Back
New search

Exhibition Place (City of Toronto) LEED Silver Conference Centre

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector Energy
Project value$47,845,187
Project Type Capital Project
Sub Sector Building – New – with Renewable energy
Grant amount$300,000
Program type GMF
Municipality City of Toronto, ON
Loan amount$2,000,000
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 2,794,356
Project timeline 2008 - 2010
Project number 10081

Description

The City of Toronto’s Board of Governors of Exhibition Place built an energy-efficient conference centre. The Exhibition Place Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Conference Centre, on the same site as the Automotive Building (a designated heritage property) reused just the external walls and heritage pre-cast panels. All other elements were demolished, allowing the conference centre to be reconstructed within the existing building envelope. Once built, it was the only LEED Silver building of its type in Canada. Along with providing more floor space, the project increased insulation, installed new roofing and windows, upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, added modern building automation and lighting control systems, and harvested rain water. All upgrades were intended to improve the building’s energy footprint. In meeting its goal of LEED Silver certification, the project included the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof to support light emitting diode lights in meeting rooms. The energy study for the building forecasted an energy use reduction of approximately 24,070 gigajoules (GJ) per year (71.5 per cent lower than the same facility built to standards set by the Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings). This included a reduction of 1,866 GJ in cooling load. All information about the building (such as brochures for businesses and consumers) told the story of the conference centre and the green initiatives included in its construction.

Project results

Environmental outcomes

  • Reduced energy use
  • Renewable energy generation
  • Reduced or avoided GHG emissions
  • Reduced water consumption
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Promotion of eco-friendly transportation
  • Use of sustainable practices
  • Decreased heat island effect

Social outcomes

  • Protection/improvement of public human health
  • Increased opportunities for community engagement
  • Improved public education or awareness
  • Improved public space
  • Development of local programs

Economic outcomes

  • Reduced maintenance costs
  • Innovative financing
  • Increased tourism
  • Local business development or local economy stimulus
  • Capacity building or human capital development
  • Simplified staff operations

Lessons learned

  • Project planning and parameters
  • Initiative support
  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Council support/buy-in
  • Communication & coordination
  • Data and reporting
  • Resources

Applicant

Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, ON