CanmetMATERIALS, a metals testing facility in Hamilton, Ont., has been awarded the 2015 Innovation in LEED Award for New Construction by the Canada Green Building Council Greater Toronto Chapter.
The 165,000 square-foot space, operated by Natural Resources Canada, is part of McMaster Innovation Park. It is the largest research centre in Canada dedicated to the fabrication, processing and evaluation of metals and materials.
The LEED Platinum-certified facility, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, is filled with natural light, 100 per cent fresh air ventilation, planting gardens and several renewable and passive initiatives. Building design and mechanical and electrical systems are all completely integrated to reduce energy use.
“It is exceptional for an industrial research lab to adopt such a rigorous commitment to sustainable design and in this sense, Canmet is a leading-edge model of what is possible,” said Birgit Siber, Principal at Diamond Schmitt, in a press release. “This project allowed us to create something unique and inspire others.”
Earlier this year, Canmet was named one of the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE). It has also received a Brownfield Redevelopment Award for Best Large Scale Project from the Canadian Urban Institute.
