ZAS Architects designs a new organic waste to fertilizer facility in East Hamilton
SusGlobal Energy has acquired a former site of an animal pellet production plant on Hamilton’s East Bayfront for construction of its new organic fertilizer production facility.The workplace will have the capacity to produce approximately $2 million worth of organic fertilizer daily.
Designed by ZAS Architects, the 40,000 sq. ft. facility retains the structural skeleton of the existing warehouse tower and highlights it. The exterior façade is re-cladded with transparent materials, and an 11,000 sq. ft. addition will be added to house office space and labs for SusGlobal’s ongoing research and development.
“The design of SusGlobal’s new facility in Hamilton East Bayfront embraces the past and celebrates the future, creating a healthy and wellness-focused workplace that signals the changing face of Hamilton’s industries and its emerging green economy. This project also provides an opportunity to rethink how we approach the design of sustainable waste management facilities as integral sites in our city landscape,” says Paul Stevens, Senior Principal, ZAS Architects.
Once completed, the new facility will run 24-hours per day, 7-days per week with the annual capacity to process 65,000 metric tonnes of organic waste indoors with no odours, converting municipal green bin waste into a regenerative, pathogen-free organic liquid fertilizer and other organic agricultural products.
“Hamilton’s East Bayfront has been the city’s economic engine for decades. It’s where Hamilton became known as one of Canada’s major manufacturing centres. Our adaptive reuse approach of the former building intentionally retains and highlights elements of the existing industrial structure to pay homage to that legacy and to stand in parallel with SusGlobal’s ethos as a leader in the circular economy,” says Stevens.
SusGlobal states that its patented organic fertilizer “reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces the overall carbon footprint of agricultural operations, and prevents contamination of water ways due to agricultural run-off.” Currently, SusGlobal operates a 120,000 tonne per annum intake and compost facility in Belleville Ontario. The construction of their new Hamilton facility is expected to be completed by 2022.
“We are thrilled to be working with award-winning ZAS Architects who are on the leading edge of creating healthy workplaces that support innovation and environmental stewardship,” says Marc Hazout, President and CEO of SusGlobal. “ZAS’s approach to healthy building design has been a guiding principle throughout the process, and we are excited to give SusGlobal more prominent visibility in Ontario.”