Overview
Located on the unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations, CIRS operates as an interdisciplinary hub for sustainability research, teaching, planning and operations, as well as a sustainable building research subject.
History & Vision
The idea for the CIRS building was originally conceived by Dr. John Robinson in 2000 as an opportunity to push the envelope of sustainable building by integrating passive strategies with innovative, sustainable technologies.
CIRS was designed to be the most innovative and high-performance building in North America, with net-positive goals in energy, operational and embodied carbon emissions, and water quality, as well as health, happiness and productivity. Flexibility and adaptability principles were included in the design of CIRS so the building could respond to future uses and requirements without the need of expensive and wasteful renovations.
CIRS houses multiple academic and non-academic offices, research labs studying renewable energy and wastewater treatment, meeting spaces and a lecture hall. It’s also home to student-driven initiatives including the Food Hub Market.
The 4-storey building has a gross area of 5,675 m2 (61,085 ft2) and has achieved Platinum certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.
For over a decade, CIRS has operated as a hub for sustainability on UBC Point Grey campus. Using a living laboratory approach, CIRS contributes knowledge, lessons and models to be shared and used on a global scale.
Construction Process Gallery
Construction of CIRS began in October 2009 and was complete in August 2011.
Research
As a flagship demonstration project of UBC’s Campus as a Living Laboratory Initiative, CIRS was the first UBC project to comprehensively document the design and construction process, collect performance data and engage building inhabitants in research studies.
The building serves as a living laboratory, supporting research and testing of innovative technologies, and the integration of education, engagement and learning opportunities through the activities of the CIRS community.
CIRS systems based approach
UBC encourages high standards of sustainability performance for buildings, landscapes and infrastructure, and supports innovation and experimentation through demonstrative living laboratory projects.
The design of CIRS followed the principles of regenerative sustainability that seeks to to use buildings to improve the environmental and social wellbeing of their communities. The building’s design incorporates passive strategies for daylight and natural ventilation, and innovative use of renewable and natural resources.
Bird-Friendly windows
CIRS window’s feature bird-friendly artwork illustrating biodiversity on campus. The application is part of a showcase on bird-friendly design strategies to reduce the number of bird collisions with reflective glass and windows.
Photovoltaic and evacuated tube array
Photovoltaic cells on the atrium roof and south facades of the building convert solar energy into electricity, supplying a small portion of the building’s electrical consumption while providing shade. Also located on the roof is an evacuated tube array, capturing solar energy for use in pre-heating the building’s domestic hot water supply.
Living wall
Located on the west façade, above the main entrance to CIRS, the living wall is planted with deciduous vines and foliage that change throughout the year. In summer months the leaves grow thick, providing seasonal solar shading to the building. In winter the leaves drop, allowing more sunlight to filter into the atrium, providing additional warmth to the building.
Green roof
Located above the CIRS auditorium, the living roof is visually and physically accessible to building inhabitants and visitors. It is planted with native and adaptive plants designed to provide habitat for local animals and insects.
Heating and cooling
CIRS uses a heat recovery system to capture waste heat in the exhaust ventilation from the fume hoods on the adjacent Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) building. EOS waste heat is transferred to CIRS heat pumps, which provide heating and cooling for the building through radiant slabs and a displacement ventilation system. The energy exchange system returns excess heat back to EOS, which reduces its heat load and demand on the campus steam system. A ground source geo-exchange field supplements the waste heat recovery and provides heating and cooling to the pumps.
Rainwater capture
Rainwater is collected on the upper roofs of the north and south wings of the building and stored in the 107,000L cistern on site. The stored rainwater provides back-up water for the building sprinkler system in case access to the municipal supply is lost.
At ground level, a rain garden landscape collects and channels stormwater into bioswales to filter and drain the water to recharge the aquafer.
Mass Timber
The structure of CIRS uses mass timber – glue-laminated beams and columns, and nail-laminated decking – that is designed to be disassembled and reused at the end of the building’s life. The wood is sourced regionally from pine-beetle infested forests, helping to reduce the risk of forest fire. The wood in CIRS is estimated to sequester the equivalent of 600 tonnes of CO₂.