Manitoba Hydro Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manitoba Hydro Place |
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 360 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0G8 |
| Coordinates | 49°53′32.63″N 97°8′47.04″W / 49.8923972°N 97.1464000°W |
| Construction started | August 2005 |
| Completed | December 22, 2008 (first occupancy) |
| Opening | September 29, 2009 |
| Cost | C$278m. |
| Owner | Manitoba Hydro |
| Height | |
| Roof | 377 ft (115 m) (solar chimney) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 24 (22 + 2 Mechanical) |
| Floor area | 695,250 sq ft (64,591 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects with Smith Carter Architects |
| Structural engineer | Crosier Kilgour/Halcrow Yolles |
| Main contractor | PCL Construction Management |
The Manitoba Hydro Place is the main office building for Manitoba Hydro. This company provides electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses in Manitoba, Canada. It's located at 360 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg. You can even reach it through the city's Winnipeg Walkway system.
In 2012, it earned a special award called LEED Platinum certification. This means it's one of the most energy-efficient office buildings in North America! It was the first office tower in Canada to get this top rating.
Opened in 2009, this 21-story building became Winnipeg's fourth tallest. It brought together 1,650 employees from 15 different offices into one big building. The building looks like a capital letter "A" from above. It has two 18-story wings and three sunny, south-facing winter gardens.
The building's design helps it save a lot of energy. It has a tall solar chimney and a special heating and cooling system. This system uses the Earth's natural heat. The building also uses 100% fresh air all year round. Computer-controlled vents adjust the building's outer walls. All these features help save 70% more energy than a typical office tower.
In 2009, CBC News called Manitoba Hydro Place one of the "most energy-efficient office towers in the world." The Toronto Star even called it the "most important building in Canada."
Contents
Building History and Design
Why a New Building?
Building a new main office downtown was part of a deal. In 2002, Manitoba Hydro bought the city's electric company. A new building was needed to bring all employees together.
Before starting, Manitoba Hydro looked at energy-efficient buildings in Europe. They wanted to find the best ideas. Then, they put together a team of experts. This team included architects, engineers, and cost experts.
Choosing the Architects
The main architect chosen was Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects from Toronto. Smith Carter Architects from Winnipeg also helped. By 2003, they picked the final spot for the building.
In 2004, Manitoba Hydro shared their ideas for the building. They wanted it to be:
- Modern and useful.
- Super energy-efficient (Power Smart).
- Good value for the money.
- A symbol of Manitoba Hydro's commitment to a better future.
- Something that would help downtown Winnipeg.
- A source of pride for everyone in Manitoba.
This plan helped guide the whole project. The building needed to be flexible for new technology. It also had to be a great financial choice. The team spent two years planning and refining the design. They looked at 16 different ideas before choosing the final one.
Smart Energy Design
How the Building Saves Energy
Manitoba Hydro Place was built to be very sustainable and energy-efficient. It uses a special "Integrated Design Process." This means all parts of the building work together to save energy.
The building uses both natural and high-tech systems.
- Natural Features: It has sunny winter gardens and uses natural light. The solar chimney helps move air.
- High-Tech Systems: Lights dim automatically when enough sunlight is present. A computer system manages everything to save energy.
The building is placed to catch the best winds and sunlight. It has less surface area facing north, where it's colder. The south-facing winter gardens help warm the fresh air coming in. Waterfalls inside help control the air's moisture.
Green Features and Materials
Green roofs at the bottom of the building have plants. These plants help reduce rainwater runoff. They also keep the building from getting too hot. Some plants are native prairie plants, like sweet grass.
The building's concrete walls and floors store heat. This helps keep temperatures steady. The solar chimney pulls old air out and helps warm new air. A geothermal system uses 280 tubes deep underground. These tubes help heat the building in winter and cool it in summer.
The building has a special "double-glazed" glass skin. It's like having three layers of glass with air in between. This helps with insulation. Windows can open automatically or manually. This lets people control the fresh air. The office spaces are shallow, so natural light reaches everywhere.
Comfort for People Inside
The building's design helps people feel comfortable. Most of the time, people get natural light. They can also open windows or adjust their own lighting. This helps them feel more in control of their workspace.
Another way the building saves energy is by bringing everyone together. Before, most employees drove to work. After moving to the new building, many started walking, biking, or taking public transit. This also saves a lot of energy!
Energy Use and Awards
How Much Energy It Saves
Manitoba Hydro Place uses much less electricity than other office buildings. It uses about 88 kWh/m² per year. A typical large office tower in North America might use 400 kWh/m² per year. This means Manitoba Hydro Place uses about 66% less energy than required by national building codes.
In 2012, the building officially received its LEED Platinum certification. This is the highest level of this award. It was the first office building in North America to get it. They confirmed its energy use was even lower than expected, at 85 kWh/m² per year.
Building Costs
The building cost about C$278 million to build. This was about $400 per square foot. This cost was higher than typical buildings in Winnipeg. Manitoba Hydro paid for it themselves. They planned for the building to pay for itself over a long time, more than 60 years.
During construction, they found more water underground than expected. This meant they had to change the basement design. They even removed one basement level.
Awards and Recognition
Manitoba Hydro Place has won many awards for its unique design and energy efficiency:
- 2009 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)'s Best Tall Building Americas award.
- 2008 IBS Award, Highly Commended
- 2009 Building of the Year, Office Category by Arch Daily.
- 2010 American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (COTE), Top Ten Green Buildings.
- 2010 Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine Award, Project Winner
- 2010 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, National Urban Design Award
- 2010 the SAB (Sustainable Architecture and Building) Canadian Green Building Award.
- Engineers Canada – National Project Achievement Award
- 2010 ACEC Canadian Consulting Engineering Award – Buildings
- 2011 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Innovation in Architecture
- Canadian Consulting Engineering – Award of Excellence
- Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba (Consulting Engineers of Manitoba) – Keystone Award and Award of Excellence
- Consulting Engineers of Alberta – Award of Excellence Sustainable Design
Gallery
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June 2007
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January 2008
