June 23, 2008

Shifting Into the Mainstream Conference

Culture of Canada’s design, construction industries turns green, too

DAN O’REILLY

correspondent

Judging from comments at the recent Shifting Into the Mainstream conference in Toronto, the design and construction industries are practising what they preach about sustainable building and care for the environment in general.

“We’re pretty militant about this,” said Lui Mancinelli, senior vice-president and managing principal, HOK Canada Inc., in describing the environmental commitment of its partners and employees. Some of us drive hybrid cars and some walk or bike to work.”

“It’s both a top-down and bottom-up approach.”

A few years ago, HOK Canada received Gold Certification in the LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) from the U.S. Green Building Council for a sustainable renovation of its King Street West office, he said.

Mancinelli was commenting during an industry panel discussion that explored ways designers, engineers, contractors, and suppliers are meeting the needs and demands of building owners who are becoming more aware of the impact their real estate has on climate change and the environment.

But panel members acknowledged there is still a long way to educate owners on how to achieve and maintain sustainability.

Alterations to a building made by a client once they take possession can cost them LEED credits, said Mancinelli.

There is also some lingering trade resistance to the extra care and documentation required on LEED projects, said Jon Taylor, director of Govan Brown, a Toronto-based interior construction management firm. “But to be fair I think that resistance is waning,” he said.

About 50 per cent of the Request for Proposals it receives are seeking LEED for Commercial Interiors. That doesn’t mean the other 50 per cent aren’t concerned about sustainability, said Taylor.

“They may just not want to go through the (LEED) accreditation process.

To keep up with that demand, 15 members of the Govan Brown staff will be writing exams this summer to become LEED Accredited Professionals.

“I think that is significant for a small construction company.”

TRANE markets director Guy Bourbonniére was the third panelist. The HVAC manufacturer now has 170 LEED accredited professionals and is continually developing a mix of environmentally-friendly products and system, he said.

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