UPEI Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation

About This Project

The University of Prince Edward Island in partnership with the Federal Government funded construction of the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peters Bay, PE. The center consists of a new 45,000 sq. ft. facility that houses state-of-the-art research centers, including the internationally recognized UPEI Climate Research Lab, as well as the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation. This facility also includes a residential component that will allow visitors to dive deeper into research processes without necessity to look for accommodation. The facility and the lands surrounding it also serve as a living laboratory that allows for unlimited access to nearby wetlands, forests and coastal habitats directly affected by climate change.

MCA Consultants Inc. provided additional value based on its long history of engineering practice to contribute to the struggle with the worldwide climate change problem.

Services Provided

• Plumbing
• Fire Protection
• Geothermal
• LEED and NECB Energy modelling
• HVAC
• Automatic Controls

Key Design Elements

• Geothermal closed loop HVAC system in combination with heat recovery VRF system to provide most efficient climate control inside the building
• Geothermal domestic hot water preheating
• Energy recovery ventilation (centralized on main floor and decentralized on residential component)
• Energy modelling allowed to evaluate various building g envelope materials and applicable mechanical systems. It was performed under LEED (Silver) and NECB
• Stand-alone fire suppression system with on-site fire tank and fire pump packag

Sustainability

• Geothermal closed loop heating/cooling systems
• Energy recovery
• Domestic hot water preheating with geo/exchange
• Building Management Control System