The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) on the West Mall at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is dedicated to research, collaboration and outreach that lead to workable solutions for the challenges of urban sustainability. The facility was completed in 2011. The CIRS was described as “the most innovative and high performance building in North America, serving as a living laboratory to demonstrate leading-edge research and develop sustainable design practices, products, systems and policies”.
The building was constructed of sustainable materials and designed to radically reduce emissions, materials consumption, energy use and water use.
Electricity, lighting and heating energy, and all of its water supply, liquid waste treatment, ventilation and cooling is provided from natural on site sustainable and renewable sources including the sun, the wind and the ground beneath the site. Heating and cooling for the facility comes from waste heat recovery from the fume hood exhaust ventilation systems and geothermal heat pump and it was designed to have the best commercial building performance in North America.
Western Mechanical Services is proud to have been part of this unique construction project by providing the building commissioning services to help UBC to achieve its first LEED® Platinum Building certification.