The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability at UBC.

1. Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability
Vancouver, BC
Canada

2. • Two campuses: Vancouver and Kelowna
• 25 faculties, five affiliated hospitals
• 5,145 faculty members (2,200 clinical)
• 48,895 undergraduates;10,764 graduate students
• Among top 40 universities worldwide1
• Research Leader in Canada2 (science &
engineering; and social sciences and humanities)
$500m/yr.
• Global leader in clean energy, forestry, sustainable
development, health research, and Asian studies
• Commercialization Leader in Canada
UBC AT A GLANCE
1 Times Higher Education Reputation Rankings, London, UK – 2012
2 Higher Education Strategy Associates, Toronto, Canada – 2012
2

3. 1996 2002 2008 2014
Opens C.K
Choi Building,
setting new
green building
benchmarks
worldwide
Integrates
sustainability
as a core pillar
in UBC’s
highest level
strategic plan
Meets Kyoto
Protocol GHG
reduction targets for
academic buildings
5 years early
Canada’s first
university to
adopt a
sustainable
development
policy
Approval of
20 Year
Sustainability
Strategy
Opens Centre
for Interactive
Research on
Sustainability
(CIRS)
Sets bold targets
to reduce GHG
emissions
33% by 2015
67% by 2020
100% by 2050
UBC SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES

4. Operational
Academic
DEEPLY INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY
Operational
Academic
Campus as Living
Laboratory
Agent of
Change

5. REGENERATIVE SUSTAINABILITY: A NEW PARADIGM
From “less bad” to “net positive” –
two dimensions:
Environmental Integrity
• Energy
• Water
• Structural Carbon
• Operational Carbon
Human Well-being
• Health
• Happiness
• Productivity

6. • Academic Building
• LEED Platinum Certified
• Pursuing Living Building Challenge
Recognition
• Gross Area: 5,675 m² (61,085 ft²)
• Total Project Budget: $36,000,000
• Construction Budget : $24,000,000
• Substantial Completion: Aug 31, 2011
THE CIRS BUILDING AT A GLANCE
View the building overview: http://bit.ly/cirsvideo

7. A LIVING LABORATORY
• Sustainability showcase
• Building infrastructure = research
• “Process” vs. “product”
• Modular construction
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Plug-and-play

8. AN INTEGRATED DESIGN PROCESS
• IDP-Revit-BIM
• Lifecycle costing
• Extensive sensing, monitoring and controls
• Access to building performance real-time data

9. OVERCOMING PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
• Institutional resistance to change
• Confirmed feasibility and a strong business case
• Proposed innovative and creative solutions
• Co-ordination of responsibilities
• Built communication bridges
• Facilitated decision-making by removing real and perceived obstacles
• Demonstrated contribution to goals of UBC and its partner organizations
• Maintaining momentum amid challenges
• Secured “anchor” funding and partners early-on
• Provided frequent updates and continuous follow-up
• Creating synergies among partners/stakeholders
• Developed joint strategic interests and goals
• Created an innovative partnership model – tied with R&D and commercialization

10. INNOVATIVE BUILDING FEATURES
Naturally ventilated atrium
Immersive Community
Engagement
Solar Collectors
Living Wall
Living Roof
Rainwater Chutes Stormwater Management
Wastewater Treatment

11. SYSTEMS THINKING AND INTEGRATION

12. INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
Energy Strategy:
Results in a reduction
of UBC’s CO2 emissions
by ~150 tonnes/year

13. TonnesofCO2
Concrete
Glass
Aluminum
Brick
Wood
CARBON SEQUESTRATION

14. Rainwater
harvested on
north, south and
west roofs
Potable water
treatment
system
Rainwater
collected on
living roof and
landscape areas
Local aquifer
Potable
Water
(faucets,
showers,
dishwashers)
Treated
Wastewater
(toilets,
urinals,
irriga9on)
Solar Aquatics wastewater
treatment plant
90,000L
Tank
Sub-surface Landscape
irrigation
Municipal
potable water
supply (back
up)
Municipal
sewer
(back up)
Raw sewage
(from other
buildings)
RATIONAL USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

15. ENGAGING BUILDING INHABITANTS
Occupant:
Passive recipient of
building systems
Inhabitant:
Engaged, with a
sense of place
Benefits/Opportunities
• Fresh air
• Day-lighting
• Acoustics
• Food & social spaces
• Feedback
• Control

16. 3,000 POINTS OF MONITORING (EXCLUDING F/A)
• Total electricity
• Electrical panels (incl. plug loads)
• Solar PV
• Solar hot water
• Domestic water supply
• Rainwater harvesting
• Reclaim water
• Storm-water redirected to aquifer
• Available day-light
• Indoor CO2 and VOC
• Weather-related (RH; CO2; air temp)
• Space controls (radiators; air temp)
• Window status and controls
• Digital video monitors

17. PUSHING PERFORMANCE BOUNDARIES
CIRS
Project
A
Regenerative Sustainability
Living Building Challenge
Passivhaus (Austria/Germany)
Minergie (Switzerland)
UBC Standard – LEED Gold
Market Reference
Project
B
Project
C
Project
D
Project
E

18. ACCELERATING CHANGE/KNOWLEDGE GENERATION

19. KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION, DISSEMINATION & IMPACT
Contributions through the CIRS Project:
1. Regenerative Neighbourhoods Summit
2. CIRS Technical Manual
3. 20-year Sustainability Strategy
4. Industrial Ecology: Sustainability Street Pilot
5. Wood Building Case Studies

20. ACHIEVEMENTS
• LEED Platinum Certified, Canada Green Building
Council, 2013
• Sustainable Development Award | Golder
Associates, 2013
• Wood Design Awards of BC | WoodWORKS! 2013
• Architectural Innovation Award | Architectural
Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), 2012
• Award for Engineering Excellence | Association of
Consulting Engineering Companies – BC (ACEC-
BC), 2012
• Excellence in Structural Engineering Award |
National Council of Structural Engineers
Associations (NCSEA), 2012
• Wood Design Award | Canadian Wood Council,
Wood Design & Building, 2012
• Best Office or Commercial Design & Readers’
Choice Winner | Treehugger Best of Green, 2011 &
2012