A Vancouver research institute, designed to be one of the most sustainable buildings in North America, will receive the 2015 Green Building Award.

The award, given by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Green Building Council, recognizes outstanding achievement in buildings that are environmentally responsible and promote the health and well-being of users.

The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) was completed in 2011. The architect is Peter Busby, FRAIC, of Perkins + Will, a global architecture firm with offices in Canada.

The LEED Platinum certified building houses 200 people from private, public, and non-government organization sectors who work together to advance innovation and implementation of in sustainable technology and building practices.

It is one of the few buildings worldwide that is considered regenerative. It achieves net-positive energy, net-zero water, and net-zero carbon in construction and operations.

The award will be presented at the RAIC Festival of Architecture which takes place in Calgary June 3 to 6, in collaboration with the Alberta Association of Architects.

“This award reaffirms the distinct position that advanced, sustainable design holds in the pantheon of design excellence in Canada,” said Busby, originally from Vancouver and now based in San Francisco. “I and my team are deeply appreciative.”