At Council last night, Mayor Rob Burton presented a LEED Silver certification plaque received from the Canada Green Building Council for Oakville Transit’s new building on Wyecroft Road.
The building is the second town facility to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The town received LEED Gold certification for the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in 2012.
“This Council is committed to adding facilities and green building,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Achieving a LEED Silver certification is a significant accomplishment that reflects the town’s dedication to sustainability practices that enhance our environment and reduce operational costs.”
The Canada Green Building Council, which encourages and facilitates the development of sustainable buildings in Canada, evaluates projects according to six LEED categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor air quality, and innovation and design.
“The town approaches every new facility design with LEED objectives in mind,” said Shelly Switzer, director of facilities and construction management for the Town of Oakville. “LEED Silver certification reflects the dedication of the entire project team to the principles of environmentally sustainable design, construction and operation.”
The transit building received LEED credits for energy performance, storm-water management, water use reduction, ozone protection, light pollution reduction, water-efficient landscaping, indoor air quality, green housekeeping and for having bicycle storage and changing facilities to support alternative transportation.
The building has several significant features including:
- The town’s first geothermal heating and cooling system that reduces the facility’s electrical and natural gas demands.
- Permeable paving that reduces storm-water runoff by 50 per cent.
- A 1,000-litre underground stormwater tank that collects rainwater for bus washing.
- Spaces for 55 bicycles and four carpools to encourage alternative transportation.
- Landscaping that includes drought-resistant native species for reduced watering.
The $37 million facility located at 430 Wyecroft Road was constructed with two-thirds funding assistance provided by the federal and provincial governments through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The building was designed by IBI Group and built by PCL Constructors, and took 11 months to complete. The nearly 25,000 square-metre building opened in 2011 and has indoor storage for up to 175 buses, 19 service bays, and administrative and operations offices.
Through the Livable Oakville Official Plan and the town’s Sustainable Building Design guidelines, which came into effect in 2009, new town buildings over 500 square metres in building area are required to be designed and built to achieve LEED Silver certification. Green building design and construction adheres to Council’s strategic goals of enhancing the town’s natural, cultural, social and economic environments.