Fifteen years ago today, Winnipeg’s Mountain Equipment Co-op became both Prairie Architects Inc. and the Province of Manitoba’s first ever LEED certified building. Designed to be among the greenest commercial buildings in the world at that time, the project incorporated a multitude of sustainable features, which remain noteworthy even today.

Over 96% of all materials (by weight) used in the construction were recycled from de-constructing existing buildings on the site and all of the newly constructed connections were bolted and screwed to enable future deconstruction to allow materials to once again be recycled at the end of their life-cycle. Irrigation for the green rooftop garden is provided by an onsite PV array that creates electric power to operate a pump that draws irrigation water from basement rainwater collection tanks. The project went on to receive many awards for innovation and its sustainable approach, which has had a lasting impact on sustainable architecture in Manitoba.

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