Posts Tagged ‘Penticton’

May

7

Centre of Excellence up to the challenge

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation at Okanagan College was selected for the Transformational Design feature in the Spring 2012 issue of Trim Tab magazine, published by the International Living Future Institute. The Centre of Excellence is targeting the Living Building Challenge, which requires the building design to consider its environmental impact in six areas: site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality and beauty. The overall goal is to create a building with no negative impact on the environment and surrounding ecosystem, and to achieve this goal during design, construction, and ongoing operations throughout the building’s lifecycle. Read the article to find out about the challenges and achievements that were faced while designing and building a Living Building Project.

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Dec

16

Centre of Excellence gets a new name and a grand opening

On December 12, the Okanagan College Centre of Excellence celebrated its grand opening in Penticton, and also revealed its new name: The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation. The announcement was made by B.C. Premier Christy Clark at the grand opening celebration.

The new name reflects the generosity of B.C. businessman and community supporter Jim Pattison, who donated $2.5 million to the Okanagan College Foundation and its community fundraising campaign.

The post-secondary facility opened earlier this year, supporting programs and classes in sustainable building tools and techniques for the next generation of building professionals. It was designed to the standards of the Living Building Challenge, the most rigorous sustainability program on the planet, with stringent requirements for energy efficiency, water consumption, air quality, material selection, and more.

The building itself is part of the curriculum, with accessible design features that provide students with a practical, hands on education in made-in-B.C. sustainable design.

“It’s a great day for everybody involved; students, administrators, trades people, and the whole community,” said CEI Architecture’s Tim McLennan. “It’s been such a collaborative effort between so many people that makes this building what it is. I think that it’s going to have an extremely positive, long-term influence on green building everywhere.”

Check out the video above for footage of the opening celebrations, and if you’re in Penticton, check out the building, one of the most innovative sustainable facilities in the world.

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Nov

7

TEDx Okanagan College videos now available online

If you missed out on the TEDx conference held at Okanagan College in June, you’re in luck: the videos are now available online on YouTube. Check out this video of CEI’s Robert Parlane and his presentation ‘Agent of Change’, about the many sustainable features of Okanagan College.

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