September 9, 2009

MORIYAMA & TESHIMA ARCHITECTS

An academic building is the first to be constructed at Lakehead University’s new Orillia campus, which is striving for LEED Platinum certification.

Construction

Lakehead University seeks LEED Platinum certification

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Lakehead University’s new Orillia, Ont. facility might become the first campus in North America designed to meet LEED Platinum standards.

EllisDon is putting its experience in constructing buildings designed to meet stringent environmental guidelines to good use.

The company, which has numerous LEED projects under its belt, has started work on the substructure of the estimated $31 million academic building, the first on site.

The 80,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open next September.

“It’s a very aggressive schedule,” said David Nesbitt, director, health care and post-secondary specialist at MHPM Project Managers Inc., which was retained by Lakehead in 2007 to provide overall project management services for the initial phase of the campus development.

The project is being undertaken by a team that includes architects Moriyama & Teshima, structural engineers Halcrow Yolles, mechanical and electrical engineers Crossey Engineering Ltd. and civil engineers CC Tatham and Associates Ltd. Enermodal Engineering is providing LEED consulting and other services.

Nesbitt, who has a degree in architecture and is a LEED-accredited professional, said Platinum status is being achieved entirely through good design.

“We’re not buying any points,” he said.

In order to qualify for Platinum status, a minimum of 52 points out of 70 must be scored on a checklist, which offers credits in five broad categories: sustainable site development; water efficiency; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality.

The building will house classrooms, labs and a library/learning commons.

The entire campus will be built to LEED Platinum standards.

“In my mind, sustainability is focused on energy savings, waste reduction and occupant comfort,” Nesbitt said.

At least nine credits out of a possible 10 are expected to be achieved in the energy efficiency realm.

As well, rainwater will be harvested while steps will be taken to minimize stormwater runoff.

Superior indoor air quality will be achieved through use of low volatile organic compound-emitting paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants, green label carpet and urea formaldehyde-free composite wood.

Occupants will have control of lighting and temperature in both perimeter and non-perimeter spaces.

“When you are trying to achieve a minimum of 52 points, you pretty much go for everything that you can,” Nesbitt said.

The campus is being constructed on an 85-acre site at the western limits of the city.

Ground was officially broken in mid-June.

It will accommodate 1,200 students.

Plans for construction of a 250-bed residence and a food services building are on hold until the fall.

Ultimately, the campus could accommodate as many as 7,000 students.

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