South East False Creek Vancouver, British-Columbia

South East False CreekVancouver, British-Columbia

Matthew RamsayEmily CzaplinskiENVR 3750


Context


Context

• Residential development• 80 acres• 5000 residential units


Background

• Brownfield site• Industrial uses since the 1800s• Industries began leaving the site in the 1960s• Remediation of the soil estimated to cost $15-25 million

• 1970 – city of Vancouver re-zones the site for housing and parks• 1990 – ‘Clouds of Change’• Called for a re-development of SEFC

• Sustainable community• Now a designated LEED platinum neighbourhood site• All buildings must meet or exceed LEED silver designation

Create ‘a neighbourhood which is integrated with its urban context while protecting and enhancing the social and economic health of its community as well as the health of local and global ecosystems’

(Marshall, 2003)


Background


Background


Olympic Village

• A portion of South East False Creek was designated as the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver• Facilitated rapid development for that portion of the site

• The remaining area of SEFC is expected to be completed by 2018


Green Features

• Solar optimization• Buildings on site oriented to maximize solar gains

• Greenspace• 26 acres dedicated to park spaces• Wetland• Roof gardens• Community food gardens• ‘Habitat Compensation Island’• Park and pathway along the length of the seawall edge


Habitat Compensation Island

• Built from recycled construction materials from the site• Wildlife habitat for birds, plants and marine species• Planted 200 native tree, flower and grass species• Inter-tidal habitat for marine species• Not open to human access


Green Features

• Mixed-Use• Childcare facilities, elementary school, grocery store,

restaurants, pharmacy, etc…• 250 affordable housing units• 100 housing units for middle income families

•Sustainable transportation• Access to public transportation• Promotion of walkability• Network of bike paths

• Waste Management• On-site sewage treatment program• Recycling & composting initiatives• Recycling of construction materials

• Man-made island constructed of rock and gravel taken from the construction of the Olympic Village


Green Features


Green Features


Sustainable Architecture

• Rain screen wall system• Enhance thermal protections• Prevents leaks• 30-70% more efficient than traditional buildings

• Creekside Community Recreation Centre• LEED Platinum• Green roof• Solar power• Rainwater collection for greywater systems

• Resource conservation• Eco-wool carpeting• Dual-flush toilets• Energy star appliances• Paints and varnishes which do not contain VOCs• Sustainable flooring types

• Net-Zero building


Sustainable Architecture


Green Features

• ‘Neighbourhood Energy Utility’ system• Uses heat from the sewage system to heat air and water for

buildings• Reduces carbon emissions by 60%


Costs & Constraints

• Olympic Village total cost close to $1 billion• Rest of the community still unfinished• Cost recovery program• Development paying for itself through long-term savings• Eliminates need for external funding

• Local activists wanted area to be converted to park space or affordable housing• Extremely high cost of site reclamation and remediation

made these options impossible• Resulted in increased designation of park space in the

community


Overall Benefits

• Environmental benefits• Reduced energy consumption• Less waste• Reclamation of a contaminated site

• Social benefits• Increased community connection to environment• Park and community spaces• Increased community capital

• Economic benefits• Desirable place to live• Cost savings due to reduced energy / water / resource

consumption• Strong local economy

• Housing and business integration


How could the community go greener?

Most interesting fact?

Questions?


References

Documents

South East False Creek Vancouver, British-Columbia