Environment 3

Working with Akitt, Swanson + Pearce Architects, WalterFedy served as structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers, as well as sustainable design consultants for the Environment 3 facility. The expansion, which included renovations to the adjacent Environment 2 building, was constructed by Cooper Construction in a design-build arrangement.

Environment 3 incorporates a variety of sustainable features, such as a living wall and green roof, a café (featuring products from local suppliers), and a video wall showing building energy flow. The original target specified during the design/build competition was LEED® Silver, with an option for Gold certification. End users subsequently asked for LEED Platinum if possible, as this would support and enhance the Faculty of Environment’s goals and purpose. In 2012, the building officially gained LEED® Platinum certification, making it the first LEED® Platinum structure at an Ontario university.

Beyond the lecture halls, seminar rooms, conference rooms, labs, and study areas that make up the learning spaces, the facility offers a large, open foyer for meetings and public events, a studio for the School of Planning, and a state-of-the-art simulation lab.