Awards

BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Award Winner, Innovation in Sustainable Building Design, 2007

Smart Growth of British Columbia Awards, Process/Proposal Award, 2006

RAIC National Urban Design Awards, Merit Award, Approved or Adopted Urban Design Plan, 2006

Canadian Architect, Award of Excellence, 2005

Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award, Best Overall Project, 2005

Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award, 2005

Planning Institute of BC Innovation in Site Planning and Design Award, 2005

In 2005 Busby Perkins+Will completed the master plan for the 15-acre mixed-use Dockside Green development, which is expected to become the first LEED Platinum community in the world. In 2008 Dockside Green Residential Phase I was completed and reached Platinum at 63 points, making it the highest-scoring LEED Platinum Certified project in the world.

Dockside Green Phase I, also referred to as "Synergy", includes four detached buildings constructed over a common underground parking structure, including a nine-storey residential tower with minor commercial units on the groundfloors; a two-storey townhouse; a six-storey building with minor commercial units on the ground floor; and, a four-storey residential building.

Dockside Green is employing an integrated energy system that ensures the development will be greenhouse gas neutral, while also providing the opportunity for the project to become a net-energy provider. The system includes a biomass gasification plant that converts locally-sourced wood waste into a clean burning gas to produce heat and hot water. Among the development's many other sustainable features: an on-site wastewater treatment that is expected to save more than 70,000 gallons of water annually; rooftop gardens; a car co-op with Smart Car; and, additional energy-saving features, including Energy Star appliances, heat recovery ventilations units, Low E double glazed windows and exterior blinds on the west and south faces of each building. A series of ponds spread throughout Dockside's central greenway also assist in on-site stormwater storage while the greenway itself provides significant public open space.

When complete, the Dockside Green development will be a community of approximately 2,500 residents and will also include live/work, hotel, retail, office and light industrial uses, as well as numerous public amenities. Each of the development's 26 buildings is designed for LEED Platinum certification. Dockside Green was also the first community development to apply for participation in the LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot program offered by the US Green Building Council.