PCL family of companies - Buildings

BUILDING GREEN means using design ideas and construction methods and materials which produce a structure that minimizes harmful effects to both people and the environment.

The PCL family of companies is a member of the United States Green Building Council who developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system, and the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) with their own evaluation standard (LEED Canada) adapted and modified from the USGBC standard.These systems provide a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings, more commonly referred to as “green” buildings. For example, in the case of the demolition and construction of new facilities, we can recycle construction waste materials by using them on our projects (e.g., use excavated material for backfill and road-building use), or we can ensure all waste is transported to recycling facilities in the region. In terms of design, green buildings incorporate systems that take advantage of natural energy (e.g., solar chimneys, remote air intake systems) and incorporate construction materials with low toxic emissions or a high recycled content.

Alfred A. Arraj Federal Courthouse

Designed under the LEED rating system, this project is expected to receive a "gold" rating. We were required to carry out waste management and VOC monitoring according to specifications, but took it upon ourselves to attend the LEED Institute training to better understand green building requirements.

This project's green design includes:

heavy recycled-content materials
alternative power using Photovoltaic panels on the roof
designed near bus stations, train stations and bike paths to encourage alternative transportation
mechanical efficiency was designed in its elaborate temperature control system and reuse of water.

KeyArena

On the KeyArena project in Seattle, PCL incorporated a recycling program as an integral part of the project, with the following results:

the main structural roof framing trusses were kept and incorporated in the new structure.
the old concrete seating bowl structure was crushed and used as granular fill under slab on grade.
the old curtainwall frames were also used in the new arena.
all of the wood, steel and concrete from the demolition was either reused in the project or sold to recyclers.
The original acoustic panels were refurbished and reused.
Over 200,000 cubic yards of excavated fill was relocated to the Interbay site, where it was graded and used for a golf course.

Seattle TRACON Facility

One of the owner's goals for this project is to obtain a LEED Gold Rating certified by the US Green Building Council. Unique features to obtain this rating include

extensive use of natural daylighting throughout the building
self-dimming and motion-sensor-activated indirect lighting at each workspace
extremely-efficient DDC controlled HVAC systems fed to each workstation through individually adjustable registers and under-floor ductwork
special indoor air quality systems
unique roofing materials to eliminate heat islands
extensive use of materials with recycled content including carpet, tile, steel, concrete, gypsum board, metal studs, roofing insulation, acoustic ceilings and paint.

A documented construction debris recycling program is also required. This project is a design-assist project as the design documents were 65% complete and we were hired to assist in completing them with our knowledge of LEED.

Justice Headquarters Consolidation

Working with the construction manager and the contractors, the project team identified suitable recyclers in the area. Together they were able to divert 89 percent of construction material from the landfill, surpassing the provincial target for the year 2000 of 50 percent diversion and the owner's original target of 30 percent.

Even when material had to be taken to the landfill, innovation played a key role. About $81,000 in landfill charges was saved by recycling terracotta tiles as clean fill.