Overview

Owner: University of British Columbia, Corporation, nonprofit

Architect: Matsuzaki Architects Inc.

Builder: Countrywest Construction Ltd.

Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Building type(s): Commercial office, higher education

Size: 3,200 m²

Project scope: new construction, 3-story building in urban setting

Completion date: April 1996

Rating: AIA/COTE Top Ten 2000

With the C. K. Choi Building, the University of British Columbia became known as an early adopter of green building in North America. The design team began its visioning and target-setting exercises in 1993, the same year the U.S. Green Building Council was just forming. The design is notable for its strong emphasis on low-impact and passive strategies for providing heating, cooling, ventilation, and on-site wastewater treatment. The targets were very ambitious and most were met, due largely to ongoing collaboration amongst the entire design team. Architects and green building enthusiasts have credited the C.K. Choi building with setting new performance benchmarks for green office buildings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.buildinggreen.com/hpb/overview.cfm?ProjectID=44
Contacts
Primary Contact
Eva Matsuzaki Matsuzaki Architects Inc. Architect
2550 Courtenay St. Vancouver, BC  V6R 3X3 Canada
604-685-3117
Photo: UBC Sustainability Office

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

The 3,200m 2 three-storey building is long and narrow, built on a decommissioned parking lot. The building takes advantage of a major existing site feature--the stand of mature trees immediately to the West of the building--as a natural source of cooling. The building's mass responds slowly to daily temperature swings, releasing its heat at night and remaining cool through the workday.

With its worn brick exterior and exposed reclaimed timbers, the C.K. Choi conveys the team's emphasis on resource conservation. 60% of the wood structure is reused heavy timbers (from a demolished building across the street) and 100% of the exterior cladding is reused brick (from a downtown Vancouver street). Over 50% of the materials were reused or recycled, and 95% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill.

The building is not connected to the municipal sewer system. The design team utilized composting toilets and on-site greywater management. 'Tea' from the composting toilets and greywater from lavatory and kitchen sinks are released into a treatment trench in front of the building. Plants cleanse the water, which is then used for site irrigation, in addition to rainwater that is channeled from the roof to an underground cistern.