Climate Action Case Studies

Based on estimates from various sources, approximately one-third of Canada’s greenhouse emissions come from the built environments where people live, work, and play. Within urban areas, that number is much higher.

As buildings are key contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of a better, more efficient built environment, both through new construction and renovation work, must form a significant part of the solution on the path to achieving emissions reduction targets. The case studies included on this page are a collection of work submitted by OAA members, demonstrating how the architecture profession can build better and advance climate action.

The OAA case studies are intended for broad educational or informational purposes , showcasing models in climate performance. These case studies are illustrative of the possibilities for projects, but any reliance on material posted in the case study is at your own risk.

Do you have any projects that are exemplary models in climate performance or showcase how the architecture profession can build better? If so, please submit a case study for consideration using the button below. If you have any questions or comments, email oaamail@oaa.on.ca.

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East elevation of the NCRC from the Martindale Pond with rowers on Henley Rowing Course.

2022/Feb/25

Neil Campbell Rowing Centre

Instituitional

|

2022

Project Location: St. Catharines, Ontario

Project Architect(s): MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects, Ltd. (MJMA) in association with Raimondo + Associates Architects Inc.

Project Completion Date: 2022/Feb/25

Building Gross Floor Area: 528 m2 (5,680 square feet)

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) (ekWh/m²/year) : 83 kWh/m² before PV array generation

Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) (tCO²e): N/A

Annual Potable Water Consumption (L/person/year): N/A

climate|climate action case study|neil campbell rowing centre|design excellence

The Neil Campbell Rowing Centre (NCRC) was constructed for the 2022 Canada Summer Games and will continue Henley Island’s tradition as a competition venue (including having hosted the 2024 World Rowing Championships), while also serving as a year-round training centre for athletes. The 528 m2 building houses an entry space, rowing ergometers, a weight-lifting gym, lounge, and universal change/washrooms. The NCRC is sited to configure a previously ill-defined staging area that is further bounded by existing storage sheds, the natural topography of a hill, and Martindale Pond.

Building Orientation & Layout

The facility is a beacon guiding racers along the watercourse and an assembly point at the heart of the island. Its design inverts the opacity of the typical boat shed and introduces aspects of the “glass house,” reimagining these typologies as a new functional and social amenity. for competition happen within this new Quad, heightening the spectacle of the race. Its form is engendered by its biased overhanging roof, designed with an innovative mass timber system. Wrapped in triple-glazing and adding a stepped edge to replace an overgrown riprap berm that acted as a barrier, the building connects athletes and spectators to one another and to the water.

Aerial drone photography of Henley Island during a rowing event, centred around the Neil CampbellRowing Centre

Energy

The facility showcases innovative design that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility. Its mass timber composite roof, featuring cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam beams, minimizes embodied carbon to 343 kg-CO2e/m². The building achieves Zero-Carbon Emissions and Net-Zero Energy Design, utilizing passive strategies like robust materials, large sliding doors, and roof overhangs for cross-ventilation. High-performance features include Passive House-certified curtainwalls with triple glazing, low-flow fixtures, and fully electric systems, generating 0 kWh/m²/year through a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array. Aesthetic mass timber elements enhance community gathering spaces while reducing carbon emissions, and the facility's design facilitates sustainable education, encouraging users to engage with energy performance actively.

Lighting power density: 5.27 W/m²
90.1-2013 LPD allowance: 8.28 W/m²
% reduction from ASHRAE: 36.4%

EUI = 0 kWh/m2/yr, based on the PV offset. (83 kWh/m² before PV array generation)
Total Energy Use: N/A

Erg room with open sliding doors and views facing east toward the Martindale Pond and Rowing Course.

Materials & Construction

The Rowing Centre is also designed with robust material choices, meeting the client’s desire to minimize operating and maintenance costs, and an innovative Mass Timber stressed-skin structure that uses Canadian-made glue-laminated and cross-laminated timber products, thus contributing to global carbon sequestration.

View of the mass timber canopy structure from inside to outside.

Life/Adaptability

The building showcases significant adaptability through its innovative design and use of materials. The mass timber structure not only minimizes embodied carbon, but also supports future deconstruction and reuse, further promoting sustainability. Its open layout and large sliding doors facilitate versatile use, making it an ideal space for community gatherings and events. Additionally, the integration of Integrated Energy Performance software allows users to engage with the building’s energy usage, encouraging sustainable habits. This thoughtful design ensures that the NCRC can evolve with the community's needs while maintaining its commitment to environmental responsibility.

North elevation with views into the weight room.

Community

The facility was designed to foster both spatial and social connectivity while prioritizing inclusivity. Accessible from all sides, the building provides level, unimpeded access throughout its interior space. Notably, this facility marks a significant milestone for Henley Island, offering fully accessible washrooms for the first time, all of which are gender-neutral. Full-height sliding glass doors create expansive 4-meter-wide openings that connect directly to the sheltered exterior plaza surrounding the building, allowing individuals with mobility devices to enjoy community gatherings by the waterside. The new stepped edge and sliding glass doors enhance contact with the water, bringing racers and supporters closer together and strengthening the relationship between the building and Martindale Pond.

Project Team

Architecture and Design Team:

MJMA:

Robert Allen
Ted Watson
Tarisha Dolyniuk
Andrew Filarski
Tim Belanger
Tyler Walker
Dan Kronby
Matt Lamers
Brad Augustine
Monica Leung
Timothy Lai

Raimondo + Associates Architects:

Emilio Raimondo
Brennan Klys

Structural:
Blackwell

Mechanical/Electrical:
Smith + Andersen

Civil:
Upper Canada Consultants

Contractor:
Aquicon Construction

Interiors:
MJMA Architecture & Design

Sustainability:
Footprint

Photography:
Scott Norsworthy
Michael Muraz

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