Burke Science Building goes silver to get green
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/bsb.jpg” caption=”After five years of work on the building, BSB has been renovated to the silver level of the Canada Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The renovations were extensive and apply to both the building’s structure as well as the services provided within it. Photo by Kevin Elliott.”]
var addthis_config = {
data_track_clickback: true
}
McMaster's Burke Science Building (BSB) has been given a facelift that makes the building more efficient and sustainable.
After five years of work on the building, BSB has been renovated to the silver level of the Canada Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The renovations were extensive and apply to both the building's structure as well as the services provided within it.
“They include everything from mechanical and electrical restorations to new energy and water efficiency methods to chemical management upgrades,” said Tony Cupido, assistant vice-president of Facility Services. “It was a very long and comprehensive renovation process, especially because making buildings more environmentally friendly is a little more challenging with existing buildings. BSB is a whole different building now. It got a total makeover.”
The initial planning stages of the process started in 2004, and in an effort to not disrupt academic and administrative services, the renovations were necessarily slow and laborious.
“When we started this process almost six years ago now, we knew it was going to be a long haul, but we were up for the challenge. Ultimately, we are very pleased with the LEED certification.”
The University implemented a Sustainable Building policy in April 2005 that requires new buildings and renovations to be constructed to minimum LEED silver standards. The new Burlington campus will be built to silver standards, while the Engineering Technology Building is seeking gold certification.
“We're sensitive to the environment and we're glad that we can demonstrate that. We're very proud to be frontrunners in environmental sustainability,” said Cupido.
He also said that this commitment has more than just an impact on the environment, as students can learn from the work and apply the same knowledge in-class and in their own day-to-day lives.
“We always feel it's important to demonstrate a leadership that students can emulate, and I think we have achieved this goal.”
Stay connected
