June 15, 2010

McKay-Cocker Construction goes for LEED Gold in London, Ontario

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

McKay-Cocker Construction Ltd. is putting its experience in green building to good use on a LEED Gold community recreation centre, YMCA and public library project in London, Ont.

Scheduled for completion in October, the $22 million project includes an 8,700-square-foot branch library and 7,000 square feet of space multi-purpose space.

The $22-million project includes an 8,700-square-foot branch library and 7,000 square feet of community and multi-purpose space

Facilities include a six-lane, half-size Olympic swimming pool, leisure pool with a moveable bottom, second-floor indoor running track, double gymnasium and a 25,000-square-foot fitness centre/free weights area.

Designed by Shore Tilbe Perkins + Will in association with Cornerstone Architecture, the project is a joint initiative of the city of London, the YMCA of Western Ontario and the London Public Library.

It is being constructed on an 8.8-acre site on the north side of Sunningdale Road, just east of Adelaide Street.

McKay-Cocker is acting as construction manager on the 76,000-square-foot, two-storey building.

Project manager Paul Henke said the most challenging aspects are complexities related to the cast-in-place operation in the basement and pool walls and also with respect to the numerous building finishes and structural components “in which all tie into one another to complete the building envelope.”

Materials include steel, concrete, precast concrete, brick, natural stone, stucco, aluminum framing, composite aluminum panels and siding.

The building has been designed to optimize energy efficiency and water efficiency as well as indoor environmental quality. Water conservation measures have been incorporated.

The city said the building will be 62 per cent more energy efficient than the model national energy code.

Henke said the project incorporates highly reflective roofing materials, a green roof, heat and energy recovery systems, a high-performance external envelope, 75-per-cent construction waste diversion, Forestry Stewardship Council certified products and a rainwater collection and recycling system.

Once completed, the facility will adopt a green housekeeping policy and offer a green education program to visitors, said Henke, a LEED-accredited professional who has been at McKay-Cocker for 10 years.

Subtrades include Blue-Con Inc., McKay-Cocker, Lafarge Construction Materials, Harris Rebar, Bravo Cement Contracting Ltd., G&A Masonry, Lambton Metal Services, Dielco Industrial Contractors Ltd.,

Flynn Roofing, Thames Glass Ltd., J.A. MacDonald Ltd., Tosca Tile, Paramount Painting, Vipond Fire Protection and Pro Electric.

Previously, McKay-Cocker was construction manager on the LEED Gold Sisters of St. Joseph’s residence in London.

The 142,000-square-foot building features a geothermal heating system, landscaped roof terraces, high albedo roofing materials and water capture and recycling measures.

The company received a Green Brick Award from the city for that project, which was completed in December, 2007.

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