UBC opens green building research centre

The University of British Columbia (UBC) has opened the $37m Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS), which will serve as a laboratory for green building design and performance.

The four-storey building includes the BC Hydro Theatre, a 450-seat Modern Green Development Auditorium and building simulation software labs, a building management system and a cafe.

CIRS will serve as a centre for research, partnership and action on sustainability issues, including green building design and operations, environmental policy and community engagement.

Researchers will study interactions of the occupants with the building to improve building performance, maximise happiness, health and productivity of its inhabitants and improve green building practices.

The 60,000ft2 facility regenerative features includes energy efficiency, beetle-killed wood structure and rain water harvesting.

The building sources its own power as well as provide power to neighboring building with renewable and waste energy, produces drinking water from rain and treats wastewater in the facility itself.