One of Canada’s most sustainable new buildings is located in Penticton.
The Little Learners Child Care Centre at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus recently won the Institutional (Small) Award at the 2018 Canadian Green Building Awards, presented by Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine announced in Toronto on June 5.
Okanagan College’s project was one of nine lauded as examples of the most advanced sustainably-designed buildings in Canada for 2018.
“As a structure designed to the rigorous Passive House standard, this building is notable for the beauty and simplicity of its environmental systems. The building relies mostly on local materials and very economical passive design strategies,” said the jury, which consists of Architects and sustainable design experts
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Designed by Penticton’s Landform Architecture Ltd. and built by Ritchie Custom Homes, the facility has already garnered two other awards since it opened last fall.
Last December, it became the first Passive House certified child care centre in the country. It was also named a Silver Finalist at the 2018 Tommie Awards in the category of Best Environmental Initiative in Construction (Residential or Commercial).
“Okanagan College is committed to being a leader in sustainability and to raising the bar for ourselves with each new facility we build,” said Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton. “We are very proud to be recognized among the institutions – and the stunning new and renovated facilities – that made the list.”
The project was made possible by a $500,000 investment by the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development and support from donors throughout the area. The Okanagan College Foundation embarked on a fundraising campaign to raise $700,000.
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Students from Okanagan College’s Sustainable Construction Management program were also involved in the design, materials research and vetting of design options. During construction, trades students were involved in carrying out parts of the work.
“Not only does this latest project provide the community with a much-needed daycare facility, but it is also a chance to showcase two signature buildings at Okanagan College pushing the envelope for green design and building practices,” said Mayor Andrew Jakubeit.
Other award winners include the Brock Commons Tallwood House located at Langara College in Vancouver. Penticton’s Structurlam was the mass wood supplier for the world’s largest mass timber tower.
Related: B.C.-pioneered wood construction on a roll internationally
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