Sustainability
We Are Sustainable
Sustainability is the lens through which we tackle every internal process and project. From our training practices and policies informed by our understanding of energy-efficiency and low-carbon design, to our drive to challenge the industry with bold solutions, Smith + Andersen actively contributes to the growth of sustainable design and construction in Canada.
As a nationally respected engineering consultant collaborating across several disciplines, we are always considering the impact that our work has on the natural environment. We take pride in this commitment, and take responsibility for incorporating sustainable design practices into every project. Our teams have decades of experience helping clients meet energy and carbon reduction standards—often well in advance of the minimum code requirements.
Smith + Andersen offers non-conventional design approaches to create flexible and innovative solutions that achieve clients’ sustainable design objectives. We provide highly-efficient solutions, such as geothermal systems to significantly reduce the energy consumption of some of Canada’s largest structures, and support owners and architects in the advancement of sustainable design alternatives, such as the use of heavy timber.
Our aim is to not only rise to the challenge of supporting the sustainable objectives of our clients, but also to help champion the future of sustainable design in Canada.
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Sustainable Specialization
Backed by decades of experience across multiple engineering and design disciplines, Smith + Andersen is uniquely positioned to provide specialized design services to clients with a range of project goals. From formal certification, to targeting specific design standards, our teams work closely with clients to achieve targets such as:
- LEED Certification
- Green Globes Certification
- BOMA BEST Certification
- WELL Certification
- Fitwel Certification
- Passive House
- Net Zero
- CaGBC Zero Carbon
Award Winning Sustainable Design
Salus Clementine (Karen’s Place)
Ottawa, ON
S+A Services: Mechanical + Electrical
Karen’s Place is the first multi-unit residential passive house project in Canada, and the first affordable housing project to achieve International Passive House Certification in North America. How does passive house affect a residential building? Each apartment of this four-storey structure operates on an approx. $27 heating budget per year.
Sustainable Highlights:
- Passive House Certification
- LEED Platinum Certification
- CaGBC, Green Building Excellence Award (2018)
- Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, Sustainability Award (2017)
University of Calgary Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning
Calgary, AB
S+A Services: Mechanical
Just how effective is the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning facility’s mechanical design? Modelled at approx. 72 per cent more efficient than the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB) baseline, this ultra-low energy mechanical system achieved the maximum number of energy points available on the LEED NC 2009 Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1.
Sustainable Highlights:
- LEED Gold Certification
- Net Zero Ready
- ASHRAE, Technology Award – Society (2018)
- ASHRAE, Technology Award – Regional (2017)
EY Tower
Toronto, ON
S+A Services: Mechanical
The EY Tower didn’t just achieve LEED Platinum and win the Green Award of the Year at the 2019 NAIOP’s Annual Real Estate Excellence Awards. This mixed-use office tower also introduced a “Green Lease” program, which stipulates how occupants manage, occupy, and operate the building in a long-term, sustainable way.
Sustainable Highlights:
- LEED Platinum Certification
- NAIOP, Green Award of the Year (2019)
Canon Canada Headquarters
Brampton, ON
S+A Services: Mechanical + Electrical + Communications + Security + Audio-Visual
This five-storey office building is more than your typical office headquarters. Through a building automation system that allows for the efficient start-up and control of mechanical and electrical systems such as air-conditioning and lighting, this intelligent office achieved the client’s vision of a “building within a park”.
Sustainable Highlights:
- LEED Gold Certification
- CaGBC, Green Building Excellence Award Finalist (2019)
- Brampton Urban Design Awards, Award of Excellence (2016)
Humber River Hospital
Toronto, ON
S+A Services: Mechanical + Electrical + Communications + Security
One of Ontario’s largest and most energy-efficient regional acute hospitals, Humber River Hospital serves nearly one million residents and is the first fully-digital hospital in North America. Along with achieving LEED Gold New Construction (2009) certification, this healthcare facility exceeded the energy efficiency requirements of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB) by 49 per cent.
Sustainable Highlights:
- LEED Gold Certification
- ASHRAE, Technology Award – Society (2017)
- Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships, National Awards for Innovation and Excellence – Gold (2015)
Ts’kw’aylaxw Cultural & Community Health Centre
Pavilion, BC
S+A Services: Mechanical + Electrical
This two-storey, wood-framed facility was designed following passive house principles, such as natural ventilation and highly-efficient energy recovery systems. The health centre was pre-fabricated, shipped, and assembled entirely on site, leading to the Canadian Wood Council recognizing the facility for innovation in wood construction.
Sustainable Highlights:
- Passive House Design Principles
- Wood Design Awards, Interior Beauty Design (2019)
University of Toronto Scarborough Environmental Science & Chemistry Building
Scarborough, ON
S+A Services: Mechanical + Electrical
How does a five-storey post-secondary building with multiple floors of research labs achieve LEED Gold? The mechanical and electrical design leveraged a geothermal system and intelligent lighting controls to model performance at approx. 50 per cent better than the Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (MNECB) and 40 per cent better than ASHRAE 90.1-2013.
Sustainable Highlights:
- LEED Gold Certification
- Ontario Association of Architects Awards, Design Excellence Finalist (2018)
- Ontario Consulting Engineering Awards, Award of Merit (2017)
Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Centre
Camrose, AB
S+A Services: Electrical
To achieve Four Green Globes certification, this 550-seat performing arts venue became the first theatre in Canada to use LED stage and audience chamber lighting, significantly reducing the venue’s energy usage. Additionally, to reach renewable energy targets, photovoltaic panels were included on each facade of the stage tower.
Sustainable Highlights:
- Four Green Globes Certification
- Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, Sustainability Award (2015)
- Consulting Engineers of Alberta, Award of Merit (2017)
A Green Group of Companies
After decades of Smith + Andersen operations following a core philosophy of sustainability, Footprint was established in 2011. Now with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Kitchener, Toronto, and Ottawa, Footprint is a dedicated sustainability consulting firm operating under the Smith + Andersen Group of Companies.
Comprised of engineers, planners, architects, designers, and sustainability professionals, the Footprint team offers highly-specialized services to project teams with ambitious sustainability targets. Footprint specialists work side-by-side with project team members to analyze sustainability objectives in order to provide opportunities and considerations that guide the project towards successfully achieving those goals.
In addition to guiding project teams toward their sustainability targets, Footprint works in tandem with and influences provincial and national sustainability initiatives—all with the goal of making Canada the most sustainable country in the world.
Click here to learn more about Footprint
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