Clean and Green
Manitoba is setting an example in environmentally healthy working conditions and sustainable building design with its new Hydro Building in downtown Winnipeg. A concept of the Toronto-based Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, the new building is approximately 695,000-square-feet in size, with a host of features that demonstrate Manitoba’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. Designed to be a world-class energy-efficient structure, as well as a global leader in sustainability and green design, some of its many environmentally friendly features include:
• Passive systems for ventilation, heating, and cooling
• Atria located throughout the tower that serve as solar collectors, air exchangers, air handlers, and airshafts
• Optimized solar exposure to reduce thermal loss through the north side of the building
• Window design details that optimize daylight and reduce artificial lighting requirements
• A water feature located in the south atrium, controlling humidity
• A double facade, acting as a protective “envelope” and reducing heating loads by providing a shield against extreme outside temperatures and weather conditions
• Exposed radiant concrete ceilings to maintain building temperatures
• Geothermal heat pump system for ground heat exchange in winter
• Natural ventilation, which minimizes the need for a forced air circulation system
• A living foliage green roof
March/April 2008
