Five Toronto Pan Am facilities LEED certified

OTTAWA—Five Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games facilities have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for their sustainability features, according to the Canada Green Building Council.

In addition to the five venues — the Aquatics Centre and Field House, Athletics Stadium, in Toronto; Velodrome, in Milton; Soccer Stadium, in Hamilton; Pan Am Centre, in Markham — two facilities — the Athlete’s Village, in Toronto, and Flatwater Centre, in Welland — have also been registered for LEED certification, expected in the near future.

Stormwater design, green roofs, water efficient landscaping, recycled materials and resources, and alternative transportation options are some of the LEED rating points achieved in earning the silver and gold certifications.

"These facilities — as well as the many others built and upgraded for the games with our funding partners — will improve Canada’s performance in international athletics, serve their communities and act as a sustainable legacy for future generations," said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer, TO2015, in a statement.

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (named CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House for the Games), located at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, uses geothermal energy and was constructed with a high-efficiency building envelope and air management system that also helps reduce energy required to heat the pools, according to the university’s facilities Management Director, Jim Derenzis.

To help reduce utility costs and the maintenance burden of large athletic facilities, LEED also guided in implementing advanced building automation for the Pan Am projects, allowing owners to actively monitor building performance respond dynamically to changing operational needs.

Minimizing the facilities’ environmental impact shows the world Canada’s leadership in green building and sustainability, said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.

"With the global exposure of the Pan Am Games, it was critical to ensure that buildings of this type and scale are built to leading sustainability standards."

For more information on LEED certification or green building in Canada, visit www.cagbc.org/LEED. For more information on these facilities or the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games, visit http://www.toronto2015.org/.