Red Deer Polytechnic’s new residence building received international recognition by being nominated for an UIA-2030 Award.
The UIA-2030 Award program, coordinated between the International Union of Architects and UN-Habitat, invites architects to submit work that demonstrates commitment toward sustainable development goals.
The RDP Student Residence was a finalist in the Open Category, but it did not win the top prize.
“We are extremely grateful that our architecture partner, Reimagine, nominated Red Deer Polytechnic’s new Residences for the UIA-2030 Award which recognizes design quality and contributions to sustainability,” said Trent Rix, Director of Ancillary Services at Red Deer Polytechnic.
“As a polytechnic institution, we are very proud to offer our learners this comfortable, environmentally friendly facility, which has been recognized around the world for its emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and energy generation.
“With 545 photovoltaic solar panels, a high-performance building envelope, and an efficient plumbing system, our new Residences contribute to the overall goal of reducing our carbon footprint and becoming a net-zero institution.”
RDP’s student residence was the only North American finalist of the 43 entrants.
In a video created by Reimagine, architect Vedran Skopac, said the strategy of the building was to increase the amount of common spaces by strategically reducing the size of the units.
“The seven stages are scattered all around the building (and) on the perimeter, with different views, different ceiling heights and different shapes,” explained Skopac.
“They symbolize the seven stages in growth of a student’s life.”
A sustainable feature in the residential building is the choice of wood, Skopac said in the video.
“This wood is all local – locally harvested and locally milled. So the transportation cost was reduced,” he said.
“Therefore local economies were supported and the embodied carbon of wood is much lesser than in steel or concrete.”
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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