Gold for the University of Victoria

The new Social Sciences and Mathematics Building at the University of Victoria (Canada) recently received a Gold-level certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC), according to a University press release.

The building, which provides 9,090 square meters (roughly 97,000 square feet) of classroom and office space for students and faculty in the departments of geography, political science, mathematics, and statistics, becomes the third building on the British Columbia university campus to be certified.

The facility includes four tiered classrooms for general campus use; four lecture theaters; faculty, graduate, and staff offices; research labs, meeting rooms, and classrooms, and a variety of student service and student organization spaces.

The building’s design combines passive energy-saving measures with high-tech green attributes, ranging from occupancy sensors in classrooms to low-flow toilets and sensor faucets in the building’s restrooms. The design provides a high-efficiency building envelope, external overhangs on south-facing windows, trickle vents and operable windows.

Other sustainability-enhancing features include extensive natural ventilation; energy-efficient lighting; green power investments to offset building energy consumption; use of treated wastewater for toilets and urinals; on-site bike parking; proximity to transit; the incorporation of locally sourced building materials including on-site clay, and pine-beetle-damaged wood; the integration of native plant landscaping; topsoil salvage for use in other campus projects; permeable paving on walkways and driveways abutting the building; central recycling stations; and the use of biodegradable, phosphate-free cleaners and microfiber cleaning systems, part of the Campus Green Cleaning system.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com