Photo courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

Okanagan College wanted its Trades Renewal and Expansion project to inspire the next generation of builders. Stepping up to the challenge, Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with David Nairne + Associates have delivered a building that meets today?s most demanding measures of green design. The $35-million Trades Training Complex has officially opened at the Kelowna, British Columbia campus.
The expansion includes 6,237 square metres (67,000 sq. ft.) of new learning space configured around a soaring three-storey atrium. A retrofit of an additional 4385 square metres (47,200 sq. ft.) connects the building with three existing structures that together unify and give a public face to the new trades complex. ?Achieving extraordinary sustainability targets and integrating the various functional program elements were the primary motivating forces in the design,? said Diamond Schmitt associate Sarah Low. ?An equally important design objective was to normalize sustainability and show that it can be achieved in everyday buildings.?
By applying sustainable design principles to building orientation, footprint and massing and by integrating daylighting, natural ventilation and managing heat gain to maximize the passive energy potential, the new building is on track for the following trifecta of environmental excellence:

LEED Platinum certification
Living Building Challenge Petal certification
Net Zero for new construction
In additio...