by David R. Macaulay and Jason F. McLennan

Architects Busby Perkins+Will and KEEN Engineering, which is now part of Stantec, combined multiple green strategies within a single project to achieve Canada's first LEED Gold certification for new construction for the City of White Rock Operations Building in British Columbia.

The 6,545-square-foot (608-square-meter) facility's breakthrough design incorporated several innovative approaches to energy reduction, with relatively short payback periods, as well as creative solid-waste reduction and air quality solutions. The project is also exemplary for its emphasis on reuse of an existing structure, heavy use of reclaimed and recycled construction materials, and extensive restoration of the site's landscaping and stormwater scheme.

It is fitting that one of the most distinguishing features of the new building is water. Located south of Vancouver along the British Columbia coast, White Rock is a scenic oceanside residential community clustered around the warm, shallow waters of Semiahmoo Bay. The annual rainfall of 40 inches (102 centimeters) enabled the city's new operations center and site to demonstrate several stormwater management and water conservation best practices.

The City of White Rock wanted a facility as environmentally sustainable as possible, in accordance with its own municipal policy. Key to meeting that requirement meant an integrated design process from the outset, with the full design team contributing to all major design decisions.   >>>

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White Rock Operations Building by Busby Perkins+Will. Photo: Busby Perkins + Will Stormwater is collected on the Operations Building site in a giant tank, once a sewage treatment tank. Photo: Jim Burns   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.