Designed by LMN, in collaboration with Vancouver-based MCM and DA, the Vancouver Convention Centre West (VCC) has just been awarded LEED Canada Platinum certification, the first convention center project in the world to earn what is the program’s highest rating. The iconic West building was opened in April 2009.
Vancouver Convention Centre’s sustainable design features and practices include a six acre ‘living’ roof , the largest living roof in Canada and the largest non-industrial living roof in North America; a sophisticated drainage and water recovery system, which has successfully reduced potable water use by 72.6%; about 83% of construction waste has been diverted from landfill; an extensive facility-wide recycling program that recycles an average of 180,000 kilograms of materials annually; and purchases ‘green power’ electricity generated from low-impact renewable sources.
Other eco-friendly features of the facility are a restored marine habitat built into the foundation of the building; a seawater heating and cooling system that takes advantage of the adjacent seawater to produce cooling for the building during warmer months and heating in cooler months; natural light and ventilation maximized throughout the building; and local BC wood products used throughout the building.
Ken Cretney, general manager of Vancouver Convention Centre, says, “From the very beginning of the expansion project, our goal was to create a building that is not only functional and beautiful, but also environmentally sustainable in every way, bringing urban ecology into the downtown core.”
With the expansion complete, the Centre has tripled its size to cover 1.1 million square feet for a combined total of 471,000 square feet of pre-function, meeting, exhibition, and ballroom space.
