center""

The Boyne River Ecology Centre:

A Student Case Study done in conjunction with

The Vital Signs Curriculum Materials Project

 

Prepared By: Pauline Dolovich, Melana Janzen, Alex Jenkins, Andrew Mannion, Kevin Stelzer and Lucy Timbers


This case study has been done in conjunction with a course at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario. The course, Energy Conservation in Architectural Design: Passive and Sustainable Design, is offered as an elective for senior Architecture Students in the Faculty of Environmental Studies. The course focuses on:

  • Building Science
  • Climate and the Environment
  • Climate Analysis
  • Solar Geometry
  • Daylighting and Shading
  • Sustainablity and Construction Technology


    • The Boyne River Ecology Center

    Introduction

    The Ecology Center is a 517 square meter educational facility at the Boyne River Natural Science school near Shelburne, Ontario. Completed in 1993, the School serves as an outdoor education center for students from the Toronto Board of Education. Approximately 6000 students and teachers travel to the school annually for weekly programs to learn about the environment in a natural setting. The site is a northern climate with heavy snowfall in winter with temperatures ranging from -30 degrees Celsius in winter to 30 degrees Celsius in summer. Students attend the school in both the summer and the winter months.

    In deciding to build a new facility to house their ecology program the school made the decision to construct a building that would teach by example. The building was given a strong mission statement: to embody the principles of sustainability, conservation and renewal in its construction and its operation.
    There were 6 key areas of intent on which the design team focused.

    1.) Off Power Grid Potential
    2.) Low Impact on the Surrounding Environment
    3.) Environmentally Benign Building Materials
    4.) Conservation of Resources
    5.) Renewable Heating Sources
    6.) Reclamation of Waste Water

    		 boyne plan

    Off Power Grid Potential

    The building harnesses power from sun, wind and water to reduce dependency on electricity from Ontario Hydro. The combination of these three sources of power generation is intended to respond to the natural rhythms of this particular site. The majority of the wind power is generated in the winter months taking over from the photovoltaic array that functions best in the summer. A small waterfall provides a constant energy source. The building was designed within a strict energy budget, generating just as much energy as it would require. This would force students to monitor their energy use carefully.

    		 boyne section

    Low Impact on the Surrounding Environment

    The Centre is burmed on the north half into the side of a hill. The majority of the excavated earth was re-used as insulation for the large sod roof. Native plants from the surrounding area quickly colonized the bare soil on the roof. The plants reflect approximately 20%-30% of the solar radiation hitting the building and absorb the rest at leaf level. This greatly reduces the heat load in the summer

    		 entrance

    Environmentally Benign Building Materials

    The materials chosen for the project were judged both for their renewability, durability and total energy usage in their manufacture. Natural, exposed, unfinished materials such as peeled pine logs for the main frame columns, cedar walls, Douglas Fir roof trusses, natural linoleum for the floors and clay brick for interior partitions were given priority and because of their non-toxicity maintain a healthy interior.

    Conservation of Resources

    The building's circular plan originated in order to make the most efficient use out of the building's materials. The circle allows the least surface area for heat loss/gain with the minimum amount of material. The envelope is thermally tight and highly efficient employing Low E, argon filled, triple glazing on the south side and an earth embankment to the north. A cupola with operable windows allows for ventilation and some light penetration. Concrete and clay brick provide thermal mass. The pine ceiling maximizes the reflection of light within the space to aid in the daylighting.

    Renewable Heating Sources

    The building was designed to utilize passive solar heating for most of its heating requirements. The large south facing windows provide much sun exposure. To supplement this heat source, the original building design employed a central fireplace.

    		 hearth

    Reclamation of Waste Water

    The building is designed to treat all of its waste water using a Bio-engineered wetland. The solar aquatic waste water treatment room provides a lushly graphic explanation for sewage treatment. Classroom sinks and water fountains are placed in direct connection with the room to make a visual link of water use to water treatment. The system primarily uses local plants and animals to consume nutrients in the waste water. This system allows the Ecology Centre to process and clean all the water that it uses.

    		 open treatment tanks
    This study will examine the extent to which the goals and design intents of this project have been successful. In the analysis of the building there has been an opportunity to evaluate it on the basis of physical performance data, design data and thorough interviews with the building's superintendent. We look to this analysis as an opportunity to directly examine a built work and understand its role, both within its own context, and in the context of a precedent that increases our knowledge base for sustainable architecture in northern climates.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Go to: