When Servus decided to move its head office to a building in the Edmonton Research Park, we knew that we’d be taking on a big renovation. Even though the building was only a few years old, it wasn’t designed for comfort or for Edmonton’s climate.

We chose to work with Manasc Isaac for their extensive green building experience and unique integrated design approach. Together we created a state-of-the-art, energy efficient building that is a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable place to work. The building received LEED^® Silver certification in 2013, which was no small feat given the building we had started with.

The Servus Corporate Centre features:

• A durable building skin, with two layers of additional insulation over the old brick and concrete exterior, that saves money in energy and maintenance costs
• High performance windows that protect against heat loss in the winter and can be opened for ventilation, reducing the need for artificial cooling
• Increased interior daylight (achieved by cutting a large opening into the roof and the second and third floors of the existing building to create a large skylight), which reduces electricity use by 15 to 25%; interior windows instead of walls make the best use of this natural light
• Reuse of previous building materials to reduce waste
• Energy Star appliances
• Wood that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council, which ensures that the wood came from sustainably managed forests and has been in the custody of environmentally responsible producers from forest to finished product
• Low-emitting materials that will not release toxic gases
• Recycled material, where possible, for everyday items such as coat hooks and shelves
• A Building Automation System that controls air flow rate and temperature based on occupancy times to reduce energy costs
• Mechanical systems that were modified to best match the number of occupants, reducing excess system capacity and waste
• Motion detection sensors to activate lighting
• Bike stalls and easy access to public transportation
• Showers for staff who participate in an active lifestyle
• Energy Star vending machines with healthy snack options
• A fitness facility and exercise classes