This building didn’t just host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games; it’s a model of sustainability, too 👀
Completed in April 2009, the multi award-winning Vancouver Convention Centre West project is a point of major pride for British Columbia and Canada due its expert mixing of the site, design and ecology. With incredible views of the North Shore Mountains, Stanley Park and over the Burrard Inlet, VCC West is one of the most spectacular convention centres on the planet.
As the world’s first LEED Platinum convention center, VCC West fully is the culmination of over two decades of planning and re-development, bringing together architecture, interior architecture and urban design, all together serving as a living part of both the city and the harbor.
The most visible aspect of the building’s deep approach to ecology is its living roof—at 6 acres, it is the largest in the country, hosting over 400,000 indigenous plants and 240,000 bees in 4 colonies that produce honey for the VCC restaurant. Other sustainable design elements include waste water treated on site and used for irrigation, along with other grey water applications like toilet flushing. It also features energy efficient use of seawater for the heating and cooling system. With 40% of the building hanging over seawater, the project’s foundation was designed to recreate an enhanced natural shoreline for marine life, with tiered platforms providing natural growth area needed for sea kelp, fish habitats and other sea life 🐟
The interior is fitted throughout with CO2, VOC and humidity sensors, all of which can be monitored together with airflow, temperature and lighting controls to optimise air quality across all rooms. Additionally, the interior design features the use of naturally occurring materials indigenous to British Columbia, with finishes carefully chosen to maximise recycled materials and durability.
Showcasing why Vancouver is one of the greatest cities in the world! DA Architects + Planners MCM Architects LMN Architects Vancouver Convention Centre BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) Stantec PCL Construction PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers Arup KD Engineering Co. Pace Group Morrison Hershfield RANA … and all other #buildingheroes involved!
📸 : Nic Lehoux
#sustainability #greenbuildings #climatechange #sustainablerealestate