UniverCity Childcare at Simon Fraser University
Our team helped this facility become the first of its kind in Canada to meet the Living Building Challenge.
The UniverCity Childcare facility is part of UniverCity, a sustainable urban community on Burnaby Mountain, British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University. The facility provides unique opportunities both indoors and outdoors for children to explore Earth’s natural elements and seasonal changes.
As part of the integrated design team, we designed the facility to meet the criteria of the Living Building Challenge Petals for Water, Materials, Place, and Health + Happiness. UniverCity Childcare was the first in the country to meet the Living Building Challenge.
Passive and sustainable mechanical designs help the building meet aggressive sustainability goals. A blackwater treatment facility and on-site infiltration of stormwater are major components of the Net Zero Water strategy.
The rooftop solar array acts as an energy source and the concrete floors and walls act as a thermal mass to reduce the energy required to heat and cool the building. The facility was built from local resources and free of toxic materials and most of the construction waste was diverted from local landfills.
We provided mechanical, electrical, BIM, energy modeling, sustainability, fire protection, and lighting design services for this project.