We’re thrilled to announce that Edge Consultants has been named the IESVE User of the Year 2023 Best Canada Entry! Our collaboration on the New St. Paul’s Hospital project in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been a testament to teamwork. Lead by BC Ministry of Health, Providence Health Care, and PCL Construction, the entire team have placed great importance on excellence in optimizing Loads, Energy, Carbon, and Cost for the project. A big thank you to IES and Chris Flood for this recognition.
Project Overview
The New St. Paul’s Hospital project stands as the largest hospital redevelopment in British Columbia, Canada. Located in Vancouver, this state-of-the-art acute care facility is part of a new integrated health campus. The energy model developed by Edge Consultants represents a sophisticated amalgamation of the latest design refinements in lighting, HVAC systems, chiller efficiencies, controls, and building envelope enhancements. This achievement was made possible through close collaboration with key stakeholders including the BC Ministry of Health, Providence Health Care, and PCL Construction.
The main building of the hospital spans 11 storeys, covering an impressive 1.7 million ft² (158,480 m²) area. It boasts 548 beds, nearly one hundred negatively pressured isolation rooms, 15 Outbreak control zones for isolating infected patient groups, and two helipads. Additionally, the building’s parkade extends over 600,000 ft² (55,741 m²).
The hospital is targeting LEED Gold certification.
Technical Details
The HVAC system, designed to meet CSA Z317.2-2019 standards, comprises over 64 air-handling units and 11 chillers (8 of which are heat recovery units), with a combined capacity of just under 6,000 Tons (21 MW). The main electrical service is designed to fulfill the majority of the facility’s space heating requirements on a net annual basis.
The project’s energy and carbon targets are ambitious:
- Energy Use Intensity: < 300 kWh/m².yr (95 kBTU/ft².year)
- Carbon: < 1,574 metric tCO2e/year
Leading the Way in Energy Efficiency
Edge Consultants, renowned for their expertise in energy modelling and sustainability consultancy across North America, has played a pivotal role in shaping the sustainable design of the New St. Paul’s Hospital. Leveraging their proficiency with the IESVE software suite, Edge Consultants has not only demonstrated technical mastery but has also provided invaluable guidance throughout the project’s intricate design phases.
During the energy simulations, Edge Consultants reached the maximum number of spaces, totaling 6,000. The HVAC design, consisting of VAV with re-heat and over 64 AHU units, was meticulously tailored to match the final mechanical design.
Utilizing IESVE for Optimization and Monitoring
Edge Consultants employed the detailed coil methodology in the Apache HVAC module to determine heating and chilled water reset strategies, thereby optimizing the system’s design and control sequences. The IESVE model continues to be instrumental in cross-checking and approving equipment shop drawings throughout the construction process.
Moreover, Edge Consultants will work with the project team to utilize the IESVE model for Measurement and Verification post-construction, ensuring that energy systems are optimized, and operators are adequately trained. This model will serve in part as a construction commissioning digital twin, facilitating efficient building operations for the initial year and beyond.
Acknowledgments
The success of the New St. Paul’s Hospital project is the result of collaborative efforts from various partners, including:
About Edge Consultants
Since its founding in 2012, Edge Consultants has emerged as a leader in sustainable building consultancy, spreading its influence from offices in Vancouver and Toronto across North America. At Edge, we don’t just advise on buildings; we’re in the business of envisioning and actualizing sustainable, intelligent environments that enhance communities.
Our diverse team of expert engineers brings expertise in mechanical design, building performance, energy efficiency, commissioning and sustainability. Passionately committed to environmental stewardship, we facilitated the reduction of over 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, through partnership with our clients, contractors and design teams.
We empower our clients with objective, leading-edge guidance, enabling them to make decisions that lead to real and measurable outcomes. Our approach balances capital costs, profitability, operations, and environmental impact, thereby elevating each project we work on.
Edge Consultants offers an extensive range of services, including master planning, business case analysis, energy modeling, sustainable program management, sustainability consulting, commissioning, measurement & verification, and building optimization. These services are intricately woven together, offering a holistic consulting package that supports the full lifecycle of both new and existing building projects.
At Edge, we’re not just consultants; we’re visionaries and partners in building a more sustainable future. Join us as we transform innovative ideas into enduring, eco-friendly realities, crafting spaces that are thoughtfully designed for today and tomorrow.
