Dedicated to sustainable,
high performance building

Fire Hall No. 17

First of its type to achieve LEED Gold, Passive House, and ZCB – Design Certification, and a 99% drop in carbon emissions

By Darryl Condon

Completed in April 2022, the 1800 sq.m Fire Hall No. 17 is the first fire hall in Canada to earn CaGBC Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) – Design certification and Passive House certification. It is also now LEED Gold certified.

The low carbon, all-electric building is situated on Knight Street at 55th Avenue, and is the second-largest training facility for Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS). It aims to cater to modern firefighting needs and training for the next 80 years, and serves as a post-disaster citywide emergency hub in the event of an information technology network breakdown.

The design enables any firefighter in the building to get to a fire truck in 60 seconds. The new facility has four drive-through apparatus bays, a full-size hose/training tower, a training yard, and accommodation for two full crews. As a post-disaster facility, it is also fitted with IT, radio, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), and traffic control equipment.

Performance Goals

The building supports the City of Vancouver’s ambitious plan to achieve zero operational greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings by 2030. Metered data shows that the new building has reduced its energy use by an average of 83% compared to the previous Fire Hall 17, despite being twice the size. When comparing energy use intensity (per m2), there is a 91% reduction. The new fire hall has also achieved a 99% reduction in operational carbon emissions compared to its predecessor.

Sustainability Strategies

To achieve the stringent performance metrics required by each sustainability rating system, the project team employed the following strategies:

Efficient massing and form factor: Achieving quick turn-out time is the most critical design criterion in a fire hall. Turn-out time tracks the duration from notification of the call alarm, to disengagement from the task at hand, to physical movement towards the apparatus bays, to donning Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and ultimately leaving the fire hall to attend the call.

This criterion required careful consideration to balance operational efficiency with building performance and minimize negative impact to the form factor. Despite this challenge, the design optimizes the massing and reduces the amount of thermal bridging as much as possible.

Optimized building orientation and program overlay for passive-solar design: The living areas of the fire hall are located on the south façade of the building so those programs receive the heat from the sun and abundant daylight needed throughout the day. This strategy significantly reduced the heating and lighting loads of the building.

Darryl Condon is Managing Principal at hcma architecture + design.

The building is finished with Vicwest 22Ga AD-300-SR flush seam metal cladding.

Finished with CertainTeed Type X gypsum board, the kitchen, outdoor patio, and dayrooms have south and east exposure to take vantage of natural light. 

Zehnder Comfoair 160 heat recovery ventilator from Airia Brands provides balanced ventilation with a constant supply of fresh air. 

Project Credits

  • Owner/Developer  City of Vancouver
  • Architect  hcma architecture +design
  • General Contractor DGS Construction
  • Structural Engineer  RJC Engineers
  • Mechanical Engineer  Integral Group
  • Electrical Engineer  Integral Group
  • Civil Engineer  Binnie
  • Landscape Architect  Hapa Collaborative
  • Building envelope  RJC Engineers
  • Energy Modeller Morrison Hershfield
  • Building Code  Jenson Hughes
  • Acoustics  BAP Acoustics
  • Traffic  Bunt & Associates
  • Wayfinding + Signage  hcma architecture + design
  • Photos  Ema Peter Photography
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High-performance windows for high-performance building

An overview of current practice

The Sundance Housing Co-op in Edmonton underwent a Deep Energy Retrofit using an EnergieSprong-inspired model—Dutch for “energy leap”—focused on dramatically improving the efficiency of existing homes. Spearheaded by ReNu Engineering, the retrofit included prefabricated panels, airtight construction, and electrification to approach net-zero performance. The DUXTON Windows & Doors triple-glazed low-E, argon filled fiberglass windows, for a centre-of-glass R-8, were key to the building envelope upgrade, offering exceptional thermal performance in cold climates. Not only does a Deep Energy Retrofit give a huge facelift to your building, but it also boosts comfort, reduces long-term maintenance and energy costs, and shrinks your environmental footprint—making it a smart, future-ready investment. duxtonwindows.com

The 52-unit apartment development for Halton Region, by Cynthia Zahoruk Architect Inc. and built by Schilithius Construction, is situated in Kerr Street Village, Oakville. The four-storey building is designed to meet Passive House certification standards and tailored to accommodate seniors, promoting the concept of aging in place. All units are fully barrier-free. INLINE Fiberglass PHI Certified windows, designed and manufactured in Canada, contribute to the  success of the project through superior insulation, high-performance glazing, and exceptional airtightness. inlinefiberglass.com

The Wilson Residence, Port Carling, ON is designed to perform in cold climates with ENERsign’s ultra-efficient windows. Built for Passive House and high-performance buildings, ENERsign’s  triple-pane glazing, airtight construction, and superior insulation provide comfort, durability, and energy savings—especially in cold climate. With cutting-edge technology and sleek aesthetics, the windows strike a balance of sustainability, performance, and design. enersign.com

Timbre & Harmony in Vancouver, BC is a newly completed Passive House affordable housing development. The project features two, six-storey L-shaped buildings that achieved an average airtightness of 0.38 ACH50 resulting in a 56% reduction in thermal demands. Innotech Windows + Doors manufactured and installed 375 Passive House Institute certified windows and doors for the two buildings. Architect: Ryder Architecture, General Contractor: Etro Construction. innotech-windows.com

The only hybrid casement window in Canada with an impressive energy efficiency rating of U 0,79 W/(m2 K), the Passive House Series x by Isothermic Windows & Doors is designed to align with carbon-neutral, LEED, and Passive House projects, and to meet the challenges of the ever-changing environment we live in. PHIUS, PHI and AW certified, the Isothermic system is perfectly tailored to suit the North American style. Available now across Canada.    

Translucent daylighting systems by KALWALL are the most highly insulating in the world, improving indoor environmental quality, reducing a building’s carbon footprint, and bringing measurable energy savings to owners and tenants. The KALWALL® 175CW translucent insulated glazing units (TIGUs) allows mixing and matching with other infill glazings and claddings for various façade design possibilities. KALWALL 175CW TIGUs are nominally 1-3/4” and fully thermally broken. kalwall.com

La Cime: Elevating Passive Design with High-Performance Windows – Perched atop Mont-Sainte-Anne, La Cime is a striking example of sustainable architecture, where NZP Fenestration’s passive windows play a key role. Designed to maximize energy efficiency, NZP high-performance windows ensure superior insulation, harness solar gains, and enhance indoor comfort while offering breathtaking views. Blending elegance with cutting-edge technology, they help La Cime achieve Passive House standards, proving that sustainability and modern design go hand in hand. nzpfenestration.com

This Panorama, BC prefab project was built to Passive House standards with an impressive blower door score of 0.38ACH50! It uses VETTA Windows’ triple glazed, PEFC certified wood windows, slides and doors, custom crafted in Poland for unparalleled home comfort to last a lifetime. The windows, ELITE E92 Tilt & Turn with German steel multi-point locking, are PHIUS certified and PHI validated. Lower-level glazing is laminated with R2 rated security resistance. Project Partners: Justin Sherry Design Studio, Collective Carpentry, thinkBright Homes, and Gergely Cserhati, Owner/Builder. vettawindows.com

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Passive House Component Certification

Assurance for specifiers and building designers

By Melissa Furukawa, Peel Passive House Consulting Ltd.

Why Certify a Component to Passive House?

The demand for Passive House certified components is rapidly increasing as the global shift towards sustainable building practices accelerates amidst the climate crisis. In North America, government policies play a pivotal role, integrating advanced energy efficiency standards into building codes and offering incentives for both new constructions and retrofit projects. These incentives often depend on meeting specific energy performance savings targets, with higher performance increasing the likelihood of achieving those targets, thereby encouraging the wider adoption of Passive House components.

High-performance buildings require high performance components including windows, doors, opaque envelope systems, ventilation systems, and heat pumps, etc. However, building designers often face challenges in acquiring the necessary performance data for Passive House energy modeling. As the retrofit market expands as a crucial strategy for sustainability, the importance of certified components becomes even more pronounced.

By obtaining Passive House Component Certification, manufacturers can assure both specifiers and building designers that their products comply with rigorous standards for quality and performance. This certification provides essential performance values required for the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), facilitating easy assessment of component suitability for both new and retrofit projects. This streamlined process supports suppliers in efficiently meeting the needs of specifiers and designers, offering manufacturers a direct pathway into these building projects.

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The State of Passive House in 2025

By Passive House Canada CEO, Chris Ballard

As we find ourselves well into 2025, the landscape of sustainable building practices continues to undergo profound transformation. At the forefront of this evolution is the Passive House standard, which continues to redefine energy-efficient, healthy and affordable construction that significantly mitigates the impacts of climate change. The commitment to creating buildings that are environmentally responsible has been embraced by architects, engineers, and builders alike, positioning Passive House as a beacon in the quest for sustainability.

Passive House, with roots in Canada as far back as the late 1970s, emphasizes minimal energy consumption while maximizing occupant comfort. The principles of Passive House have transcended borders, with Canada taking a leading role in adapting and promoting this methodology. Passive House is more than houses — our members build tall towers, community centres, fire halls, social housing and additionally, retrofit thousands of square metres of buildings.

Following years of advocacy and education from Passive House Canada, the awareness surrounding energy-efficient building practices has surged, resulting in an impressive increase in the number of certified Passive House projects across the country.

By 2025, the commitment to Passive House principles is evident in the construction of a wide range of building types, including single-family homes, multifamily dwellings, and large commercial spaces. This diversification showcases the versatility of the Passive House model, proving that energy efficiency is attainable for any building type.

The increased adoption of stringent energy codes and regulations has been catalyzed by a growing awareness of climate change and the urgent need for action. In this context, Passive House Canada has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among policymakers, industry professionals, and academic institutions. Our efforts at Passive House Canada have led to the establishment of comprehensive training programs, ensuring that building designers, tradespeople and builders are equipped with the knowledge necessary to implement Passive House principles effectively.

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Local net-Zero Buildings: A bottom-line win for Canadian communities

Put sustainability and savings—and comfort—at the top of the list for the coming year

Resilient futures are based on resilient economies, and municipalities across Canada are realizing how closely sustainability initiatives are intertwined with cost savings, job creation and economic growth. Working toward a more sustainable future doesn’t just support Canada’s climate goals and create healthier communities. It can also improve budgetary bottom lines.

Municipalities large and small are joining forces with architects, designers, engineers, contractors and building developers to reduce energy consumption and move to cleaner energy sources. Take aging municipal and community buildings. Almost 70 percent of the buildings in Canada that are central to thriving communities, such as town halls, fire stations, recreation centres, arenas and libraries are more than 30 years old, with the correspondingly higher operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that come with age. Retrofitting these facilities can lead to a net positive return on investment — not to mention the comfort and health benefits stemming from improved air quality, fewer drafts, enhanced lighting and better all-around functionality.

Enter the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), a program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Through a unique combination of financing and training, GMF is accelerating the transformation to resilient, net-zero communities. With GMF’s sustainable community and municipal buildings funding, Canadian municipal governments and their partners* are experiencing the benefits of GMF support as they:

• Undertake retrofits to improve energy performance, lower operating and maintenance costs, transition to cleaner energy, extend building life and make buildings more livable through, for example, efficient lighting and windows, fuel switching from fossil fuels to lower-carbon fuels, insulation upgrades, electric boilers, automation systems and solar panels.

• Construct new builds that meet ambitious energy efficiency targets, use sustainable materials, and improve biodiversity and ecological function.

GMF encourages innovation and creativity across the sector, guided by a vision of how the most successful sustainability efforts integrate environmental, economic and social factors. Since its inception in 2000, GMF has taken a multi-solving approach to project selection and performance monitoring, seeking projects that combine multiple objectives in a single solution, so municipalities save money even as they meet their sustainability goals and improve citizens’ lives.

North Battleford feasibility study focuses on cutting energy consumption

The City of North Battleford in Saskatchewan put GMF funding to good use by conducting a feasibility study to explore ways to reduce its carbon footprint and curb energy consumption in five energy-hungry buildings: the wastewater treatment plant, the aquatic centre, a sports complex, the curling rink and the performing arts centre.

The study analyzed historical data for the five facilities, conducted energy audits and evaluated retrofit options. The goals were to cut energy consumption by reducing energy use and GHG emissions and exploring alternative energy sources, as well as decrease operating costs, improve workspaces and stimulate the economy with new jobs. Myriad energy-efficiency measures were considered, from operational changes to LED lighting, equipment improvements, building envelope retrofits and, in a first for the city, generating renewable energy through solar power and locally sourced biomass.

Today, other municipalities are learning from North Battleford’s experience as they develop their own innovative solutions to cut energy use and save money.

GMF offers more than just grants and loans. It also provides learning opportunities through the GMF Learning Centre, including practical guides, webinars, training, advisory services and even a project database that showcases the results and replicability of sustainability projects across Canada.

Extend the life and efficiency of your buildings today, with help from gmf. Visit bit.ly/gmf-buildings.

Sustainability And Carbon


The Masonry Industry Perspective 

By Monica Guzman

As the design and construction industry focuses more intently on reducing the embodied carbon of buildings, masonry manufacturers and manufacturer associations are actively working on developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to assess and improve the environmental impact of their products. Many of them have already introduced innovative and proprietary technologies aimed at reducing the embodied carbon of masonry construction.

More broadly, the masonry industry is focusing on reducing the carbon footprint through efficient design and specifications, enhancing the energy performance of masonry assemblies, and raising awareness about the energy saving potential of their inherent thermal mass. At the same time, ongoing research is exploring the carbon sequestration capabilities of concrete masonry throughout its service life.

Embodied Carbon Reduction: Concrete Masonry Units

Manufacturers of concrete masonry units (CMUs) are currently developing EPDs for their products, some of them already published their plant specific EPDs, and more are on the way. At a national level, both the concrete block and clay brick associations published industry average EPDs.

For example, the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association – CCMPA published average EPDs for eastern and western Canada. These Type III environmental declarations present quantified, third party verified, environmental information on the life cycle of a product – or in this case, a product type. This, and plant specific EPDs, will enable specifiers to make comparisons between various products fulfilling the same function.

CCMPA has also published a Canadian Industry-Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for both normal weight and lightweight CMUs. This LCA was completed to support the development of the Type III EPDs for concrete masonry units conforming to CSA A165.1-04 – Concrete Block Masonry Units, and as part of CCMPA’s commitment to providing transparent information about the environmental footprint of concrete block masonry units produced in Canada.

Monica Guzman, M.Sc., P.Eng. is a Masonry Design Engineer with the Canada Masonry Design Centre in Calgary AB.

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Ecole du Zenith


New school a harmonious fusion of education and nature

In partnership with Leclerc Architects, Montreal-based Pelletier de Fontenay has recently completed École du Zénith in Schefford, QC, a project resulting from a series of competitions launched by Lab-École in 2019. Being the first school architecture competition since the 1960s, this major project marks a turning point in Quebec’s educational landscape, renewing the program, organization, and way of building elementary schools in the province.

In partnership with Leclerc Architects, Montreal-based Pelletier de Fontenay has recently completed École du Zénith in Schefford, QC, a project resulting from a series of competitions launched by Lab-École in 2019. Being the first school architecture competition since the 1960s, this major project marks a turning point in Quebec’s educational landscape, renewing the program, organization, and way of building elementary schools in the province.

Project Credits

  • Client  Centre de Service Scolaire Val-des-Cerfs
  • Architects  Pelletier de Fontenay + Leclerc
  • Landscape Architect  Fauteux et associés in
  • collaboration with agence Relief Design
  • Structural Engineer  Lateral Conseil
  • Civil engineer  Gravitaire
  • Electrical and Mechanical Engineer  BPA
  • PhotoS  James Brittain

Edited by Jim Taggart from text  supplied by the project team.

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Canada’s strong upswing

Using Galvanized Steel as the optimal sustainable construction material

By Hellen Christodoulou

Canada has made a range of commitments to sustainability in the construction sector, focusing on reducing environmental impacts, promoting energy efficiency, and enhancing green building practices both domestically and globally. Domestically, these commitments include initiatives like the National Climate and Green Building Initiatives and Net-Zero Energy Ready Codes. Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada aims for all new buildings to be net-zero energy ready by 2030.

In line with this goal, the National Building Code now incorporates sustainability guidelines. Additionally, the Canada Green Building Strategy (CGBS) was launched to address the environmental footprint of the building sector. Programs like LEED Certification incentivize sustainable construction practices to further reduce the carbon footprint of buildings.

Globally, Canada has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030, as part of the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, the construction sector has embraced stricter regulations, retrofits, and sustainable building practices. Canada is also an active member of the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the Canadian Green Building Council (CAGBC). Together, these commitments promote low-carbon construction materials, finishes, and methods, helping owners, designers, and specifiers make more sustainable choices.

Recently, there has been a strong upswing to use galvanized steel as the optimal sustainable construction material. Galvanized steel stands out for its full life cycle benefits, which include durability, minimal maintenance, and recyclability. The galvanizing process coats steel with a protective zinc layer, preventing corrosion and significantly extending its service life. This longevity reduces the need for frequent replacements, cutting down on resource consumption, waste production, and energy usage associated with manufacturing and installation. The sustainability benefits increase over time, as fewer repairs result in a smaller environmental footprint.

At the end of its life cycle, galvanized steel remains highly recyclable. The steel industry has one of the highest recycling rates globally, and this closed-loop process reduces waste and conserves natural resources, supporting circular economy principles. Additionally, galvanizing requires less energy and fewer materials than alternative protection methods, resulting in lower emissions during production. Overall, galvanized steel aligns with eco-friendly practices throughout its life cycle, from production to end-of-life recyclability.

For asset owners, galvanized steel offers a high return on investment (ROI) by extending the life of steel structures and reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements. Its high recyclability also adds residual value at the end of an asset’s life cycle. Moreover, galvanized steel’s durability minimizes downtime associated with structural repairs, supporting operational continuity. These factors collectively reduce total lifecycle costs, making galvanized steel a sound choice for enhancing asset performance and longevity.

Almost any structure can benefit from galvanizing, including buildings, bridges, rebar, towers, electric power grids, and other steel structures. Painted galvanized structures, known as the Duplex System, mostly used for infrastructure exposed to the environment, can further extend the service life.

Hellen Christodoulou Ph.D., Eng., B.C.L., LL.B., M.B.A. is Executive VP, Engineering, Sustainability & Business Development at Corbec Inc.

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Amexon Development Corporation wins prestigious IPAX Americas Property Award

The Residences at Central Park project by Amexon Development Corporation has won the coveted IPAX Americas Property Award for “Best Sustainable Residential Development” in Canada.

The globally-recognized IPAX Americas Awards honour outstanding achievements across the real estate sector from nine global regions, awarding projects that exemplify innovation, superior quality, and environmental responsibility.

Amexon’s award-winning Residences at Central Park in Toronto —a 12-acre master-planned community of five towers— contains numerous green technology measures, some of which include:

In the building:

• Vegetated roofs reduce energy consumption and absorb rainwater

• Photovoltaic modules supplement the building’s power needs

• High-performance thermal building envelope minimizes unwanted solar gain and heat loss

• Over 1,500 electric car charging stations service every parking space, including visitor parking spaces, a first in North America

• Energy-efficient LED light fixtures and motion sensors in corridors and common areas

• Intelligent building automation system for heating and cooling controls in common areas

• Next-generation building mechanical systems feature improved air flow and HEPA filtration systems

• Central building water filtration system

• On-site car-share service and bicycle-share service

• Convenient access to transit

In each suite:

• Individually metered electrical and water usage provide control over consumption and water-wise fixtures for showers, sinks and dual-flush toilets

• Individually controlled and programmable comfort systems to control heating and cooling from smartphone

• Low-voc finishes and significant use of hard-surface flooring for easy maintenance

“The Award is a testament to our ongoing commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking design,” said Ashling Evans, General Manager of Real Estate at Amexon Development Corporation.

The Residences at Central Park also recently won the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s Project of the Year (People’s Choice Award) and named a finalist for the BILD Green Builder of the Year and the OHBA Green Building of the Year.

The project seamlessly integrates with the adjacent East Don Parkland to create a mixed-use community that represents the future of sustainable urban living in North America. centralparktoronto.com

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Existing Building Upgrade Award – Little by Little Studios, Winnipeg, MB

Jury Comment: “This adaptive reuse of a 1950s commercial building is notable for its creative and comprehensive approach. Beyond the improvements in performance, the innovative repurposing of materials, such as tiles into countertops and existing studs into wood screens, make for a very elegant transformation.“

The extensive retrofit of 107 Marion Street in Winnipeg showcases the adaptive reuse of a long-time vacant commercial building. The 300 sq.m building constructed in the 1950s was originally a fruit market with a residence above and is now home to an architectural office and photo studio space.

The ambition for this project was to be a showcase for sustainable construction, taking a “re-think everything” approach: developing creative ways to reuse, re-purposing and integrating salvaged materials from other sources into the project, reducing construction waste through the owners per¬forming the deconstruction work, delivering salvaged material to recycling depots, and donating any surplus for re-use and up-cycling.

Extensive material salvaging and recycling from all components of the existing building was considered from the outset. All usable fixtures, doors, and millwork were donated to Habitat for Humanity, and the demolition was approached as a deconstruction process to preserve materials.

For example, the existing wall partitions were dismantled, with the wood studs set aside for reuse in the new design, over 50 lbs. of nails were removed and recycled, and the plaster sent to a local recycling facility for use as fill in road construction.

The wood studs were reused as a slat system at the interior stair opening and on the exterior front facade of the building as a green wall trellis.  The second storey had hardwood flooring throughout and in locations where wall partitions were removed, was infilled with hardwood salvaged from another local project.

Project Credits

  • Architect  pico ARCHITECTURE inc.
  • Owner/Developer  Little Family Investments Inc
  • General Contractor  K Sleva Contracting Ltd
  • Electrical Engineer Epp Siepman Engineering Inc
  • Mechanical engineer  Epp Siepman Engineering Inc.
  • Structural Engineer  Crosier Kilgour
  • Other Contributor  Epp Siepman Engineering Inc.
  • Other Contributor  pico Architecture Inc
  • Photos  Douglas Little Photography

Project Performance

  • Energy Intensity (Building and Process energy) = 128 kWh/m2 per year
  • Reduction in energy intensity relative to reference building = 36.4%
  • Construction debris diverted from landfill = 30%

The retrofit brings new life to this modest, long time vacant commercial building. The metal cladding is Vicwest AD150 series panels in charcoal colour. Winnipeg-based Duxton Windows & Doors supplied provided fixed, tilt & turn, and slider sash fiberglass windows and series 458 doors.

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