b'PROJECT PROFILESKEENA RESIDENCESETS NEW COURSE BY WARREN HEELEYF I R S T U B C O B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T E D T O P A S S I V E H O U S E S TA N D A R Dn July 2020, the University ofBecause of the COVID-19 pandemic,The residence has met all the criteria I British Columbia Okanaganthe residence is currently at 50 per centfor certification, including the stringent campus (UBCO) completedcapacity as part of UBCOs health andair tightness levels, Jamie Harte, Public construction of a student residence thatsafety requirements. Architecture + Communications, is setting a new direction for buildingssays. There is only one part of the on their campuses. The Skeena ResidencePassive House is considered the worldscertification process remaining, which is meets the international Passive Houseleading standard in energy efficientthe installation of a heat pump that has standard that requires buildings to be net- construction. The requirements focus onnot been received to date because of the zero ready and operate with little to no usemeeting precise design and constructionpandemic. Passive House certification of fossil fuels. requirements for all aspects of theis being provided by Peel Passive House building to provide quality, comfort andConsulting Limited.Passive House is part of a broader effortenergy efficiency. The standard includes by UBCO to include higher efficiencyresidential and commercial buildings, andCONSTRUCTION CHALLENGESbuilding standards and be a leader inpassive design is a process that integrates reducing greenhouse gases, states Robertwith architectural design. There were a number of construction Drew, Principle with Public Architecturechallenges for the project to meet Passive + Communications, the architecture firmPassive House Certified buildings mustHouse standards. Skeena required eight for the project. achieve excellent air tightness withinches of exterior insulation, plus an little or no GHG emissions. They mustinsulated two-by-six cavity for the walls To meet the Passive House standard,also ensure high-quality indoor air andand 21 inches of insulation for the the building must include an air-tightcomfort of occupants. Certified buildingsroofing. Every building opening had building envelope with a properlyconsume up to 90 per cent less energyto be carefully sealed to meet the air positioned air barrier, extremely highthan conventional buildings. tightness levels.insulation values for the walls and roofing, and high-efficiency windows and doors forAnother Passive House requirement isPositioning of the air barrier was the building openings. to ensure no energy is being wasted inalso critical. The barrier for Skeena is the design or build. No energy wastelocated on the exterior of the building The residence houses 220 students inrequires a design that removes solar gainso it is not compromised by electrical, a non-traditional room design of twowhen the outside air is hot and capturescommunications or air circulation outlets single bedrooms sharing a bathroom.solar gain when the outside air is coldlocated on the interior walls. A curtain This approach helps with the increasing for example, positioning windows towall system is being used to deal with demand for student housing and reducesreceive more sunlight in the winter andlarger glazed openings on the ground level student traffic to and from the campus.less sunlight in the summer. of the building.46 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'