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Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for information about the project? Take a look at some of our frequently asked questions below. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to contact us: [email protected].

What was the inspiration for the Mosaic Centre?

The priMED Mosaic Centre strives to prove that there is a better way by design. Principally inspired by the Bullitt Centre in Seattle, the most advanced energy and water efficient urban building to date, as well as other open and collaborative spaces, The priMED Mosaic Centre aims to serve as an inspiration and model in forward thinking, sustainable design and construction. The priMED Mosaic Centre set out to prove that there is better way to do sustainable design and construction while making a profit.

How much is the project expected to cost?

The budget for the project is $10.5 million.

What is LEED certification?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a point-based rating system that is recognized as the international mark of excellence for green building in over 132 countries. Points are earned for building attributes considered environmentally beneficial with 110 points covering seven topic areas including water efficiency, material selection and innovation in design. The priMED Mosaic Centre achieved LEED platinum certification in October 2017.

What is Lean thinking and what are the main principles?

Lean thinking describes a methodology of making continuous improvements to enhance business performance. There are five main principles of Lean thinking: identify value; map the value stream; create flow; establish pull; and seek perfection. Throughout the development of the Mosaic project, the team has used Lean thinking, philosophy, processes and tools, allowing the team to do less with more and reduce waste in many aspects of the design, planning and construction processes.

How does the Integrated Project Delivery Process (IPD) work?

The Integrated Project Delivery Process (IPD) is a non-traditional framework that turns individual participants – consultants, engineers and contractors – into collaborative team members. The IPD approach ensures that the whole project team shares responsibility for planning and execution, contractually aligning the team with a united vision for the completed project.

What is the Living Building Challenge?

The Living Building Challenge is a rigorous performance standard that requires the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment today. The Challenge is to build a project that is self-sustaining in a series of categories including: water, energy, materials, place, health, equity and beauty. Projects can achieve three types of certification: full certification, petal recognition or net zero energy building certification.

How does the building work?

As a net zero building, the priMED Mosaic Centre generates as much energy on-site as it consumes annually. Its high performance building envelope and minimal mechanical/electrical systems work together to form an integrated response to the building’s physical environment. Photovoltaic panels cover the majority of the roof to provide electricity while a geo-thermal system provides heating and cooling. All tenants of the building have signed “green leases,” which require them to choose sustainable materials when completing leasehold improvements, take measures to reduce their energy and water requirements, and to conduct their business in an environmentally conscious way.

Who are the architects for the Mosaic Centre?

Edmonton-based Manasc Isaac Architects were chosen to work on the Mosaic Centre because of their commitment to sustainability and experience in building “net zero” and LEED certified buildings.

Who are the contractors for the Mosaic Centre?

Chandos Construction were chosen to work on the Mosaic Centre because of their commitment to cutting edge construction, their adoption of the IDP process and the alignment in the belief that there is a better way to build.

Who are the sustainability consultants for the Mosaic Centre?

Eco-Ammo were chosen to work on the Mosaic Centre because of their understanding and coordination of both certifications (LEED & Living Building Challenge) on the project, as well as their proven success in these areas.

What does it mean to be Canada’s first triple bottom line commercial building?

The priMED Mosaic Centre is aiming to be Canada’s first triple bottom line (TBL) commercial building. TBL incorporates three dimensions of an organization’s performance: social, environmental and financial. TBL captures the essence of sustainability by measuring the impact of an organization’s activities on the world including both its profitability and shareholder values and its social, human and environmental capital.

What are the educational opportunities related to the priMED Mosaic Centre?

One of the goals of the priMED Mosaic Centre is to inspire others in a better way by design. From the very beginning, the Mosaic team has documented lessons learned and sharing its lessons with the green building community and the greater public through its website. The building is opened to the construction community and to the general public for tours. The priMED Mosaic Centre aims to be a catalyst in a larger green building movement and sets out to prove that the success of the building’s design and innovative construction approach can be replicated.

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