As recently as 10 years ago, sustainability was defined by building metrics. Increasingly, the conversation and innovative thinking around long-term sustainability has expanded to consider human health and wellness. Really, it’s about how people engage positively with the spaces they’re using and how we as designers should creatively support this outcome in our solutions.
One of our newest projects is evolv1. It is a 100,000-square-foot, multi-tenant office building situated in the Waterloo, Ontario, technology community, within the David Johnston Research & Technology Park. Evolv1 is poised to become the first building of its kind in Canada to be awarded Zero Carbon — Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).
Scheduled to open later this year, evolv1 is Canada’s first commercially-driven, net-positive, zero-carbon building. Simply put, it produces more energy than it consumes, while producing no carbon emissions.
While I’m extremely proud of these ground-breaking, sustainable features within a commercially viable building, I’d like to highlight the social aspects within the sustainability triangle of environment/economy/society. These ultimately bring to life the full opportunities of a space founded on innovation and community.
Daylighting and access to outdoor views
Daylight is fundamental to a healthy work environment. Good, usable daylighting has been proven through repeated studies to increase productivity and satisfaction in the workplace, improve test scores in schools, and support better outcomes in healthcare environments. In addition to access to daylight, access to views to the outside is also important. This provides connections to surrounding natural elements in the adjacent parks, a connection to the weather
To accomplish this in evolv1 we have shaped and oriented a shallower floorplate to increase access to daylight for all occupants, included continuous bands of high performance glass, and provided solar shading to manage unwanted glare in the summer months—all to maximize these daylight and view opportunities for all tenants and visitors to the building.