BDC achieves LEED Gold certification for its Vancouver business centre
Montréal, July 9, 2024– The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce that its office space, in the centre of Vancouver’s business district, is certified LEED Gold – the second highest available rating and BDC’s twelfth LEED certification.
Highlights of the office space include:
- Sustainable materials that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts;
- 100% of the paints, coating, flooring, and insulation installed within the project are low-emitting materials that reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants and protect the health, productivity, and comfort of installers, employees, and clients;
- 42% of indoor water use was saved due to the low-flow fixtures and the rainwater reuse system provided by the base building;
- Smart building technology such as day lighting and occupancy sensors as well as lighting controls for occupants to change the lighting levels;
- Over 90.4% of construction waste was diverted from landfills and recycled.
“We embarked on a journey aimed at not only shaping spaces but transforming experiences for our BDC employees and clients alike” said Daniel Bernardelli, Manager, Workplace Strategy at BDC. “Designing a sustainable and dynamic hybrid workplace is about crafting environments that inspire creativity, collaboration and well-being, all while prioritizing eco-conscious practices and design.”
BDC worked with MCM Interiors on this project – an interior design firm based in Vancouver – and they shared our vision for the space: “Our aim was to create a space that not only embodies BDC's values but also resonates with the vibrant culture of Vancouver. Every design choice, from the materials to the layout, has been meticulously curated to foster a sense of warmth and inclusivity”, said Nick Desert, Senior Associate at MCM Interiors. “A cool, neutral palette of light maple woods and sleek black metals sets the stage, while warm jewel-toned accents add a pop of vitality, infusing unexpected areas with coziness.”
The Bank is working to optimize its operational footprint, and its facilities have an important role to play. BDC chose The Stack for its Vancouver office partly based on its central location, allowing easy commuting by public transit, and the fact that it is a zero-carbon office tower – the first one to obtain certification under the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building – Design standard. Some of The Stack’s innovative features designed to reduce both carbon emissions and energy consumption include a high-performance triple-pane glazing system and a rooftop photovoltaic solar panel array, producing an annual output of 26,000 kilowatt-hours.
“The project set off on a successful trajectory by selecting a high-performance base building which is going for LEED platinum and Zero Carbon Building certifications. It was a wise decision, which contributed directly towards the sustainable strategy for the project,” said Riya Tolia, Senior Sustainability Analyst at Introba, the firm which provided LEED consulting. “Another outstanding aspect for the project was the collaboration and timely response exhibited by the design teams which accelerated the process of achieving the LEED Gold certification for the office.”
With buildings generating nearly 30% of all greenhouse gases, decarbonizing buildings is key to reaching Canada’s climate targets. BDC’s Vancouver business centre becomes part of one of Canada’s 5,538 LEED certified buildings, which have led to a collective reduction of 6.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since certification.
The most widely used green-building standard in Canada and globally, the LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’ performance when it comes to human and environmental health. It helps create high-performing, resilient buildings that reduce carbon emissions, save water, conserve energy, and reduce waste.
“Our Vancouver business centre not only supports our objective of greening our operations but is also fosters more collaboration with peers, colleagues and clients alike,” said Jean-Philippe Ménard, Senior Vice President, British Columbia and North, at BDC. “It enables entrepreneurs to make peer-to-peer connections at our different spaces including BDC Square, and these connections are essential to building a strong business community and to driving our economy forward.”
Since its official opening in December 2023, more than 100 events for small and medium-sized businesses have been held at Vancouver’s BDC Square using sustainable event planning guidelines.
As the bank for entrepreneurs, BDC has an important role to play in supporting them on their sustainability journey, and helping Canada achieve its sustainable development goals. We seek to make an impact by what we do with and for our clients, in our own operations, with our employees and in our communities. BDC’s first sustainability framework, launched in 2022, outlines our ambitions, targets and actions and builds on the three sustainable development pillars of economic, social and environmental impact, by adding a fourth pillar: collective impact.
To find out more about green certifications, which can cover areas such as a business’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the environmental impact of their operations and the energy efficiency of their building, visit our Climate Action Centre. BDC is committed to empowering entrepreneurs to build greener, more inclusive, prosperous businesses. This is consistent with our values, United for entrepreneurs, Powered by people and Courageously impactful.
About BDC
As Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the country’s most innovative firms. We are one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. BDC was the first financial institution in Canada to receive the B Corp certification in 2013 and it is the B Corp movement’s national partner in Canada. For more information on BDC’s products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media.
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