A new high-energy-efficiency building

Approach

The innovativeness and commitment behind the Quebec designer and maker of covered mobile stages take a new turn: the second Stageline Group building in L’Assomption adheres to very strict environmental criteria. A trailblazer in its industry, the firm is now playing the same role with regard to the environment, equipping itself with new industrial facilties that comply with LEED certification standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), as laid down by the Canada Green Building Council.

Building surface area

3,670 square meters (39,503 square feet)

Integrated design

The new Stageline Group building is designed according to recognized LEED principles. Throughout the design process, the following five aspects were taken into consideration:

  • Ecological layout of the site;
  • Energy efficiency of the building;
  • Water management and conservation;
  • Selection of safe materials;
  • Quality of the interior environment.

Energy efficiency

The building was designed to operate at a level of high energy efficiency and integrates a number of components that allow for an important reduction in consumption:

  • High-performance windows and light wells that maximize entrance of light;
  • Double windows and curtain wall with low-emissivity film to conserve heat and reduce infrared radiation;
  • White coating of indoor walls to promote light reflection;
  • High-efficiency lighting technology combined with an intelligent building monitoring system;
  • Solar thermal collector to preheat cool air;
  • Ventilation units that recycle the heat from exhaust air;
  • Closed-loop geothermal system that captures the natural heat of the earth;
  • Radiant floor that increases the confort of occupants and the building’s thermal inertia;
  • Reduced demand on ventilation and air-conditioning systems because of the energy-efficiency measures taken.

The project’s energy-systems modeling made it possible to select the most cost-effective technologies. The building consumes 69.2% less energy than a similar structure conforming to the codes and standards in effect. The result of that performance is that this industrial building is the most energy-efficient in Quebec and the second most energy-efficient in Canada.

Lighting

One of the challenges of the project was to provide lighting tailored to the firm’s needs. The products manufactured by Stageline Group have opaque roofs, which when deployed inside the building block light coming through the ceiling. A disposition of lighting fixtures was studied to maximize the distribution of light, and an important part of the plant’s lighting comes from wall fixtures.

Materials

Materials used for this building were selected to minimize impact on the environment:

  • The structure is steel, with a high proportion of recycled steel;
  • The Murox prefabricated-building system entails reducing waste generated on the worksite to a minimum;
  • Ecological floor coverings and furnishings.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Operation of the building does not require the use of combustibles. The building’s systems therefore do not emit greenhouse gases (GHG). The design and construction of an industrial building that does not emit GHG are very rare, and this is one of the first industrial structures in North America to reach that objective.

As the electricity consumed by the project does emit GHG, operation of the building indirectly emits several tons of such gases. Despite those emissions, the building is one of the first to meet the targets of the 2030 Challenge, which calls for an 80% reduction in GHG emissions stemming from building operation by the year 2020. The Stageline Group building is therefore 12 years ahead of the most stringent design criteria to date.

Cost-effectiveness

The energy efficiency measures adopted for this project are also efficient in terms of cost. Part of the supplementary expenses incurred by the technologies selected are paid by Hydro-Québec’s financial incentive program for efficient buildings. The other portion of the cost premium is self-financed by the savings that Stageline Group will realize on its electricity bills. Every one of the energy efficiency measures in place was taken because it met the client’s cost-effectiveness timeframe.

Ecological characteristics

Some of the technologies described above will be visible, but other elements, like the geothermics, will be concealed. The building allows for a demonstration of environmental technologies and features the following environmental features:

  • Integration of the energy efficiency of solar energy and geothermic energy;
  • Management of air quality;
  • Use of recycled, non-toxic materials;Collection and storage of rainwater;
  • Use of rainwater in washing processes.

In addition to the ecological choices made for the building, Stageline Group is incorporating the following elements for the ecological management of the site:

  • Reduction of visual impact through landscaping;
  • Ecological landscaping;
  • Ecological garden and vegetable garden;
  • Composting;
  • Interpretation of natural environments.
 
 

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