The City of White Rock Operations Building replaced an outdated facility on the same site. The replacement of the old facility was treated as an opportunity to build as sustainably as possible, in reflecting the city’s policy of promoting green design strategies in all new construction. Seeking expertise on sustainable materials, city officials approached structural engineer Paul Fast, who was knowledgeable about the local reclaimed materials market. Fast had recently completed two residential projects which incorporated reclaimed wood salvaged from an old paper mill. He suggested incorporating reclaimed timbers from the same source. City officials were excited about the opportunity and purchased the reclaimed timbers before the project even got underway.

Beyond these reclaimed timbers which comprise a major portion of the structural system, reclaimed wood decking and insulation were also incorporated into the building design. In total, reclaimed materials represented 10% of the project budget, allowing it to achieve the LEED-NC (v.2/2.1) MR 3.1 credit for building material reuse. Other key sustainability features such as a grey water system, day lighting, natural ventilation, and a green roof make the building highly efficient in terms of energy and water consumption. Ultimately, the City of White Rock Operations Building earned the first Canadian LEED-NC Gold rating and recognition as a model of sustainable building.

Reclaimed Materials (by application): Wood/Lumber, Insulation

Key Info
Location: White Rock, BC, Canada
Date of Completion: 2003
Architect: Busby Perkins+Will
Client: City of White Rock
Contractor: KDS Construction, Ltd

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AIA COTE Case Study