Green Building in North Vancouver

Built in 2012, our North Vancouver store is a signature green building, designed and built to a LEED Gold standard. Made distinct by its sawtooth roof, high-energy efficiency practices, and on-site storm and rainwater management, our building has not only changed the street corner, it's also changed the way we operate.

Light

We wanted to take advantage of any light that shone its way onto the North Shore.

• We topped the store with a sawtooth roof, lined it with clerestory windows, and placed reflective surfaces strategically. The natural light that enters the store through the sawtooth roof (a roof comprised of a series of sloping roofs with vertical surfaces, glazed and facing away from the equator) and the clerestory windows (above eye-level) is then reflected off of the ceiling, flooding the retail floor with natural light.
• Energy efficient T5 fluorescent tubes provide base lighting, with T5 and metal halide spots for accent lighting.
• When sufficient natural light is available we have sensors to turn off the base lighting, and occupancy timers control all lighting, so lights cannot be left on accidentally.
• Curtain wall windows are double-pane argon filled, with low-e coating to reduce solar gain and heat loss. Clerestory windows use Solera glazing to lessen solar heat gain.

Energy

We knew that a store the size of this one was going to require a lot of energy to run, so we put effort into ensuring that the energy we did use was as sustainable as possible.

• A geo-exchange system incorporated in the concrete floor slab provides radiant heating and cooling. Predictive controls are used to pre-heat or cool the slab, based on weather forecasting data. The significant thermal mass then gradually releases its stored energy into the building.
• To reduce energy consumption, the roof and the walls use structural insulated panels which provide superior insulation and diminish heat loss due to air leakage.
• Concrete floors function as thermal mass. Radiant floor temperature is controlled by a 24-hour weather forecasting system that allows efficient interior climate control.
• Minimal use of floor and ceiling finishes reduce overall material consumption.
• Displacement ventilation uses natural convection and prevailing winds to assist fans in maintaining temperature and air quality. Air is instead distributed via an under-floor chamber.

Water

With the amount of rain that falls on the West Coast, we wanted to make sure we has systems in place to take full advantage.

• The non-potable water system is supplied by an onsite well.
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce overall water consumption.
• Stormwater is retained and infiltrated on site, returned to the water table through bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavers. There is no connection to the municipal storm sewer.

Location

It was important to us to maintain the integrity of the natural environment surrounding our new building.

• The store's site landscaping is integrated with the biking and hiking trails within Lynnmouth Park, providing access points to the park for pedestrians and cyclists and enhancing a section of the North Shore's existing Spirit Trail. And because we're passionate about making the outdoors accessible, the park is literally at the store's back door.
• Bike parking at the front of the store and in staff areas encourages both members and staff to use bikes for trips to MEC.
• Four electric car charging stations have reserved priority parking.