Winnipeg, MB - Representatives from all levels of government gathered at the Sturgeon Heights Community Centre in Winnipeg today to celebrate the City’s first-ever civic building to receive LEED Gold Designation. LEED is the most recognized green building rating system in North America.
“Our Government is proud to have supported this successful project and would like to congratulate the Sturgeon Heights Community Centre for this great achievement,” said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Charleswood�'St. James�'Assiniboia. “Investments in infrastructure projects like this one create jobs, support economic growth, and contribute to Canada’s long-term prosperity.”
“The Sturgeon Heights Community Centre is an excellent example of how devoted staff and an innovative team can create public space that not only considers the community, but also the environment as a whole,” said Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux. “The result is an energy efficient building with enhanced indoor air quality, natural light and sophisticated technologies.”
“This community centre has not only become the jewel of our neighbourhood, but a sustainable jewel that the entire city can be proud of,” said Councillor Scott Fielding (St. James-Brooklands), Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services. “It’s a real honour for this facility to not only receive this recognition, but to be the first civic building in Winnipeg to achieve this status.”
“We are proud to be part of a team that has pursued sustainable excellence and recognized the value of the LEED process since day one,” said Jamie Kozak, Associate Architect with Prairie Architects.
A little over a year ago, the City celebrated the completion of an important project -- the amalgamation of the Silver Heights and Sturgeon Creek Community Centre into a new 18,000-square-foot, energy-efficient facility. The integrated facility makes extensive use of natural light. Where needed, energy efficient lighting and occupancy sensors throughout the building are helping to reduce energy costs. Drought tolerant plants, low-flow faucets, and other features mean this facility will use roughly 50 percent less water compared to a conventional building. As well, 84 percent of construction waste and materials from deconstructing the existing building were recycled or salvaged.
The Government of Canada committed $1.5 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund toward the eligible costs of this project while the Government of Manitoba contributed $1.63 million, and the City of Winnipeg contributed $2.5 million toward this $5.63-million project.