Stantec has been chosen to design the Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation at Vancouver Community College, which aims to equip students with a more sustainable future by incorporating technology and renewable resources.
Vancouver Community College (VCC) is expanding its campus in British Columbia with The Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation. The focus of this new facility is to reduce environmental impact, promote well-being, and provide students with essential training in sustainable industry education.
As a result, Stantec will be providing architecture, interior design, acoustics, information management, information technology, and mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering services. The design will also intend to achieve LEED and Rick Hansen Foundation Gold certifications. Two Row Architect will serve as the Indigenous design collaborator, while RJC Engineering will provide structural engineering, sustainability, and building performance consulting.
The eight-story building will house a state-of-the-art electric/hybrid automotive shop, enabling the maintenance and servicing of electric vehicles and clean energy training. Additionally, the facility will feature classrooms, labs, a library and learning center, an Indigenous gathering space, administrative offices, and various collaborative learning areas. The design took special care to include Indigenous consultation and involvement in the process, ensuring an inclusive space for all.
“With a focus on technology and renewable resources, the new facility at VCC incorporates unique design features to enhance the learning environment for students and teaching professionals,” said Mark Travis, principal and education sector lead for British Columbia at Stantec. “We look forward to bringing a space to life that supports connection and community experience, and honors the unceded territories of the location’s First Nations.”
The primary emphasis of the facility’s design is to achieve a sustainable future, incorporating adaptable classroom configurations, climate-responsive HVAC systems, and employing mass timber as the main structural material in the atrium area.
To reinforce the commitment to environmentally conscious automotive innovation, the building is meticulously planned to have low carbon emissions and comply with both British Columbia’s Step Code 2 and the stringent standards for LEED Gold Certification.