A recent six-storey Class A office building at 947 Fort Street in B.C.’s capital has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the Canada Green Building Council. This 49,700-sq.-ft. collaboration between local firms Tri-Eagle Development Corporation, Trebizond Developments and Homewood Contractors is the first office building in downtown Victoria to achieve this accolade.
“We targeted the LEED Gold standard for this project from day one so we are thrilled to see this vision fulfilled,” said Travis Lee, president of Tri-Eagle Development.
While some of the environmentally friendly features, such as the green roof on level 2 and the main roof, are easy to see, others are invisible, and include: reduced storm water runoff and use of runoff for landscape irrigation; 41 per cent reduction in water use through the use of efficient plumbing fixtures; 50 per cent reduction in energy costs compared to a regular building; improved indoor air quality with low/no VOC finishes; interior and exterior bike lockers; showers and changing facilities; and a central downtown location with proximity to major bus routes.
Architect Charles Kierulf of De Hoog & Kierulf Architects designed 947 Fort to match the area’s brick heritage theme, using brick and glass panels that provide daylight to 81 per cent of the building’s regularly occupied space, while raising the local standard for environmentally sound construction. During construction, 98 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill; construction materials contained 22 per cent recycled content; and 27 per cent of construction materials were regionally manufactured and extracted within 800 kilometres.
Tri-Eagle Development acquired the 947 Fort Street site in 2009 and completed construction in 16 months for a Fall 2010 opening. Another Tri-Eagle project, The Raven Building (4392 West Saanich Road) received a LEED Gold rating in 2011, becoming the first private LEED building in the Saanich Municipality.