CK Choi Building
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Summary
UBC's first green building, the CK Choi, features approaches to reducing energy, water and resource use that were unprecedented at the time. Built before LEED green building standards were in place, this 3000m2 building set new green building benchmarks. It maintains its presence as a high-performance, innovative building and continues to draw a great deal of interest from green building professionals and the public.
The C.K. Choi Building, designed by Matsuzaki Wright Architects, is located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and was completed in 1995. The Choi Building implemented sustainable design practices throughout its development, including the reuse of on-site building materials, natural ventilation and lighting, and rainwater storage for irrigation purposes.
Water resources were further conserved with Clivus composting toilets composting toilets and a greywater system. Twelve Clivus toilet fixtures, which are located on all three of the Choi Building’s occupied levels and connect with five composting units in the basement, save nearly 100,000 gallons of water per year. Greywater in the Choi Building is used to irrigate the surrounding landscaping.
Highlights
composting toilets that save more than 1,000 litres of water per day a plant-based greywater recycling system that processes compost tea from the toilets and waste water from kitchen and bathroom sinks * 50 percent reused or recycled materials * 100 percent natural ventilation * overall energy use 23 percent below a comparable building * energy efficiency features save 6.4 million kWh, 1000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and about $180,000 annually in current utility rates
Awards
1995 Progressive Architecture Award for Green Architecture
1996 Earth Award from the Building Operators and Managers’ Association of BC
2000 Top Ten Green Buildings by the American Institute of Architects
More information
"Process Makes Product: The CK Choi Building for the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia" (PDF Report)
