Lazaridis Hall, home of Wilfrid Laurier University's Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and Department of Mathematics, has received LEED Gold certification for its sustainable construction and design.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program rates buildings around the world and its certifications are the most globally recognized symbols of sustainable achievement.
"We are proud to have achieved LEED Gold certification for Lazaridis Hall," said Assistant Vice-President of Facilities and Asset Management, Ulrike Gross. "It's a demonstration of Laurier's ongoing commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. Through the construction of new green buildings like Lazaridis Hall and the retrofit of older buildings, we are working every day to make Laurier greener."
Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architect, the 218,000-square-foot building is outfitted with innovative green technologies and, as a result, regularly offsets a significant portion of its carbon footprint. In early 2017, the building won the prestigious Civic Trust Awards, Europe's longest-standing awards focusing on the built environment. Lazaridis Hall was the only Canadian building and one of only two in North America to receive the award that year.
Sustainability was top of mind for Lazaridis Hall from its beginnings. The building uses rooftop solar panels to generate electricity; a green roof with grasses and shrubs to absorb excess stormwater and provide insulation; a greywater system that collects and filters rainwater for use in toilets and landscaping; and an efficient heating and cooling system. Vents under auditorium and classroom seats keep guests and students comfortable without unnecessarily heating or cooling the air above. In other parts of the building, a chilled-beam system adjusts the temperature by recirculating and redistributing cooled air. The building was constructed with Forestry Stewardship Certified products, when possible, and the tile flooring is made from limestone from a local quarry. The building also boasts an electric vehicle charging station, designated car-sharing spots and an indoor bicycle storage room with showers.
Lazaridis Hall had its grand opening in May 2017 but has been in use since September 2016.
Read more about the university's Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and Department of Mathematics and the building, Lazaridis Hall.
