Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability

Vancouver, BC Canada

•  Two campuses: Vancouver and Kelowna

•  25 faculties, five affiliated hospitals

•  5,145 faculty members (2,200 clinical)

•  48,895 undergraduates;10,764 graduate students •  Among top 40 universities worldwide1

•  Research Leader in Canada2 (science & engineering; and social sciences and humanities) $500m/yr.

•  Global leader in clean energy, forestry, sustainable development, health research, and Asian studies

•  Commercialization Leader in Canada

UBC AT A GLANCE

1  Times Higher Education Reputation Rankings, London, UK – 2012 2  Higher Education Strategy Associates, Toronto, Canada – 2012 2

1996 2002 2008 2014

Opens C.K Choi Building,

setting new green building

benchmarks worldwide

Integrates sustainability

as a core pillar in UBC’s

highest level strategic plan

Meets Kyoto Protocol GHG

reduction targets for academic buildings

5 years early

Canada’s first university to adopt a sustainable development policy

Approval of 20 Year

Sustainability Strategy

Opens Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS)

Sets bold targets to reduce GHG

emissions 33% by 2015 67% by 2020

100% by 2050

UBC SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES

Operational

Academic

DEEPLY INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY

Operational

Academic Campus as Living

Laboratory

Agent of Change

REGENERATIVE SUSTAINABILITY: A NEW PARADIGM

From “less bad” to “net positive” – two dimensions: Environmental Integrity

•  Energy •  Water •  Structural Carbon •  Operational Carbon

Human Well-being

•  Health •  Happiness •  Productivity

•  Academic Building

•  LEED Platinum Certified

•  Pursuing Living Building Challenge

Recognition

•  Gross Area: 5,675 m² (61,085 ft²)

•  Total Project Budget: $36,000,000

•  Construction Budget : $24,000,000

•  Substantial Completion: Aug 31, 2011

THE CIRS BUILDING AT A GLANCE

View the building overview: http://bit.ly/cirsvideo

A LIVING LABORATORY

•  Sustainability showcase •  Building infrastructure = research •  “Process” vs. “product” •  Modular construction •  Flexibility/adaptability •  Plug-and-play

AN INTEGRATED DESIGN PROCESS

•  IDP-Revit-BIM •  Lifecycle costing •  Extensive sensing, monitoring and controls •  Access to building performance real-time data

OVERCOMING PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES

•  Institutional resistance to change •  Confirmed feasibility and a strong business case •  Proposed innovative and creative solutions

•  Co-ordination of responsibilities

•  Built communication bridges •  Facilitated decision-making by removing real and perceived obstacles •  Demonstrated contribution to goals of UBC and its partner organizations

•  Maintaining momentum amid challenges

•  Secured “anchor” funding and partners early-on •  Provided frequent updates and continuous follow-up

•  Creating synergies among partners/stakeholders

•  Developed joint strategic interests and goals •  Created an innovative partnership model – tied with R&D and commercialization

INNOVATIVE BUILDING FEATURES

Naturally ventilated atrium

Immersive Community Engagement

Solar Collectors

Living Wall

Living Roof

Rainwater Chutes Stormwater Management

Wastewater Treatment

SYSTEMS THINKING AND INTEGRATION

INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY

Energy Strategy: Results in a reduction of UBC’s CO2 emissions by ~150 tonnes/year

Tonn

es o

f CO

2

Concrete Glass Aluminum Brick

Wood

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Rainwater harvested on

north, south and west roofs

Potable water treatment system

Rainwater collected on

living roof and landscape areas

Local aquifer

Potable  Water    (faucets,  showers,  dishwashers)    

Treated  Wastewater    (toilets,  urinals,  irriga9on)  

Solar Aquatics wastewater treatment plant

90,000L Tank

Sub-surface Landscape irrigation

Municipal potable water supply (back

up)

Municipal sewer

(back up)

Raw sewage (from other buildings)

RATIONAL USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

ENGAGING BUILDING INHABITANTS

Occupant: Passive recipient of

building systems

Inhabitant: Engaged, with a sense of place

Benefits/Opportunities •  Fresh air •  Day-lighting •  Acoustics •  Food & social spaces •  Feedback •  Control

3,000 POINTS OF MONITORING (EXCLUDING F/A)

•  Total electricity •  Electrical panels (incl. plug loads) •  Solar PV •  Solar hot water •  Domestic water supply •  Rainwater harvesting •  Reclaim water

• Storm-water redirected to aquifer •  Available day-light •  Indoor CO2 and VOC •  Weather-related (RH; CO2; air temp) •  Space controls (radiators; air temp) •  Window status and controls •  Digital video monitors

PUSHING PERFORMANCE BOUNDARIES

CIRS

Project A

Regenerative Sustainability Living Building Challenge Passivhaus (Austria/Germany) Minergie (Switzerland) UBC Standard – LEED Gold Market Reference

Project B

Project C

Project D

Project E

ACCELERATING CHANGE/KNOWLEDGE GENERATION

KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION, DISSEMINATION & IMPACT

Contributions through the CIRS Project:

1.  Regenerative Neighbourhoods Summit

2.  CIRS Technical Manual

3.  20-year Sustainability Strategy

4.  Industrial Ecology: Sustainability Street Pilot

5.  Wood Building Case Studies

ACHIEVEMENTS

•  LEED Platinum Certified, Canada Green Building Council, 2013

•  Sustainable Development Award | Golder Associates, 2013

•  Wood Design Awards of BC | WoodWORKS! 2013 •  Architectural Innovation Award | Architectural

Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), 2012 •  Award for Engineering Excellence | Association of

Consulting Engineering Companies – BC (ACEC-BC), 2012

•  Excellence in Structural Engineering Award | National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), 2012

•  Wood Design Award | Canadian Wood Council, Wood Design & Building, 2012

•  Best Office or Commercial Design & Readers’ Choice Winner | Treehugger Best of Green, 2011 & 2012