Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion

Location

1055 Canada Place

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada

Staticmap?center=49.2885778, 123.1153203&size=175x175&scale=2&markers=color:red%7csize:small%7c49.2885778, 123
Completion date
April 2009
Site/Building area
Building: 31,400 m2
Budget
$883,000,000
Certifications & Awards
  • LEED Canada for New Construction and Major Renovations 1 Platinum
  • Targeting CaGBC LEED Platinum certification
  • BC Hydro Powersmart Convention Centre
  • Building Owners and Managers (BOMA) "GO GREEN" certificate
Project Team
  • Client: City of Vancouver
  • Architects: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership; DA Architects and Planners; LMN Architects
  • Engineering & Construction: PCL Construction: Westcoast Inc.
  • Roof Construction Managers: Flynn Canada
  • Landscape Architects: PWL Partnership
  • Funders: Government of Canada; Government of British Columbia; Tourism Vancouver

Summary

KEY SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES

  • Green roof: 24,300 square metres of waterfront habitat
  • Shoreline and marine habitat restoration: restoration of 60 metres of shoreline and 140 square metres of marine habitat
  • Water conservation and reuse: black water treatment and desalinization result in reduction of potable water consumption by 60-70%
  • Sustainable energy production: innovative aquatic sea water cooling heat pump system 
  • Local materials: Douglas fir and Hemlock wood finishes
  • Active transportation: 37,000 square metres of walkways, bikeways, public open space and plazas

Located on Vancouver’s waterfront, the 31,600 square metre expansion of the existing Convention Centre began in November 2004 and was completed in April 2009. Aiming for LEED Platinum certification, the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion is an international showcase of leading-edge sustainable design. Covered by the largest, non-industrial green roof in North America, and towering over an artificial reef, the Convention Centre Expansion houses its own water treatment and aquatic heat pump system.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

The 2.4-hectare living roof is planted on a slope ranging from a three to a 56 percent incline. Where the slope angles are extreme, a web-style geogrid retention system with high-strength polymer matting and stainless steel cables holds the growing media, plants, and 43 kilometres of drip irrigation piping in place.

The unique green roof ecosystem was designed to imitate a beachfront typical of the nearby Gulf Islands and to provide nesting ground for local birds. The roof is planted with more than 400,000 plants and grasses from twenty different species indigenous to the Gulf Islands in order to provide natural habitat for birds, insects and small mammals.  Locally established populations of honeybees pollinate the flowering plants.

In addition to assuming an important habitat function, the green roof acts as an insulator, reducing building heat gains in the summer by a projected 96 percent, and building heat losses in the winter by a projected 26 percent. Energy use is further minimized with energy efficient lighting fixtures and natural daylighting. The Convention Centre employs a variant of the geothermal heat pump system that, instead of relying on the stable thermal mass of the earth, takes advantage of the constant temperature of adjacent seawater to provide energy for heating and cooling. This system includes a dual-loop heat pump that supplies the energy for radiant floor heating and cooling throughout the building.

As part of the foundation of the Convention Centre Expansion, an artificial reef was constructed to provide new habitat for barnacles, mussels, seaweed, crabs and various fish species. The five-tiered underwater structure was designed in collaboration with marine biologists to create tidal zones underneath the building that flush daily with the rise and fall of the tide. The restoration included 60 metres of shoreline and 140 square metres of marine habitat.

An innovative water conservation and reuse strategy employed in the building is expected to reduce potable water consumption by 60-70 percent. It includes an on-site black water treatment system, resulting in 80 percent of wastewater (such as toilet flushing and green roof irrigation) being treated by this process. It also includes a desalinization plant that draws water from the harbour and processes it to meet additional non-potable water demands.

The interior finishing of the Convention Centre Expansion is dominated by the use of local, second growth Hemlock, which is a readily available material on the west coast. Locally harvested Douglas Fir is also used for ceiling gluelam slats, extending from the outside of the building to the inside.

ECONOMY

The Vancouver Convention Centre and its expansion attract national and international delegates and visitors who boost spending related to transportation, accommodation, retail, restaurants, entertainment, and attractions, all of which fuel revenue generation in the local, regional and provincial economy.

"Green" technology and services provided for the construction of this project include:

COMMUNITY

The design, shape and placement of the building allow for view corridors to extend from the downtown core to the waterfront, linking the building visually to Vancouver's extensive seawall and Stanley Park. The expansion includes over 12,000 square metres of new walkway/bikeway, extending and enhancing Vancouver's public waterfront and improving public access. More than 11,000 square metres of public plaza encircle the building, providing open space for artwork, cultural activities and informal gatherings. More than 8,360 square metres of retail space animate the public facades of the building. The Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion creates a fascinating interplay with the downtown core, contributing to its cultural vibrancy and unique sense of place.

Sources include: