August 16, 2006 Source: :
http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/release.php?display=release&id=749 UVic's Medical Sciences Building Wins Gold The University of Victoria’s Medical Sciences Building has achieved the coveted gold crown for its top-ranking standards of environmental design and sustainability. The Canada Green Building Council announced it is officially recognizing the building with gold level status in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating program. The building is home to the Island Medical Program which is educating new doctors on Vancouver Island. "LEED certified buildings are healthier buildings for the environment and for occupants, so this achievement by the UVic project team will also significantly benefit students and staff," says Thomas Mueller, president of the Canada Green Building Council. The $12-million, 43,000-square foot facility was opened by Premier Gordon Campbell in December 2004 as part of a unique collaboration between UVic, the University of British Columbia faculty of medicine MD undergraduate program and the University of Northern British Columbia to train more doctors throughout British Columbia. Students are connected via innovative videoconferencing technology. The Medical Sciences Building houses two state-of-the-art lecture theatres, anatomy research and multi-purpose laboratories, eight problem-based learning rooms, clinical skills teaching room, computer lab and administrative offices for supporting students during their four-year program. The UVic showpiece of innovation and sustainability demonstrates integrated design and low impact development. Among the features are energy efficient systems, locally-sourced recycled and salvaged building materials, wastewater recycling and natural landscaping. "The Medical Sciences Building combines sustainability with technology. The result is a durable, high performance, low impact building," says Jerry Robson, executive director of UVic facilities management. "The building has been performing exceptionally since it opened. The waste water recycling program, for example, has saved the Capital Regional District more than two million litres of potable water in its first year of operation." The Medical Sciences Building was the first LEED building that both university staff and a number of local contractors and consultants worked on. The lessons learned have been transferred to a number of other building projects on campus and in the region. UVic's recently completed engineering/computer science building is aiming to become UVic’s second gold level status LEED building on campus. The new social sciences and mathematics building, currently under construction, will also be registered in the LEED program. All new building projects on campus, regardless of LEED status, feature a number of sustainability initiatives including high energy and water efficiency, locally sourced materials, natural landscaping, storm water management systems and enhanced indoor air quality. High resolution photo available for download here: http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/release.php?display=photos&id=749
Backgrounder available here: (PDF) http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/backgrounders/060816-MED.pdf --30-- Media Contacts:
Jerry Robson, UVic Facilities Management at (250) 721-7592 or garobson@fmgt.uvic.ca
Beth Haysom (Island Medical Program Communications) at (250) 472-5539 or bhaysom@uvic.ca
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