Sustainability Report

To meet the rigorous requirements of the ZCB Design Standard, the project prioritized energy efficiency, airtightness, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Anticipated emissions from operations, including heating, cooling, and refrigerants, were evaluated alongside the embodied carbon from construction materials. Achieving these objectives for an energy-intensive aquatic facility required innovative solutions: - Collaboration with Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC): the architects partnered with the CaGBC to address the unique energy demands of natatoriums (swimming pool enclosures) while balancing these with the less energy-intensive spaces in the surrounding community centre. This collaboration set performance thresholds for similar projects aiming to meet the ZCB Standard. - Operational impact: By eliminating fossil fuel combustion, the facility targets a 92% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to its predecessor. The building also implements the InBlue gravity-fed filtration system, which reduces chlorine use, minimizes harmful byproducts, and improves air and water quality. Material innovations The project employed sustainable materials and construction practices to minimize embodied carbon. Key measures include: - Construction waste management: Over 75% of construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfills, exceeding the LEED v4 requirements. Materials were sorted into five waste streams using local recycling facilities. -Material transparency: Specifications focused on materials with life cycle data to assess their environmental impact. More than 40 products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) were recorded, achieving Exemplary Performance under LEED v4.1 criteria. - Hybrid structure: The design incorporates select mass timber elements and concrete mixes with fly ash substitutes, significantly reducing embodied carbon. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantified the embodied carbon at 5,353 tons CO₂e, or 563.46 kgCO₂e/m².