University of British Columbia - Campus Energy Centre

Location: Vancouver, BC
Client: The University of British Columbia
Completion: 2016
Size: 1,974 sq m

21,248 sq ft
Sustainability: LEED® Gold certified
Collaborators: Applied Engineering Solutions Ltd.

BKL Consultants Ltd.

Fast + Epp

FVB Energy Inc.

Kerr Wood Leidal Associates

LMDG Building Code Consultants Ltd

Perry + Associates
DIALOG Services: Architecture

The Campus Energy Centre (CEC) inhales massive amounts of air to feed the combustion process and exhales hot, humid exhaust, while supporting a pulsing circulatory system that feeds hot water to campus buildings. Comprised of a new high-efficiency hot water heating plant and district hot-water distribution loop, the CEC replaces an old boiler plant constructed in 1925. The new system serves over 130 buildings delivered through 14 km of underground insulated pipe. It houses all process equipment including three 15 MW boilers with capacity for phased expansion to a total output of 80 MW. Its design and placement on campus redefines district energy by making sustainable infrastructure visible to the campus community. DIALOG also provided energy modeling services on this project.

01/08

campus energy centre exterior univeristy of british columbia carousel 01 v4 — Zinc envelope ups the ante This permeable skin floats 4m above the ground plane and is held off the building structure by 1m.

campus energy centre entrance univeristy of british columbia carousel 05 — Its simple volume is enlivened by the play of light across and through the shroud by the selective use of three different types of perforated panels.

campus energy centre exterior zinc shroud univeristy of british columbia carousel 06 — The surface of the shroud tells a story where a higher intensity of perforation expresses process requirements for air exchange, ventilation, or transparency.

campus energy centre interior stair univeristy of british columbia carousel 07 — Interior spaces are naturally ventilated and flooded with daylight, while additional space conditioning is provided by waste process heat.

campus energy centre interior wood roof univeristy of british columbia carousel 08 — Sustainability The University of British Columbia is recognized as a leader in advancing the global sustainability agenda.

campus energy centre interior wood roof univeristy of british columbia carousel 09 — The CEC is a major contributor to UBC's sustainability mandate, achieving emission targets while simultaneously redefining public interaction with district energy infrastructure.

campus energy centre interior wood roof univeristy of british columbia carousel 10 — Mass timber in the form of CLT panels and glulam beams are a predominant feature of the construction.

campus energy centre interior univeristy of british columbia carousel 02 — The relationship between process equipment such as boilers, breeching exhaust, service rooms and hot water distribution equipment is driven by strict functional requirements.

Meet The Team

“The predominant use of mass timber and cross-laminated timber, in place of more typically carbon-intensive structural components, reinforces how a project can be exemplary in responding to local challenges.”

RAIC Jury - RAIC Award of Excellence response