EPCOR Tower—Edmonton’s first downtown office structure to be built in nearly two decades—has been certified Gold under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Designed by Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd., the 30-storey tower stands 148 m (488 ft) high. Some of its sustainable features include:

• reducing stormwater runoff and potable water consumption by harvesting and recycling rainwater;
• geothermal heating and cooling systems;
• light fixtures with sensors to maximize daylighting and decrease energy consumption; and
• triple-glazed exterior curtainwall system.

Additionally, the HVAC systems and building envelope were designed in compliance with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 55-2004, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.

The project team also included developer Qualico and urban design and landscape architecture firm EIDOS.

“Every detail in EPCOR Tower, including the water features and landscaping, the building’s commitment to public art, and balconies on every floor that provide access to fresh air and sunshine, are intended to create a feeling of enjoyment and comfort in a way that performance specifications and numbers on their own do not,” Ken Cantor, vice-president of commercial development, told Construction Canada Online.

The tower is the first completed phase of Station Lands—a mixed-use project on a 3.7-ha (9.2-acre) site.