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McGill University Green Chemistry

Project Description

Major renovation of the labs located in the basement of the Pulp & Paper and Maass Chemistry, North Block buildings, and corresponding ventilation systems. New mechanical penthouse. The building, including some of its research labs, was kept operational during construction.

The project included the construction of new labs for the Green Chemistry group. This project aimed for a LEED-CI certification.

The new air handling units have a capacity of 60,000 cfm of fresh air (supply and exhaust) and feature heat recovery systems and high dilution exhaust fans. A low-temperature hot water loop was deployed in the building to heat lab space in the basement with heat recovered from the campus data centre located in the nearby Burnside building.

Careful consideration was given to the lighting systems. Lighting simulations were performed to ensure adequate levels for research activities across the building.

Description of Interventions:

Renovation of wet labs.
Replacement of all electrical and mechanical systems while maintaining the building in operation during construction.
New penthouse for mechanical systems.

Main challenges:

Complete replacement of end-of-life systems located in the building’s penthouse.
Deployment of heat recovery to significantly reduce systems’ energy use.
Energy performance 43.5% below ASHRAE 90.1-2007 reference.
All labs and office space not included in scope of work were kept operational throughout the project. This required careful planning of intervention during construction.

McGill University Life Sciences Complex

Description

McGill’s Life Sciences Complex included two wings: the Bellini and Cancer which were integrated to the existing adjacent buildings Stewart Biology and McIntyre Medical.

The 16,700-m² building houses research and teaching labs on cancer research, genetic biology, and cellular research. The building is home to a 4,000-m² animal lab for transgenic animals and a BSL-3 laboratory. Amongst other, the building features 65 chemical fume hoods, 106 biological fume hoods, confocal microscopes, space for equipment, histology, and archives including ultra-low temperature freezers, an NMR, and other innovative space. 2,000-kW emergency power generator, a clean steam generator (steam-to-steam), adiabatic humidification, condensing, high-efficiency boilers, heat recovery chillers, etc. The Life Sciences Complex was designed in compliance with LEED-NC Gold and was certified in December 2011.

Terminal cooling elements in labs.
Radiant heating canopy used to reflect daylight into the space, thereby allowing complete use of the space including the periphery.
Modular, flexible design.
Animal lab with ventilated cages.
Rainwater harvesting system.
High energy requirements of lab space.
Emergency power generator designed to take 100% of the building load.
High-rise building over existing underground parking.
Leading-edge histology lab.
Several BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs.
Construction in the Mont-Royal protected area and integration within existing campus.
LEED-NC Gold certified.