By Cathy Dobson, The Observer
Construction of the $20- million bioindustrial innovation centre at the county and city-owned research park is on schedule and on track to be a nationally recognized green building.
Architect John Nicholson said everything from the floor plan to the building materials is designed to be environmentally friendly.
The three-storey building taking shape on Modeland Road will be healthy, economical and its employees will be more productive, he said.
Some initiatives such as solar lighting and wind energy were considered but dropped from the plan because of expense, Nicholson said.
Still, the cost of the centre is about seven per cent more because of initiatives that make it energy efficient.
They include:
* a design that ensures all employees have access to window light;
* windows that open;
* materials like steel, aluminum, tiles and carpeting that are at least partially recycled and available locally;
* waterless urinals;
* low-energy lighting fixtures; and
* a high-efficiency boiler system.
The architectural team examined the possibility of a green roof but, again, the expense was too high and they opted for a flat, white roof that reflects heat instead.
The bioindustrial innovation centre is a key component of the University of Western Ontario research park. Its 75,000 square feet will house Colt WorleyParsons engineering firm as well as other offices. It will also allow Colt to move out of an existing building that will be converted into lab space.
Nicholson said the expectation is that the new building will qualify for a Leadership in Energy and Env i ronmental Design (LEED) designation from the Canadian Green Building Council.
“We’re tracking toward a gold certification,” said Nicholson who represents Malhotra Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. of London.
Construction is going smoothly, he added, and the centre should open in about eight months.
Nicholson said comparatively few buildings in Canada are as environmentally-friendly.
“Canada is grossly behind European best practices,” he said. “We’ve got to collectively raise the bar of what we expect of our buildings.”
Nicholson spoke Monday to members of the Sarnia Rotary Club at a luncheon at the Best Western Guildwood Inn.
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