The Fred Kaiser Building at UBC

This new building for the University of British Columbia provides energy efficient, flexible lab space for the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty and the offices of the Dean of Applied Science. The facility houses almost 700 occupants consisting of faculty, researchers, administrators and students.

The design addresses the university’s key issues of spatial flexibility; environmental sustainability; and contextual integration with other facilities on Main Mall, while providing a stimulating, exciting learning environment. The open plan organization of the building allows for highly flexible lab space anticipating the ever-changing needs of the users.

The building is designed to be open, welcoming and transparent, with generous expanses of glass providing views both into and out of the building. The building activity is centred around atriums which create places for meeting, discussing and relaxing. The building is conditioned using in-slab radiant heating and cooling. Test simulations indicate that the building will consume 45% less energy than a traditional building.

The Fred Kaiser Building is contemporary and straight forward, with rich interior spaces accented with glazed bridges, wood finishes and warm coloured flooring and wall colours.