Following on with our series of case studies for Knightsbridge Development Corporation, this time we take a look at an older project which stands as an excellent example of our work for clients that are looking for sustainable practises and LEED certification in the commercial sector. Called 11th Avenue Place, the development is a multi-tenant office space which is located in the busy city of Calgary, Alberta. This particular project highlights our commitment to commercial buildings that are both sustainable and built to cut costs through money saved in energy consumptions. Here we speak about some of the unique features of 11th Avenue Place while discussing some of the challenges and solutions for this project.
About 11th Avenue Place
11th Avenue Place is a Class-A multi-tenant office building located in the main transport corridors of Beltline – a densely populated neighbourhood in Calgary. It is situated only a couple of blocks south of the Central Business District and within a block radius of notable developments including The District, Vintage Towers, TransAlta’s Corporate Head Office, and CIBC Data Centre to name a few. The office building is made up of ten floors with an additional penthouse and underground parking space with 175 stalls. The building features a number of great amenities including high speed elevators, efficient floor plates, and a modern, attractive interior design. However, it’s the buildings commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency is what really sets it apart from similar multi-tenant buildings.
The Work – Challenges & Solutions
We were approached by the owners of 11th Avenue Place in 2011 and were asked to assist in the design management of this urban in-fill site along with construction, development management and sale for this project to an institutional owner. Ultimately, we worked with their consultants to re-work and improve the design and specifications, but also run the tender for construction. The goal was to build a Class A multi-tenant office building with sustainability and energy consumption efficiency in mind so that it could be registered as a LEED certified building. The building itself would also promote sustainability with amenities like bike sheds, showers, charging stations for electric cars, and sustainable building materials. Work started in 2012 and was completed by 2015.
To achieve the LEED certification, we based the design on initial energy modelling and keeping energy consumption low. This included incorporating a number of green initiatives to the building including high efficiency lighting as well as high efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The latter also includes access to free tenant cooling loop. Also included was low-flow water fixtures and an enhanced waste diversion program. Lighting is controlled via a low voltage relay panel at the base of the building and occupancy sensors in common areas including bathrooms, hallways, etc. Overall, lighting maintains an energy consumption of 1.0 watts per square feet.
Thanks to these innovations, 11th Avenue Place was able to achieve a LEED GOLD Core + Shell Certification. It also achieved a BOMA BEST Gold Certification for its commitment to sustainable practices. Overall, the design of 11th Avenue Place features a number of green and sustainable initiatives including 30% less energy consumption and a much healthier work environment than non-LEED buildings. This helped combat carbon emissions while keeping tenants healthy and building running costs down.
Amenities At 11th Avenue Place
Other green initiatives include dedicated carpool stalls to encourage carpooling, improved indoor air quality, open concept layouts, and recycled and low carbon emitting materials throughout the building. There are also some great building amenities for tenants including bike sheds, showers and lockers, a fitness facility located on the main floor, and electrical car charging stations for four vehicles, all of which promote sustainable practices and healthier lifestyles.
As mentioned, 11th Place Avenue is very well situated being close to the heart of the central business district and is therefore close to a number of excellent locations including Calgary +15 Skywalk, 12th Avenue Cycle Track, Central Memorial Park, and much more. The building itself has also been given a Walk Score of 90, bike score of 93, and transit score of 83, making it a prime location for tenants too.
Finally, 11th Avenue Place offers high speed elevators, an outdoor terrace affording spectacular views of Calgary’s skyline, and an onsite conference centre which is available to all tenants.
Conclusion
11th Place Avenue highlights our commitment to sustainable practise and design, a construction concept that has become increasingly more popular over the past several years. It also showcases one of our many works with LEED certified projects which is now set to be an industry standard for many large developments across the world. Though this project was completed several years ago, we incorporated a number of green practises including sustainable and recycled building materials, energy efficiency planning, and open space modelling which were revolutionary for its time and helped our clients attract tenants from all over Alberta.
Be sure to check out our case study of The Spa Ritual which is also based in Calgary. If you would like to get your project off the ground, then be sure to check out some of our services and previous projects on our website. Get in-touch with one of our teams for a consultation: https://knightsbridgecorp.ca/contacts/