Innovation May-June 2023

PROJECT HIGHL IGHTS 2022•2023

UBC EVOLVE Located in the Wesbrook Place neighborhood on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, Evolve is a six-storey multi-unit residential rental building that houses faculty and staff. The building is Passive House certified and Net-Zero Energy Ready. High-performance design elements include a superior building envelope, a high-efficiency heat-recovery ventilation system, exterior sun shading, photovoltaic panels and an air-sourced heat pump to produce domestic hot water. In addition to being one of Canada’s largest Passive House certified residential buildings, this project is used by UBC researchers for monitoring performance and further studying best building practices. Supported by a grant from Natural Resources Canada, researchers at UBC are collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the benefits and trade-offs between Passive House and typical construction. Participants: Jerry Chung, P.Eng., LEED AP, Mike Kasuya AScT, PTech, CPHD, LEED AP BD+C.

WHALE COVE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BI Pure Water is designing and fabricating an advanced technology modular WTP for Whale Cove, Nunavut. The plant will end the boil-water advisories the residents have endured for the past decade. The treatment process includes screening, dissolved air floatation, ultrafiltration, followed by UV and chlorination, designed to meet the latest Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. The treatment system is housed within a CSA-A277 certified modular structure, which includes boilers, MCC and full SCADA controls. With no road access to Nunavut, the six modules will travel on the annual Arctic sealift. Designed to endure the harsh conditions and high energy cost (>$1.25 /kWhr), the building is equipped with a HRV and RSI-8.6 insulated envelope and is mounted on steel piles to protect the surrounding permafrost. Participants: Kaushik Biswas, P.Eng., Guan Wong, P.Eng., Catherine Anderson, P.Eng., Jim Tam, P.Eng., George Thorpe, P.Eng., Gerard Merced, EIT, Edward Tisserand, EIT.