Infrastructure, Facilities, and Construction

Index: Biotron • Lassonde Pavilion (LEED) • Bioindustrial Innovation Centre • LEED Accredited Professional • Sherwood Fox Arboretum • Herbicides / Pesticides • Road Salt Reductions • Campus-wide Clean-up • Master Plan

Biotron - Experimental Climate Change Research Facility (top)

See Research / Biotron

Claudette McKay-Lassonde Pavilion (LEED) (top)

Description - The Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion, also known as the “Green Building", will feature dozens of demonstration and functional sustainability design features in support of the environment related engineering programs it houses. One of the most significant accomplishments of the $20+ million building will be the anticipated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the Canadian Green Building Council.

Sustainability Features
Roof Top: The Pavilion will have a roof like no other on campus. Grasses, local native plants, and maybe even trees will be planted on roof surface. The green space will control rain run-off and reduce the heat island affect, by naturally absorbing the sun's rays as opposed to reflecting them back into the atmosphere.

A panel of photovoltaic solar cells and a demonstration wind turbine are expected to be the most visible features from the ground. They will generate and contribute a small amount of energy to the building.

Electrical: By design, the building will be energy efficient. Natural light and open areas are plentiful in order to reduce energy consumed for lighting. It has been proposed in some areas that a light meter will automatically dim lighting fixtures that are being superceded by the sunlight that is filtering in.

Plumbing:  Low water use faucets are being specified, along with dual flush toilet and low flow urinals. Most notable for the plumbing infrastructure is the provision of a cistern. This water-recovery system will gather rain runoff and contribute to a portion of the water for use in the toilets and urinals.

Ventilation: A heat recovery system will be in place on the fume hood exhaust system on top of the building. The reusable heat source will be coupled to the traditional heating system and contribute to space heating.

Areas that are vacant for long periods of time will have the amount of air flow reduced, thereby decreasing the demand on the heating or cooling supply and the energy used to circulate it.

Construction: Even the construction process of the new building is governed by strict guidelines. Before a single grain of dirt is turned on the site, the process of sustainable construction is underway.

As well, the architect who designs the building must adhere to sustainable practices. The materials purchased for the job must have a certain ratio of recycled content and/or ordered through a forest stewardship program (rapid renewal).

Contractors will be accountable for a clean and efficient construction site, putting less strain on the environment around that immediate area.

Bioindustrial Innovation Centre (top)

See Research / Bioindustrial Innovation Centre

LEED Accredited Professional (top)

Facilities Management Mechanical Engineer, George Qubty, recently received his certification as a LEED Accredited Professional. At the time he completed his exam  he was one of only fifteen Londoners with these qualifications. As a mechanical engineer with many years of experience in designing mechanical systems for buildings he has already worked extensively designing energy efficient buildings. With the additional knowledge he has gained from these studies, it will serve the university well in its continuous efforts to build and renovate facilities to the highest energy efficient and sustainable standards.

More than 3,000 people have become LEED® Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) in Canada since 2001. LEED APs work in every sector of the building industry, and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes. How LEED® Professional Accreditation benefits UWO; It allows Western to become eligible for projects mandating the participation of a LEED Accredited Professional, strengthens qualifications when responding to RFPs requiring LEED Accredited Professionals, encourages employees to continue increasing their knowledge and understanding of green building and LEED, and earns a project one point towards LEED Certification.

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum (top)

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum, which encompasses all the planted trees and shrubs on the UWO campus (excluding the natural areas) represents the biodiversity of woody plants hardy in temperate regions. As the Sherwood Fox Arboretum presents a larger range of trees than can be found in parks or nurseries, it has an important role in public education and scientific research. Many of the trees on campus are labeled for easy identification.

Dr. W. Sherwood Fox had been hired to teach in the Classics Department in 1917. In 1919, he was appointed Dean of Arts and Science; he was inaugurated as President in 1928 with a celebration that jointly celebrated Western's Golden Jubilee.

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum was established in 1981 by Dr. George Connell, then President of Western, who appointed Dr. J.B. Phipps as the Arboretum's first Director. The memorialization of Sherwood Fox is a logical one; he was an inveterate botanist, adding numerous specimens to the Herbarium which he collected during personal and professional trips to many places. In his Reminiscences, he noted that the abundance of tulip trees in Southwestern Ontario helped lure him to Western's Classics Department in 1917.

The fundamental objective of the Sherwood Fox Arboretum is to have growing on campus as many as possible of the several thousand kinds of trees and shrubs that can survive in this climate.

Herbicides / Pesticides (top)

On Campus - Harmful fungicide and pesticides are not used on campus and haven't been for more than a decade. In 2009, grounds will be phasing out herbicides for weed control on hard surface (between sidewalk slabs). There is a plan to rely on natural remedies in a conversion to all environmental products.

The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment have requested that infestations that may harm the public or environment are controllable with chemicals. The process for chemical use is lengthy and requires approval from the government prior to application.

Off Campus - Hospitality Services has negotiated the purchase of Fair Trade Certified and Organic coffee that is being supplied to all Residence Dining and Star bucks locations on campus.

To be certified “Fair trade,” producers need to meet standards in four core areas: social development, economic development, labour standards and environmental development. Environmental development – maintaining good environmental protection and developing sustainable agriculture – is thus a vital part of Fair trade.

At the time of certification, producers must be complying with “national and international legislation regarding the use of pesticides, handling pesticides, the protection of natural waters, virgin forests and other ecosystems of high ecological value, erosion and water management.” They are banned from using several classes of pesticides that are considered particularly dangerous.

Buying Local - In support of our local economy, Hospitality Services purchases from businesses in London and surrounding area. Up to 40% of Hospitality Services' suppliers are local and provide the campus with seasonal fruits and vegetables. A roof-top garden is being cultivated above Somerville House and will provide a limited supply of fresh produce.

Salt Reduction Plan (top)

In 2004, Environment Canada released a Salt Reduction Plan requiring all large businesses and organizations to cut back on their use of rock salt. The plan affected de-icing practices on campus by providing basic guidelines for applying just the right amount.

The salt used on campus is treated with a magnesium chloride additive. The greatest benefit is that it continues to work in extremely cold temperatures. Once the thermometer dips below minus six degrees, most road salts lose their strength and some areas may need to be salted several times to compensate. Magnesium chloride-treated salt is effective up to minus 20 degrees, making a single pass often enough.

You may have seen the curious green- and blue-coloured material in and around campus. This is a less harmful formulation containing potassium acetate and corrosion inhibitors. The colour is a product feature to let you know where you have treated, eliminating the tendency to over-apply.

Campus-wide Clean-up (top)

The campus clean-up day generally occurs at the same time as Earth Day and London's annual Clean and Green effort. Each year, staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to spruce up the area around them to clear away the clutter that appears as the snow retreats. The Western community takes great pride in the beauty of the natural features on campus. Campus-wide Clean-up gives everyone an opportunity to make a difference by enhancing that beauty.

Trash pokers, gloves, and garbage bags are provided by Facilities Management and are given out to organized groups who wish to participate.

Master Plan (excerpts relating to Sustainability) (top)

General (p. 1)
This Plan is as much about conservation as expansion – the thoughtful and responsible use of all Western’s space to preserve the beauty and integrity of one of Canada’s truly distinctive university campuses. With that purpose in mind, the Campus Master Plan formulates a series of master planning principles that reflect the value we place on the landscape, the architectural quality of our buildings, and the ways in which we seek to ensure an environment that facilitates and enhances academic work.  

Sustainability in Design of Facilities (p. 9)
In planning the campus of the future the University will incorporate sustainability of the environment in the planning and design process. This includes promoting energy conservation in the operation of facilities, provision of facilities to support alternate transportation arrangements, and the protection of natural and wetland areas throughout the campus. Building designs, such as the planned Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion adjoining the Spencer Engineering Building, should recognize the use of buildings as learning tools as well as learning environments and should provide examples of sustainable designs for our students.

Transportation (p. 9)
In considering transportation near the centre of the campus, the dominant factors relate to safe and efficient networks to support pedestrian, bicycle and bus traffic and to provide for visitor parking, in so far as possible. Vehicle traffic and University parking will be focused at the perimeter of campus.

Green Space and the Campus Environment (p. 35)
The grounds, including pathways, courtyards, the Sherwood Fox Arboretum, natural areas, and wetlands all play an important role in creating a sense of place at the University. Future planning should include preservation of the grounds and development of a Landscape Plan, including the allocation of lands for the Arboretum, and enhancement of courtyards and other spaces while trying to use species native to Southwestern Ontario whenever considering new planting/landscaping. The retention of these spaces is essential for members of the community to enjoy and interact within the pleasant outdoor surroundings. The presence of trees is considered to be an important environmental aspect of the campus which also enhances its natural beauty. In the development of plans for new facilities, the preservation of trees needs to be a critical part of the planning. When it is necessary to remove trees, they will be replaced in numbers equal to or greater than the trees being removed. In addition, the University will commit enhancing the landscape with plantings throughout the campus.