C. K. Choi Building
University Office Building in Vancouver, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The C. K. Choi Building is an educational building on the campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) known for its sustainable design features.[1][2][3] Named for businessman and philanthropist Dr. Cheung-Kok Choi,[4][5] the building houses UBC's Institute of Asian Research. The architecture of the building implements Asian motifs.[6][7][8][9]
TypeUniversity Office Building
Location1855 West Mall, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
Coordinates49.267132°N 123.258405°W
CurrenttenantsInstitute of Asian Research
| C.K. Choi Building | |
|---|---|
C. K. Choi Building, street facade, c.2010 | |
  Location within Canada | |
General information | |
| Type | University Office Building |
| Location | 1855 West Mall, UBC, Vancouver, Canada |
| Coordinates | 49.267132°N 123.258405°W |
| Current tenants | Institute of Asian Research |
Completed | 1996 |
| Owner | University of British Columbia |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 storeys |
| Floor area | 34,400 sq.ft. |
| Design and construction | |
Architecture firm | Matsuzaki Wright Architects |
| Website | |
| www.iar.ubc.ca | |
Institute of Asian Research
The Institute of Asian Research, headquartered in the C. K. Choi building, is a research institute founded in 1978 as a major Canadian research centre for Asia.
Design team
.jpg)
- Architects + Sustainability: Matsuzaki Wright[7]
- Landscape Architects: Cornelia Hahn Oberlander
- Structural Engineers: Read Jones Christoffersen
- Mechanical Engineers: Keen Engineering Co. Ltd. (now Stantec)
- Electrical Engineers: Robert Freundlich & Associates Ltd.
- Owner: University of British Columbia, Freda Pagani, Campus Planning and Development
- Owner's Sustainability Advisor: Bob Berkebile, BNIM
Sustainable features
The C. K. Choi building was designed to be sustainable and energy-efficient.[10][11] Its sustainable features include:
- Location: built on an existing parking lot surrounded by large trees to reduce heat gain
- Form: narrow profile to minimize site impact and provide natural light inside
- Recycling: approximately 50% of building materials were recycled or re-used
- Sanitation: composting toilets were initially used,[12] but were removed when the compost was found to be detrimental to the environment
- Stormwater: the building's gutters collect water in a tank for irrigation purposes[13]
- Energy: sensors turn off lights when not in use, heavy use of insulation preserves indoor temperature, steam vault utilizes waste heat
- Finishes: most interior surfaces use minimal material, such as unpainted metal and a lack of suspended ceilings
- Air quality: carpet adhesives and solvent finishes were not used in construction, to minimize air pollution
- Ventilation: ventilation is non-mechanical and provides fresh air from windows
- Heat: surplus heat radiating into the ground is collected and utilized
- Electricity: uses only surplus electricity from adjacent buildings[8]
Awards
- 1996 BC Hydro Energy Smart Award[14]
- 1996 British Columbia Earth Award, Building Owners and Managers Association[15]
- 1997 Building Award of Excellence, Consulting Engineers of British Columbia[16]
- 1998 List of Canadian awards, Architectural Institute of British Columbia
- 1998 Award for Innovation Excellence, Architectural Institute of British Columbia (Matsuzaki Wright Architects Inc.)[14]
- 2000 Earth Day 2000 Top Ten Award, American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment[17]