The Centre's Very Own High-Wire Act

On September 12, 2013, the Centre held an official unveiling ceremony for its LEED® PLATINUM New Construction (NC) certification plaque, awarded by the Canada Green Building Council. The Centre is the first building in Quebec to obtain the highest possible distinction from this internationally recognized rating system for green buildings.

“A project must collect 52 points on a total of 70 to be eligible for LEED® PLATINUM certification. The Centre far exceeded this requirement by obtaining 59 points. An impressive performance!” underscores Josée Lupien, president of the Quebec chapter for the Canada Green Building Council.

“This certification finally confirms the Centre’s top spot among the continent’s green buildings. We hope our project encourages others to outdo themselves and even go beyond the Centre’s performance, which is why our mandate includes conducting education, research and demonstration activities,” explains Sidney Ribaux, president of the Centre’s board of directors and executive director for Equiterre.

The interactive exhibit of the building was recently completed with five new multimedia stations, four information panels and an online version (www.lamddvirtuelle.org) [French only]. This exhibit, guided tours and a resource centre on sustainable development are just a few examples of the many tools offered by the unique green building showcase that is the Centre. These tools are not only available in Quebec, but also overseas, thanks to the Centre’s online presence and its website, newly translated into English.

The LEED® rating system evaluates project performance in five key fields of human and environmental health, including sustainable site development, efficient water and energy management, choice of materials and quality of interior spaces.

Many aspects of the Centre’s building are uncommon in urban construction today and posed stimulating challenges, such as the geothermal system, the high performance building envelope and the 800 m2 green roof. The project designers went beyond the usual requirement for LEED® certification by adding, for example, a living wall covering almost 38 m2; by enlisting the help of Le Boulot Vers, a social insertion organization, to build the kitchen cabinets and some of the furniture; and by using wood reclaimed from rivers to cover the railings on the staircase in the Atrium. 

The Centre carries out its education and public awareness mission by providing, among other things, a resource centre as well as activities for reflection and the meeting of minds on sustainable development issues.