1.5 ConEd Learning Hours
1.5 AIA LU

High-performance, ultra-low-energy buildings are key to meeting our greenhouse gas emission targets and building climate change resiliency. This seminar will explore the creative and integrated approach needed to achieve net-zero carbon design, using the City of Toronto’s Davisville Aquatic Centre facility as a case study.

To achieve the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard, and the Toronto Green Standard Tier 4, this facility is relying on a high-performance, airtight enclosure to optimize this 40,000-sf envelope-driven building. Critical elements of the thermal envelope will be explored, including strategies to minimize thermal bridging and air leakage. To support the City of Toronto’s stringent goals for reducing carbon emissions, the building will also use a geothermal system to provide most of the heating and hot water.

The design process for high-performance buildings is fundamentally different and will take some adjustment on the part of design teams. Required changes will be explored through this case study, and will help equip Canadian practices with the tools to incorporate such strategies in their work, and be better prepared for the low-carbon future.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand sustainable, low-carbon, and resiliency goals and objectives, as well as timelines related to emissions-reduction targets.
2. Identify specific characteristics of net-zero emissions design and its implications for building energy performance.
3. Identify critical elements of the thermal envelope responsible for building energy consumption, and strategies for minimizing thermal bridging and air leakage.
4. Understand selection of an appropriate renewable energy strategy based on site characteristics and resources.

Speakers:

Susan Lewin, OAA, FRAIC, LEED BD+C, CPHD, MUD (principal, CS&P Architects)

Susan Spencer Lewin is a principal and director of sustainable strategies at CS&P Architects. A Certified Passive House Designer and LEED BD+C Professional, she is a leading green design advocate, and has been actively involved in the Toronto Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) as a past chair. Susan has many years of experience as a professional architect, with a focus on sustainable and universal design for community projects, including many LEED and net-zero projects. She has considerable expertise in complex civic, recreational, educational, and public sector projects. Her experience includes planning and feasibility studies, master planning and urban design projects, adaptive reuse, retrofits, and new construction.

Dejan Skoric, Ms. Sc., PMP, LEED AP O+M (senior manager, City of Toronto’s Environment and Energy Division)

Dejan Skoric is a senior manager with the City of Toronto, and holds both PMP and LEED AP EBOM accreditations. His work at the City has been focused on renewable and sustainable project development, energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and the importance of low-carbon projects for the future of the City. Dejan has been instrumental in driving sustainability and resiliency goals, and in delivering low-energy and high-performance buildings. He has been a key driver for the City's ground-breaking net-zero emissions buildings, deep energy retrofits, geoexchange retrofits, solar photovoltaics, and energy storage projects. He is a member of the team that earned the City of Toronto the Canadian Solar Developer of the year award in 2017.

Germain Vaisman, B.Arch, MBsc, CHPD (principal, Green Tectonics Inc.)

German Vaisman is the principal of Green Tectonics, a low-energy building design consultancy. He was trained as an architect with a master’s degree in building science from Ryerson University, is a Certified Passive House Designer, and is a Passive House speaker and advocate. Specializing in sustainability, building enclosures, and high-performance buildings, his consulting work focuses on building envelopes, thermal bridging analysis, and best practice construction detailing and modelling to support ultra-low-energy projects. He has been involved in numerous net-zero energy and Passive House projects, including both residential and institutional public sector projects.