Eco Factor: Sustainable building for University of Windsor’s Centre for Engineering Innovation.
The engineering students at the University of Windsor will soon be studying in a new building, which along with many sustainable features will be the largest Gold LEED-Certified building in the region. To be designed by Toronto’s B+H Architects, the 300,000-square-foot green building will focus on research and development. The first phase of the building will include an industrial courtyard and laboratories and the other will include classrooms and offices.
Designed to keep the students close to nature, the building will feature various green features which will make the design earn the prestigious certification. The new CEI building will have a green roof, water recycling and rainwater harvesting systems, low-energy heating systems and will be made from recycled materials wherever possible. Other than the environment aspects, the construction will also generate an estimated 1,600 jobs over a three-year period. Construction is expected to get underway in November with the first phase scheduled to be completed by March 2011 and the second phase by summer 2012.
