April 4, 2002 - News Releases

2002 News Releases

International Spotlight On New Red River Campus

WINNIPEG - April 4, 2002 - Manitoba to represent Canada At Green Building Challenge in Oslo

Premier Gary Doer and Mayor Glen Murray today announced that Manitoba's new Red River College downtown Winnipeg campus will represent Canadian achievements in using green building construction concepts at the Third International Green Building Challenge--Sustainable Buildings 2002.

"This is the first time that a Manitoba project has been selected to represent Canada at this prestigious international forum," said Doer. "The Red River Princess Street Campus represents a sustainable alternative that combines state of the art technologies with a greater awareness of the need to address environmental concerns. It is a tremendous honour for Manitoba and our consultants, Corbett Cibinel Architects, to be one of Canada's three representatives."

"The city is extremely pleased to be a partner in creating such an innovative, sustainable downtown campus," said Murray. "This is about more than bricks and mortar. We are collectively creating new energy in our core area and, through this green approach to infrastructure, we are reflecting values of a new generation of Winnipeggers. It is gratifying that the international community recognizes our efforts."

The multimillion dollar campus was selected by a team of national experts to be one of three Canadian case studies at the international conference to be held in Oslo, Norway in September. Selections are made through a rigorous screening and evaluation process from both public and private sector entrants submitted nationwide.

Green building concepts focus on how to incorporate environmentally responsible procedures, systems, products and equipment into construction, renovation and deconstruction projects.

"The conference will raise the consciousness of green building design in all participating countries," said Doug Corbett, leader of the Princess Street Consortium's design team of local and national consultants. "More significantly, it will bring international attention to Manitoba for the leading edge design features being incorporated in the Princess Street Campus buildings."

The national Green Building Challenge committee selected the campus for a variety of design features including:

use of energy efficient technologies;
integration of sustainability in the design process;
rehabilitation of an urban site;
adaptive reuse of heritage buildings;
use of recycled and reclaimed materials; and
diversion of materials for reuse and recycling at other sites

Materials salvaged from the old buildings for use in the new campus include millwork, windows, doors, ceramic tile, glass, brick, stone, cast iron columns, timber trusses and lumber.

The International Green Building Challenge process was created to promote exchange between the building environmental research community and the building industry. The conferences, held every two years in a different host country, also showcase the performance results of environmentally progressive buildings. The 2000 exhibit was held in Maastricht, The Netherlands, and featured participants from 19 countries including Canada. This year, 24 countries will participate.

"Manitoba is very proud to have this opportunity to showcase our accomplishments in adopting sustainable building concepts while meeting specific community needs," said Doer.

This is the second sustainable building award in two years for Corbett Cibinel Architects. Their recently completed Northwood Lodge long-term care facility was awarded the Canada Energy Efficiency Award 2000 for the most energy efficient new building in Canada. They led the design team of local and national consultants with their partners in the Princess Street Consortium, ADA Holding Company and A. Akman and Son.

Last update: 01.02.2004

* Top of Page