McKay-Cocker Policy
At McKay-Cocker, we are committed to sustainable construction, building healthier more economical and productive buildings, while reducing the carbon footprint of construction on our environment. With the encouragement of senior management, employees are undertaking continual education and training to better understand the impact on the environment and enhance service to our clients. With each project, McKay-Cocker is actively reviewing and suggesting that owners pursue a policy of sustainability. This is further reinforced by McKay-Cocker’s Sponsorship of the 2008 Green Building Festival that was held at the Toronto Congress Centre in September.
McKay-Cocker’s design-build division is in a unique position to be able to offer the integrated design process required for the successful early incorporation of LEED® into the design process.
LEED®
McKay-Cocker’s primary focus is The Canadian Green Building Council, CaGBC www.cagbc.org, which offers a building certification program and rating system, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). McKay-Cocker is proud to be corporate members of the Canadian Green Building Council. The LEED® rating system offers a variety of applications and types:
- LEED® - NC: New Construction and Major Renovations
- LEED® - CS: Core and Shell
- LEED® - CI: Commercial Interiors
- LEED® - EB: Existing Buildings
The above noted section, LEED® - NC, analyzes and considers various aspects of the design process including: Site Selection, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environment Quality.
The Business Case
Buildings in Canada account for:
- 1/3 of the energy production in Canada
- 50% of the extracted natural resources
- 25% of our landfill waste
- 10% of our airborne particulates
- 35% of our greenhouse gases
Green buildings typically require a larger capital investment, however, these costs are greatly overshadowed by economic gains associated with the building life-cycle and operating costs, superior occupant comfort and health, corporate health insurance rates, productivity gains, reduced churn rates, property value gains, improved image, and, the social responsibility to preserve our natural resources and maintain the long term sustainability of our environment.
Incentives from gas and hydro authorities can be pursued to assist in design and construction costs based upon savings that will result in consumer consumption from energy conservation, such as the High Performance New Construction Program. McKay-Cocker Design-Build, on behalf of one of our clients, was the first application to be approved under this incentive program.
By investing in sustainable design, there is a subsequent reduced demand on our ever decreasing natural resources, general infrastructure costs for hydro production and water treatment facilities and landfills. Cost-saving can then be put into developing greener research and development, resulting in improved technologies for our future and reducing the amount of Green House Gases being emitted into our atmosphere.
In our collective efforts to find the most economical construction of a building, we often ignore some of the hidden costs of operating a business. The built environment in which we work can have a great affect on the ‘human factor’. Small things like introducing natural light, where previously there was none, can create a feeling of being disconnected with the outside world during a worker’s shift time. A user-friendly internal environment will play a significant role in employee productivity.
Experience
McKay-Cocker’s first LEED® project as Construction Manager was the Sisters of St. Joseph’s new residence in London, Ontario. The 142,000 sf, 100 bed, 4-storey, residential facility for retired clergy, was completed in December 2007 and incorporates many green building features: the use of a geothermal heating system, landscaped roof terraces, high-albedo roofing materials and water capture and recycling for a 50% reduction in potable water usage. Full details are available from the CaGBC website. McKay-Cocker received “The Green Brick Award” for this project in recognition of its sensitivity to the environment and LEED® Gold Level certification was also achieved.
In early 2009 McKay-Cocker commenced the Bluewater Bridge Phase 1, Canadian Plaza which includes a broad range of functions associated with entry to and exit from Canada to the U.S.A. The CBA Complex is a 4-storey, approximately 116,250 sf building, that includes the following operations: BWBC Administration, Commercial Operations of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Customs Brokers. The CBA Complex Building will be constructed in accordance with the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver requirements. The CBA Complex will be situated on a structural concrete slab and pile foundation pounded into bedrock. The 4 storeys above grade will be constructed with structural steel and steel deck with a concrete overlay. The ground floor will be primarily constructed with an exterior masonry wall and the 3 stories above will be constructed with a curtain-wall glazing system. The project scope also includes: Parking and Servicing Areas, Commercial Vehicle Secondary Inspection Area, VACIS Garage, Commercial Vehicle Primary Inspection Booths, Canopy and PIL Building.
In the Spring of 2009 McKay-Cocker commenced construction on the new 75,000 s.f. North London Community Recreation Centre for the YMCA and Library in London. The project is also targeting LEED® Gold status.The new recreation centre and library consists of a 6,000 s.f. public library, 6 lane Olympic size pool, leisure pool with moveable bottom, gymnasium, indoor running track, many multi-purpose rooms and a 25,000 s.f. fitness centre. This building will incorporate many green building features, including a green roof, innovative energy consumption and rainwater cistern. This project has an October 2010 expected completion date.
The City of London awarded McKay-Cocker the 113,000 litre Southeast Pumping Station and Reservoir. This LEED project is situated on a 26 acre site and consists of a large, two-cell concrete water reservoir, along with a sunken pumping station. Waste management, green roof, solar reflective paving, indoor air quality management, recycled content and low flow fixtures are just a few of the innovative conservation and resource reduction measures being implemented on this LEED project. Public access with a prominent water feature and walking / bicycle paths are unique characteristics of the Southeast Pumping Station and Reservoir site which encourage the use of this eco-friendly environment for the community to enjoy.
Many more projects are in the early stages of planning as we bring awareness to the LEED® program and sustainable design to clients.
McKay-Cocker currently has nine LEED® Accredited Professionals consisting of pre-construction, project management and site supervisory staff and several more employees are undertaking training (a company initiative and priority), as well as those who are conversant in NRCAN EE4 energy modeling, to provide an all-round energy efficient design for your building.
