Parks Canada’s mandate includes the preservation and protection of national heritage sites and wilderness areas. The design and construction of a new Operations Centre for this new National Park presented Parks Canada with an opportunity to have a facility designed and constructed fully in keeping with its core values of environmental stewardship. The natural resources available at the site - the ocean, sunlight and the abundant rainfall have all been incorporated into the building systems. In 2006, the building was the first to be awarded a LEED® Platinum certification, by the Canada Green Building Council.

The building form features a folded plate roof meant to symbolize the rock ledges that characterize much of shoreline found in the Southern Gulf Islands. Each facade has been designed to respond to its orientation, with sunshades provided on the south and east facades for passive shading and strip glazing on the north to take advantage of the expansive views over the water towards the islands. The building is clad with Western Red Cedar and galvanized steel.

The lowest level is oriented towards the waterfront and is primarily a support facility for the field operations. The upper two floors accommodate administration and resource management personnel in a mix of offices and open plan areas. The main floor level also features a small interpretive area in the front lobby and a large boardroom for public functions and meetings.

The interior of the building has been planned around a central atrium lit by north-facing clerestory windows which focus attention on the exposed structure and visually connects the open floor areas. Inclined glulam columns and beams provide a dynamic form linking the atrium with the inclined roof planes. Concrete shear walls resist the considerable seismic loads in this area, glulam columns and beams support combined axial and bending loads and minimal steel members have been employed to support axial tensile/compressive loads.

Energy Conservation Features

Other Sustainability Features

Drawings

69%	MEASURED REDUCTION IN ENERGY USE	National Average Energy Use Intensity (EUI): 1,382 MJ/m2 (384 ekWh/m2)
		Building's EUI: 432 MJ/m2 (120 ekWh/m2)



	central atrium The interior of the building has been planned around a central atrium lit by north-facing clerestory windows which focus attention on the exposed structure and visually connects the open floor areas. [ CLICK FOR SOLAR SHADING, DAYLIGHT & LIGHTING ]



	geo-exchange The sole heat source for the building is the ocean. Ocean water is piped to heat pumps located in the mechanical room, which extract heat from the water. [ CLICK FOR HEATING, COOLING & VENTILATION ]



	EXPOSED STRUCTURAL MATERIALS Douglas Fir glulams, wood framing members and wall finishes are of local species and have been left exposed. [ CLICK FOR PRODUCTS & MATERIALS ]



	cladding system This design helps to reduce heat loss in the winter and mitigates heat gain in the summer. [ CLICK FOR BUILDING ENVELOPE ]



	Site Integration Take advantage of sea breezes and land breezes. Use sun for daylighting and to generate electricity on site. Minimize building footprint. [ CLICK FOR DRAWINGS ]



	WATER CONSERVATION Water for non-potable uses is drawn from nearby ponds further reducing use of potable city water. [ CLICK FOR DETAILS ]

Annual Energy Consumption – Energy Use Intensity (EUI)