Minto Place Complex in Ottawa Achieves LEED for Existing Buildings
Certification of mixed-use residential and commercial complex is unique in Canadian marketplace
Ottawa, ON (April 4, 2016) – The Minto Group is proud to announce that its Minto Place complex has achieved LEED® Canada for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED EB) Silver Certification, as recognized by the Canada Green Building Council. Built in 1988, Minto Place spans a city block, extending west from Kent Street to Lyon Street and south from Slater Street to Laurier Avenue. The unique mixed-use complex includes four towers: three commercial and one residential (Minto one80five – a premium rental and furnished suite offering), joined by a retail podium, making it the first of its kind to achieve this certification.
Research indicates that green offices boost job satisfaction, productivity and performance and are a powerful recruitment and retention tool. LEED buildings cost less to operate and can reduce energy and water bills by as much as 40 per cent.
“We’re finding that government and private sector office tenants alike are demanding LEED certified space,” said Alison Minato, Vice-President of Sustainability with The Minto Group. “Our tenants, including Public Works and Government Services Canada, have been instrumental partners in helping us achieve LEED certification.”
Ideally-located along the public transit way and major bike paths, a recent survey found that 77 per cent of those living and working at Minto Place commute to work by bike, public transit or foot. From an e-waste initiative to a compost program in the podium food court, residents and tenants are empowered to lessen their impact on the environment.
Energy conservation measures within the complex include:
- Installation of efficient and low-flow bathroom fixtures (some of which use rainwater) to reduce water consumption by 25 per cent – nearly 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools;
- State-of-the-art Tersano system that infuses ozone into tap water to create a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner;
- Drip irrigation in planters and the green roof at 180 Kent Street to minimize water run-off and evaporation, delivering water directly to plants;
- Use of efficient hot water boilers;
- LED lighting upgrades;
- Regenerative elevators that feed power back into the electrical network, using up to 35 per cent less energy than a traditional elevator;
- A green roof that keeps air temperatures cool in summer and insulates against heat loss in winter. In 2012, the 180 Kent Street tower received the highest standard in LEED certification with LEED Platinum – making it the first LEED Core and Shell Platinum certification of an office tower in Canada. In addition to retrofitting existing buildings, Minto has a longstanding commitment to seeking third party validation on its new communities built in Canada and Florida. Recently, The Minto Group was named EnerQuality’s Ontario Green Builder of the Year for the fourth time in five years.
About Minto
The Minto Group is a family-owned, fully integrated home builder, construction and property management company with operations in Ontario, Alberta and Florida. Since 1955, The Minto Group has created better places to live, work and play. It has built more than 80,000 new homes, manages more than 17,000 residential rental homes and apartments, and carries a commercial portfolio of more than 2.5 million square feet of office and retail space. In addition to these holdings, the company owns and operates Canada’s largest portfolio of executive furnished suites.
For further information please contact:
Emma Osgoode, Brand Manager
The Minto Group
Tel: 613.782.2279
[email protected]
