New District Energy Centre at UBC showcases plant

DIALOG is the architect and prime consultant for a new District Energy Centre at the University of British Columbia. The new centre will provide heating and hot water to campus buildings, replacing the existing steam boiler plant. It will help the university to achieve its goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 33% of its 2007 levels by 2015.

The building, which is aiming for LEED Gold certification, has a glass wall along its street front, allowing students to view the plant  inside. The design team involves consulting engineers Fast + Epp (structural), FVB (mechanical), Applied Engineering Solutions (electrical), Kerr Wood Leidal (civil), Perry + Associates (landscape), Recollective (sustainability), LMDG (code), RWDI (air dispersion), and BKL (acoustics).