WSP Calgary Office Fit-Out

As Alberta’s first project to certify under the LEED v4 rating system, receiving ID+C Silver certification in April 2018, WSP’s Calgary office fit-out showcases the company’s commitment to supporting the growth of a healthier and more sustainable society.

The project follows a period of exciting growth for WSP, leading the company to consolidate its Calgary offices into a single space spanning five floors and 100,000 sq.ft. at Fifth Avenue Place in the downtown core.

The new space and WSP’s pursuit of LEED certification exemplify many features aimed at promoting sustainability, wellness and energy efficiency, including ensuring the use of healthier materials, and emphasizing the importance of educating employees about the features of a greener work environment, while generating operational savings.

Energy and carbon reductions achieved through high-efficiency equipment and offsets

At the core of LEED v4 is the more rigorous energy, materials and holistic requirements, designed to achieve maximum efficiency and operational savings. With this LEED v4 Silver certification, WSP has achieved, or is predicted to achieve, strong results for energy and water efficiency, and waste diversion, including:

• 100 per cent of anticipated energy use offset by renewable energy certificates, or RECs (for electricity) and carbon offsets (for natural gas) for five years.
• 96 per cent of equipment and appliances are ENERGY STAR certified.
• 87 per cent of construction waste diverted from landfill.
• 48 per cent lighting power density reduction versus ASHRAE 90.1-2010, with 82 per cent and 34 per cent of lighting controlled by vacancy and daylight sensors, respectively.
• 31 per cent calculated water savings versus LEED baseline.

In addition, through a detailed research and material selection vetting process in collaboration with the interior designer and the construction team, the design team was able to achieve several of the more rigorous LEED v4 Materials & Resources credits: Environmental Product Declarations (Option 1); Sourcing of Raw Materials (Option 2); Material Ingredients (Option 1); and Low-Emitting Materials (compliance in five categories).

Creating a healthier, more productive workplace

When looking at consolidating its office space, WSP notes that LEED v4 certification was a logical choice for the project as it provides the most up-to-date framework for accomplishing its commitment towards creating a positive impact on the environment and people.

Given this, employee health and wellness are a key priority for WSP, something that was highlighted in this project through features such as:

• An open-plan layout that provides ample access to natural daylight.
• Employee privacy features such as quiet spaces throughout the office and improved acoustics with sound-masking materials in open areas.
• A Sustainable and Healthy Purchasing Policy that draws on both LEED O+M and WELL requirements for procuring food, office supplies and cleaning products.
• Low-emitting paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, composite wood and furniture to minimize exposure to potential toxicants.
• Access to indoor bicycle parking and showers.
• Motorized sit-stand desks for all employees.
• An interconnecting stairwell with appealing finishes to encourage use.

Biophilic design was also a major contribution to improving health, wellness and productivity. The office incorporates a variety of natural elements, stimuli and patterns throughout the space, including:

• Full-height wall graphics and images that showcase Alberta’s natural landscapes.
• A variety of vegetation, including a living wall and potted plants.
• Accent colours in rich, warm and natural tones reflective of regional geography and changing seasons.
• Finishes incorporating natural materials, such as stone and wood, and patterns that evoke natural elements such as fractal geometry.
• Peaceful spaces for refuge such as phone rooms, collaboration huts, wellness rooms and a quiet room.

These strategies helped the project achieve a LEED v4 Innovation point using the “Designing with Nature” pilot credit.