The recently completed Vancouver Fire Hall 15 building has been awarded LEED Gold certification in recognition of its achievements in sustainable design and construction. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the US Green Building Council.

The three-storey, 1386-m² Vancouver Fire Hall no. 15 project involved the adaptive reuse and restoration of Vancouver’s second oldest fire hall (originally built in 1913). The most inherent sustainable feature of this project is the decision to restore the existing heritage building and expand the facility to meet the growing requirements of Vancouver Fire and Rescue. The project is designed to reduce annual internal water use by 70 per cent using efficient fixtures and a rainwater collection system – equivalent to 630 bath tubs or 28,000 toilet flushes.

Energy use of the building is also anticipated to be 56 per cent lower than a code equivalent design. The project team also committed to ensuring that internal spaces eliminated occupant exposure to contaminants by selecting low emission materials and finishes throughout – promoting high levels of user health and comfort. Vancouver Fire Hall 15 had also received an award of merit from the City of Vancouver 2015 Heritage Awards, in recognition of the projects sympathetic restoration of the existing fire hall building.