Life Sciences Centre

Location

2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC

Vancouver, BC

Canada

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Date Completed
2005
Size
52,165 m2
Budget
$125 million
Certifications & Awards
  • 2006: International Illumination Design Award (Special citation), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
  • 2005: LEED Gold Certified (New Construction), USGBC
  • 2005: Masonry Design Awards, Merit Award-Institutional, Masonry Institute of BC
  • 2005: BOMA Earth Award
  • 2005: Award of Merit, Consulting Engineers of British Columbia
  • 2005: Regional Technology Award, ASHRAE Chapter
Project Team
  • Owner: The University of British Columbia
  • Project Manager: UBC Properties Trust
  • Construction Manager: Ledcor Construction Ltd.
  • Architect: Bunting Coady Architects and Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc. (in joint venture)
  • Structural & Envelope: Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.
  • Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: MCW Consultants Ltd.
  • Civil Engineer: Aplin and Martin Consultants Ltd.
  • Landscape Architect: Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg
  • Energy: G.F. Shymko & Associates
  • Stormwater: Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd.
  • Geotechnical Engineer: Trow Consulting Engineers Ltd.
  • LEED Consultants: Build Green Developments Inc.
  • Specifications: E. W. Hamilton Ltd.

Summary

The Life Sciences Centre (LSC) was built to house the University of British Columbia's (UBC) Medical Education Program and the Life Science Institute. It is the largest building on the UBC campus and the first to achieve LEED Gold certification. In order to build the Centre on a brownfield site contaminated with hydrocarbons and zinc, a comprehensive remediation plan was put in place to meet US EPA Brownfield Standards before construction began. The LSC now features three, five-storey towers that offer twenty-four laboratories, forty-five classrooms of varying sizes and two lecture theatres seating up to 350 students each.

Due to diligent efforts to meet LEED Gold certification the Life Sciences Centre consumes 28% less energy, 50% less water, and emits 1,000 tonnes fewer greenhouse gases when compared to a standard building. A dynamic monitoring system adjusts interior lighting and ventilation. The building's energy reduction strategies include extensive daylighting, southern solar-shading in the form of recessed windows, sensor-controlled lighting, and low-energy fixtures. All of these contribute to an annual savings of 6.4 million kWh of electricity or $200,000 a year. Eighty percent of the building's construction waste, or 1.3 million kg, was recycled or salvaged.

To foster a healthy indoor environment the Life Sciences Centre has started a green housekeeping pilot program where all cleaning products are Environmental Choice Program (ECP) and/or Green Seal (GS) certified. Additional indoor environmental quality assurances include exhaust hoods that are ventilated outside through roof mounted strobic fans, carbon dioxide monitors, and of course plenty of natural light and ventilation.

Two large atria that enclose the spaces between three separate wings of the building represent another innovative LSC design feature. These atria reduce envelope costs, increase energy efficiency and provide adaptable, spacious places for visitors, students and faculty.

Tours: Available upon request. Contact the UBC Sustainability Office at 604-827-5641.

 

This post was imported from the 'Greater Vancouver Green Guide', it's part of the 'Green Guide Portal' to the Green Building Brain.