INNOVATION May-June 2019

THE LEAF The Leaf at Canada’s Diversity Gardens is a unique new facility to be built at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg. With four different indoor plant environments, visitors will be able to explore various biomes fromwarmer climates, including a sub-tropical biome and a Mediterranean biome. Focal Engineering prepared an energy model to evaluate the proposed design’s energy performance for LEED certification and incentives. This challenging model accounted for several complex systems: dynamic humidity from plants and fog nozzles, open-loop groundwater-source heat pumps, and mixed mode natural ventilation and HVAC systems. Natural ventilation strategy was also a complex modelling challenge, with many unique louver opening profiles programmed to account for various temperature and humidity requirements in the building’s differing biomes, and coordination with mechanical system operation. Participants: Riley Beise, P.Eng., Architecture 49, KPMB Architects, Integral Group, SMS Engineering, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, Bird Construction, Adrian Phiffer, The Flat Side of Design.

BRITANNIA SHIPYARDS FLOOD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS The Britannia Shipyards National Historic site in Richmond, BC, commemorates the areas of historical relationship to the fishing industry. Following significant flooding in December 2014 caused by a combination of high tides and storm surge, the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society and the City of Richmond engaged Dillon Consulting to investigate the causes of the flooding and identify solutions to address future flooding threats at the site. To preserve the historic form and character of the area, an innovative solution was developed to raise the floodwall elevation to 2.9 metres, using vinyl sheet piles clad in artificially aged wood panels. Aluminum stormwater panels were integrated at boardwalk entrances to the existing heritage buildings to maintain their existing elevations. Project Owner: City of Richmond: Milton Chan, P.Eng., Momchil Dimitrov, P.Eng. Participants: Dillon Consulting Ltd.: Paul Donahue, P.Eng., Marc Winer, P.Eng. Merletti Construction Ltd.

AQUIFER MAPPING AND WATER BUDGET ANALYSIS ON SALT SPRING ISLAND

Water supply for Salt Spring Island’s approximately 10,000 residents and annual visitors is derived entirely from the island’s surface water and groundwater sources. Its groundwater supply faces challenges related to variable yields as a result of aquifer heterogeneity, increased demand due to development pressure and climate change, and saltwater intrusion. Aquifer mapping was conducted by integrating available geological mapping and information from the provincial WELLS database into a spatial database, and visualizing it in 3-D using hydrogeological interpretation software called Leapfrog Hydro. Monthly groundwater budgets were derived for each aquifer to support water management initiatives and inform groundwater licensing decisions under the Water Sustainability Act . The project benefited from a highly engaged community, including contributions from the Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance, and ministry representatives. Participants: Nick Gorski, Jillian Sacré, P.Geo. (Golder Associates Ltd.). Sylvia Barroso, P.Geo., Pat Lapcevic, P.Geo. (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development). Klaus Rathfelder, Christine Bieber, P.Geo., Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

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