Sustainable Office Space

The Manitoba Environmental Industries Association and the Manitoba Chapter, Canada Green Building Council have partnered together to develop a showcase sustainable office space. Our long term goal is to have the space become the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Commercial Interior (LEED® CI) certified office in Manitoba. Interface Flooring, ICI Paints, RD Lighting, BFWorkplace, KGS Group, Friesen Tokar Architects, and Miller Environmental contributed greatly to the design, redevelopment, and furnishing of our ‘green’ offices. 

While the formal certification process has not yet been initiated, the LEED CI Rating System was used to develop space selection criteria and identify appropriate materials for needed tenant improvements. We also used LEED CI in determining what a sustainable, healthy, and productive work environment could look like given the practical realities (budget, timelines, funding, and human resources) of our organizations.

What developed in a very short period of time was a commitment to limiting our environmental footprint by occupying a relatively small office space in a heritage building in Winnipeg’s downtown. Ideally, the building needed to feature modern or upgraded mechanical systems, handicapped accessibility, natural light, and close proximity to alternative transportation options. After an extensive search, we found space meeting all the identified selection criteria and featured an existing configuration of workspace and millwork that minimized the need for extensive renovations.

The LEED CI Rating System focuses on five credit categories that, according the US Green Building Council, "work synergistically to promote balanced environmental improvement where the outcome aligns with organizational values." These categories are:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy & Atmosphere
• Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

The structure of LEED CI supports an integrated design process that allowed MEIA and the MB CaGBC to be systematic in prioritizing required tenant improvements within the available budget, and organizational needs. As well, members of our organizations contributed materials and furniture that reduced renovation costs and increased the environmental performance of the workspace.
In the first phase of this initiative we have focussed primarily on ensuring the selection of a sustainable site, the conservation and reuse of materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The next phase of work will involve identifying options for water efficiency, optimizing energy performance in lighting power and controls, and low-emitting materials in furniture and seating.

Contributed Materials and Services

Interface Flooring: Interface Flooring Systems is a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally-responsible floorcoverings and other textiles. The company is committed to giving the marketplace a wide range of choices for specifying Earth-friendly products, with the industry’s first climate neutral carpet, Cool Carpet™, as well as the only carpet product to be designed using biomimicry, the i2™ collection from Interface Flooring Systems; and a residential carpet product created from the bio-based, plant-derived fiber, Ingeo™.
For more information on Interface's environmental initiatives, visit www.interfacesustainability.com.

ICI Paints: Zero VOC Paint

Don Lagimodiere RD Lighting Sales: High efficiency lighting systems, ballasts and controls

KGS Group: L ighting systems assessment and reconfiguration

Friesen Tokar Architects: Interior Design Services

BFWorkplace: Office Furniture

Miller Environmental: Recycled Office Furniture