As the latest move in an ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, Douglas College has started replacing the envelope of the Coquitlam Campus’s A/B Building. Work began in early October.
The new envelope will improve the campus’s energy efficiency by offering better insulation, solar shading and air tightness, as well as larger windows to allow in more natural light. This will reduce energy usage for indoor lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation, leading to potential savings of about 325,000 kilowatt hours per year.
“As a leading post-secondary institution, Douglas College is active in our responsibility to provide environmental leadership,” says Kayoko Takeuchi, Vice-President of Administrative Services and CFO. “We are committed to pursuing initiatives that demonstrably reduce the College’s environmental impact like this envelope renovation at our Coquitlam Campus.”
Replacement of the A/B building’s exterior will include installing new walls, windows and canopies as well as a rain screen cladding system. Aluminum composite panels will be used for the finish, a long-lasting material that will make future envelope replacements less likely.
In renovating the building envelope, the College furthers the Province’s CleanBC goals, a climate action plan meant to transition B.C. to clean, renewable energy over the next 10 years.
“Public post-secondary institutions throughout this province offer world-class education, and the investments they make in their campus infrastructure enhances the learning experience beyond measure,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “This work at Douglas College will make the spaces more comfortable to learn in, better for the environment and more efficient to operate. That’s good news for students, staff and faculty now and in the future.”
The majority of the envelope project is being funded through annual capital funding provided by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, along with a contribution from the College.
Construction will begin with the building’s third floor, followed by the lower floors of the A and B buildings respectively, while the final phase will involve the College’s Daycare, Atrium and interior courtyards.
Douglas College is the largest degree-granting college in B.C., combining the academic foundations of a university and the employer-ready skills of a college to graduate resilient global citizens who adapt, innovate and lead in a changing world.
For more information, visit douglascollege.ca.
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siddiquiz1@douglascollege.ca