Region: Belleville/Madoc/Kaladar Region
Municipality: Madoc
Web site: http://www.sustainablebuilding2008.ca

Main contractor name: Built by the Sir Sandford Fleming Sustainable Design & Construction class of 2008
Designer's name: Chris Magwood
Architect's name: Ingrid Cryns
Architect's firm: soma earth ARCHITECT
Structural engineer's name: Anthony Spick
Structural engineer's firm: Blackwell Bowick Engineering
Length of time to build (start to occupancy): April 2008 - Oct 2008
Ease of obtaining a building permit: Very easy



Other insulation materials used: sheeps wool

Other bale wall style info: First use of Strawbale loadbearing columns with octagonal box beam ring on top supporting roof structure
Straw type: Hemp




Mechanical systems info: In order to provide maximum lighting in the space without the use of supplementary light in the daytime, 8 windows throughout the main octagon assembly space were placed evenly along the perimeter of the large interior space as well as and three large Solatube skylights. This completely eliminated the need for artificial lighting during the daytime. The lighting for installed into this main space consisted of 10 Par 38 warm white screw base retrofits, with 5W consumption, and 16 Par 30 warm white screw base retrofits, with 3W consumption. For the other three side wings of the building, which include a greenroom, storage room and facilities, 9 x 9W and 2 x 26W compact fluorescent lights were used. The lights in the bathroom were on Sensors, and the other areas received relatively low overall traffic and usage. If all lights were operating at any given moment, only 1.36W/ m2 would be consumed for lighting power. For emergency lighting systems, a conventional battery backup low voltage system was used, consisting of a battery pack large enough to accommodate six individual heads. Outdoor lighting included three (3) solar powered motion sensor security lights, and seven (7) par 38 cool white screw base retrofits, with 5W consumption. Power from phantom loads such as exit signs was saved using Lumonall, which is a photo-luminescent material used for emergency egress signage. It requires no wiring, bulbs or electricity to operate, thus reducing manufacturing waste, pollution due to manufacturing and distribution, and saves valuable energy. Energy savings in the bathroom included using LEED approved & GreenSpec listed, GXT ExtremeAir. This product has automatic sensors and uses 88% less energy than a conventional hand dryer. For ventilation, 88% of the building was within seven (7) metres access to an operable window. The remaining 12% is allocated in places such as the storage room, mechanical room and a bathrooms were mechanical ventilation is required regardless. 100% of the main space is within seven (7) metres of access to an operable window. A solar hot air panel was installed for renewably heated VENTILATION AIR in the winter. Solar powered ventilation units were installed in THE GREEN ROOM AND THE STORAGE ROOM, capable of functioning WITH very low amounts of sunlight. The building uses available technologies to drastically reduce its resource consumption and waste production. Technologies include a geo-thermal heating and cooling system that allows the building to maintain a comfortable temperature year round without relying on fossil fuels; PV panels that provide electrical power; solar ventilation systems that provides the building with prewarmed fresh air; and a rainwater collection system that provides flushing water for the toilets. The Centre is in effect a living, breathing structure. For insulation and added strength, rectangular hemp bales (which were provided by a local hemp farmer) were fit between the frame work. The straw/hemp bale walls have a thickness of 21” providing a superior R value of +R35, thus enhancing the energy conserving abilities of the exterior walls. These were plastered with an earthen plaster which act as a sealant as well as added superior lateral structural strength. For its exceptional structural and insulative properties, this method of building uses the lowest embodied energy of any other currently known. It is also comparable in time and cost to most conventional building systems. The hemp that was used in creating the hempcrete was from a local hemp farmer and was used for the hempcrete foundation and hembcrete wall insulation on the canteen wing. Insulation in the green room is a light clay/straw infull, and the storage room uses recycled denim batt insulation. Cellulose insulation was blown into the ceiling space.
Electrical systems info: The main source of electrical power for the building are PV panels that are located on the site, beside the building rather than on top of it. On the ground, the panels were carefully oriented in the direction of solar south. The PV system is tied to the electrical grid through the Ontario Standard Offer contract. The municipality paid for all power generated by the PV systems at a rate of 42 cents per kilowatt hour. Designed to have net zero electrical consumption, the Building should provide the municipality with a small net income from the difference in price. The heating and cooling of the building is accomplished using a ground source heat pump supplying a hydronic radiant in-floor system. The pump is the only component which consumes power in the system, and in comparison to any conventional heating and cooling system, it requires significantly less power output. Ultimately, the building is free of fossil fuels and polluting emissions and has a net zero energy factor. Because it is currently connected to the grid, electrical reconfiguration would have to be put in place to accommodate a battery bank in the case of total fossil fuel depletion or major grid failures in the future. However, in such a case, it would be capable of sustaining itself in terms of power production.
Other green features: Off-grid; solar ventilation system; earthbag foundation; round bale columns; earthen & lime plasters; adobe bricks; clay floors In preparation for the site, no harm or disruption to ecology or natural habitat was necessary. The location chosen for the building was directly over an old baseball diamond which was no longer in use. Upon excavation for the foundation, the ground beneath the park was found to be high in clay content, which ultimately was recycled directly back into the building as the main ingredient of the earthen plaster. This was used to seal and create the exterior layer of the bales. Also, as means of recycling, the foundation resting on the rubble trench was created with earth bags, which were also filled and tamped with a soil combination obtained from site excavation. This eliminated the need for extra labour and the embodied energy of outside materials to be shipped and delivered. In order to encourage local insect wildlife to play a role in the building, a living roof of approx. 74 m2 was built on top of the outdoor stage area roof of the main porch. This roof consisted of a soil medium that was made from recycled crushed brick and compost. The vegetation was planned such that only native species were involved, eliminating the need for any watering and maintenance that is typical with most current living roofs where they feature plants such as non-native sedums. The future benefits of the site’s ecology in comparison to a conventional building were the highest in consideration on this project. During the course of the buildings life, there will be a 0% of toxic chemicals leeching from the building in the ground or water stream, or carbon emissions created from energy that is not renewable. Most importantly, when the building’s lifetime has expired in the distant future, a majority of the materials used can either be safely returned into the ground, or have been designed to be removed and recycled for life is cyclical in nature, such as aluminum, for future production and reproduction. The building is supported structurally with round strawbale stacked columns, supported on an earth bag foundation, and standard FSC certified wood framing in-between the columns with an octagonal box beam ‘ring’ to tie it together at the top. A truss based roofing system is used with steel sheathing which comes from an 80% recycled source. The framework for windows and doors was a standard stick frame, with rectangular hemp straw bale infill, which was provided by a local hemp farmer. Structural systems include simple, hand-buildable solutions such as earth plastered straw bale walls and columns, compressed earth bag foundations, lime hempcrete foundations, shallow frost protected rubble trench foundations, and locally sourced timber framing with wood peg joinery. Supported by testing programs at Queen's University, and on-site load tests, we went to extra lengths to establish information for systems not specifically covered in the building code and the level of research went far beyond a typical design. Innovations include: • the formulation of new structural design methods for unconventional systems and materials • the creation of custom details for the connection of different technologies to one another • verification of the design through the specification of stiffness and strength for unconventional materials such as hempcrete and earthbag • the creation of transfer mechanisms in the structure above to relieve overturning loads from the foundation below • the use of metal roofing itself as the roof diaphragm, without plywood sheathing • the use of capacity design principles (per the new requirements of OBC 2006) for seismic design, including unconventional technologies which involved an investigation into the dynamic behaviour of each element, and the selection of an appropriate over-strength factor for each element • the elimination of hold downs for shear walls by reinforcing walls around openings and tying into weight of the bale columns • the means and methods for a rammed earth slab Hemp Straw Bales The building sits on eight load-bearing columns made of large, round, straw bales. These 4×4 foot round bales are very tightly compacted and stacked three high. They make for stable and strong columns that can hold up to 30,000 lbs. The straight wall sections between the round bales are infilled with regular, rectangular hemp-straw bales. Hemp was preferred as it is a stronger, more durable fibre than any other type of straw. Clay plastered straw bale walls are one of the most environmentally friendly building systems available. The combination of locally-grown, minimally-processed straw and locally harvested clay means that the embodied energy in the wall system is a tiny fraction of any other wall system. Combined with excellent thermal performance over the lifetime of the building, this system saves energy in every possible way, and is comparable in time and cost to most conventional building systems. Hempcrete was used for grade beams as opposed to standard concrete. Hempcrete is a mixture of chopped hemp, hydrated lime and a small amount of either portland cement or quick-set gypsum. A reaction between the lime and the hemp results in a lightweight material that has reasonable compressive strength. The advantage of hempcrete over regular cement is that the hempcrete is both structural and insulating, so both ends are achieved in the same pour. It is also lower in embodied energy. The disadvantages are a longer set time (2-4 weeks) and lower strengths. However, where the high ultimate strength of concrete is not necessary, this option works well. Earthbag building is a modern adaptation that combines the traditional technique of rammed earth in conjunction with high-tech woven polypropylene bags and tubes that act as a flexible form to contain the earth. The main octagonal space at the Arts Centre is supported by Earthbag grade beams. The Earthbag tubes are filled with a site soil mixture of gravel, sand, silt and clay and then compacted firmly. Barbed wire is run between each course of earthbag to prevent slippage. In order to create an un-permeable layer surrounding the rubble of the trench below the foundation, re-cycled/reclaimed carpet was used from local landfills. All wood and lumber used during the building process was FSC certified, including the roof trusses, plywood and interior bamboo flooring. The ‘lumber’ used for the exterior front stage under the porch was manufactured using 100% recycled plastics. The edge of the stage was finished with a sinuous curving 2’ high dry stone stacked wall. Finishes Off-gassing and VOC’s in new buildings caused by synthetic chemical compounds used in things such as paints and lacquers, vinyl materials and furnishings, etc are a major concern with poor air quality. As the performance arts centre used only natural material without chemical alteration, off-gassing due to volatile organic compounds was non-existent. In addition, clay minerals in the plaster finishes are known to have an ion exchange capacity, enabling them to absorb ions for cations or anions, in turn creating healthier air and energy in whatever environment they occupy. To create the finished skin layer on the strawbale biofibre insulation,( which also provides significant structural benefit), a one (1) inch thickness, comprising of three (3) layers of earthen plaster on the interior and exterior walls was applied and then was air dried to cure. The plaster on the interior was enhanced with added straw to create a bit of a texture to the natural clay colour. This plaster was then not painted, but sealed with a 3 coats of linseed oil. Interior wood cedar vertical board siding was finished with a natural clear coat stain and the edges were trimmed with a natural jute rope. The exterior plaster walls where also painted with a natural white milk paint and the exterior walls where clad in vertical wood board and batten, stained with a dark blue milk paint as well. Canvas was used for the ceiling secured with wood batten painted with milk paints. The finished floor in one wing of the building (12%) of the building, as well as a two and a half foot high wainscoting throughout the main space was created using compressed earth blocks, which were a product of the material from excavation and compressed with a specialized hydraulic press brought on-site for immediate use. Ceramic mosaic tile was used for the baseboards and a very beautiful artistic broken mosaic tile feature was used in the staff washroom sink backsplash and mirror surround. Compressed clay with a black natural pigment was used for the countertop and desk in the reception/office room. The clay top was carefully hand compressed with 14 layers of linseed oil between each press. A mosaic tile was used for the return edge. During construction of the building approximately 85% of the waste produced on-site was diverted from landfill and either recycled or re-used. We are also proud to say that 90% of the building materials were sourced and shipped from a 80km radius of the building location.
Anything else you'd like to share?: Only the lowest-impact and longest-lasting materials have been chosen to build this structure. From the compacted stone of the rubble trench foundation, up through the load-bearing round straw bale columns, to the galvanized metal roofing, the building represents the best available choices for building materials in our northern climate. Mechanical systems have also received a lot of attention. From the geo-thermal heating and cooling system that allows the building to maintain a comfortable temperature year round without relying on fossil fuels, to the PV panels that provide its electrical power, to the solar ventilation system that provides the building with pre-warmed fresh air, to the rainwater collection system that provides flushing water for the toilets, the building uses available technologies to drastically reduce its resource consumption and waste production. For more detail see; www.sustainablebuilding2008.ca www.somaearth.com/sea-natural-buildings