC is a shining example of how modular interior construction and integrated product solutions can build out space using sustainable concepts. Without the raised flooring and its under-floor air distribution system, this project would never have been able to attain a LEED platinum certification level.

Edmonton Police Service

This two-storey 48,300-square-metre facility is LEED^® Silver registered with many sustainable features including:

Recycled concrete used as site fill
Storm water collected for irrigation use and gray water used for flushing toilets and urinals
Water-efficient fixtures
Clerestory windows for daylight penetration
Charging station for hybrid electric vehicles
Forty-seven per cent energy savings over Commercial Building Incentive Program requirements
Diversion of 97 per cent of construction waste
More than 25 per cent recycled content in building materials
Use of rapidly renewable materials and certified wood.

St. John Ambulance

The new headquarters for St. John Ambulance has obtained LEED^® Silver certification. Sustainable aspects of this building include:

External solar shades shield the building from unwanted heat gain and glare in the summer
Maximum use of daylight and operable windows
Outdoor light fixtures avoid light pollution by directing the light at the ground
Use of rapidly-renewable materials, low-emitting materials and no HCFCs.
Concrete from local, no coal-fired plant to minimize transportation costs and pollution
Recycled demolition and construction waste
High-efficiency glazing and high-performance building envelope
Waterless urinals, low-water fixtures, dual-flush toilets and energy-efficient washing

Stantec Atrium Tower Project

Stantec Atrium Tower is a 4645-square-metre, three-storey office addition to Stantec Centre’s corporate headquarters in Edmonton. The design is a Commercial Building Incentive Program certified project and is expected to achieve a LEED^® Silver rating. Stantec intends to use the building as a demonstration and research test bed for future projects.
Key sustainable features include:

The use of direct and indirect natural light in workspaces improve lighting quality and user comfort
Innovative building mechanical controls take advantage of daytime heating in winter and nighttime cooling in summer
Reductions in energy consumption of 30 per cent and potable water use by more than 40 per cent.
Operable windows for increased ventilation, user control and comfort
Integration of local and regional materials
Use of low VOC-emitting materials, paints and adhesives
A recycling and waste control program, diverting about 90 per cent of construction waste away from landfills
A green roof system and rainwater cistern that captures runoff, reducing the burden on the storm water infrastructure and providing water for landscape irrigation
Two-year Green Power contract for 100 per cent of the Atrium Tower’s needs.

The Tower at SAIT

To attract a world-class and international student body, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology knew they would need to build a state of the art residence hall.

The tower is an impressive 22 story building running north-south along an existing pedestrian mall. The goal was to activate the space and make it a vibrant environment.

Elements of sustainable design were used. Energy efficient lighting and the use of recycled products were specified throughout the design process.

The Water Centre

Calgary is the first Canadian municipality to decree their facilities attain a minimum LEED^® Silver rating, which this 16,000-square-metre building will exceed. The two hectare brown field site – housing the Waterworks and Wastewater Departments – will be fully restored and planted with native prairie grasses, flowers and shrubs. Trees will shade parking and a green roof will cover the operating wing, reducing the heat island effect. Rainwater from the roof will be collected and used to water plants, while recycled water will be used to flush toilets. Compared with a conventional facility, the centre is expected to use 58 per cent less energy and 59 per cent less water and produce 72 per cent less wastewater; 95 per cent of construction waste will be diverted from landfills. The innovative mechanical design includes radiant ceiling slab cooling and under-floor ventilation.

Additional Resources

Title: LEED - Commissioning, Alberta Chapter of the CaGBC - 2007 AGM
Presenter: Gerry Cook, CET, Commissioning Manager, ICx Solutions Inc.
Date: January 30th, 2007

Title: Achieving LEED Durable Buildings and Preventing Leaks and Lawsuits
Presenter: Bob Marshall, P. Eng., LEED ® A.P.- Senior Consltant and Building Science/Cladding Practice Director, Jacques Whitford
Date: November 22nd, 2006

Durable Building Presentation Clarification - Jan. 8/07 Regarding the sample LEED Certified Edmonton Police Station Building in Alberta referenced in my presentation that was experiencing some water infiltration through the roof/air barrier interface, this is to clarify what measures are being implemented to correct this condition. This infiltration is reported to have been a result of membrane delaminating and repairs are being implemented and corrected under the facility warranty. I acknowledge the proactive approach and QA activities of the Architect of record and apologize for not having the opportunity to discuss the situation prior to the presentation. As a result of this additional information, I believe this is not an appropriate sample of the Need for more Durable Building Envelopes Everywhere and have therefore removed this from the presentation. Bob Marshall-Jacques Whitford Limited.

Title: Edmonton Police Service Southeast Division: LEED Gold
Presenter: Peter Semchuk, RSW, FCSC, CET, CCCA, LEED, AP., IBI Group, Senior Associate
Date: September 20th, 2006

Title: Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation (pdf)
Presenter: John Gibson, Director, Building Services, Technical Services Branch
Date: January 25th, 2006

Title: Urban Eco-Footprints and the Vulnerability/Sustainability of Cities: An invitation to Change (pdf)
Presenter: William E. Rees, Ph. D., University of British Columbia - School of Community and Regional Planning
Date: May 11th, 2004

Title: Greening of Alberta Infrastructure (pdf)
Presenter: John Gibson, Director, Building Sciences, Technical Services - Alberta Infrastructure
Date: September 30th, 2004

Title: Greening the acute care inpatient unit…using Universal / Inhabitable / Flexible space (pdf)