UBC Okanagan Skeena Residence

OWNER/DEVELOPER:

UBC Properties Trust

ARCHITECT:

SECTOR:

Education Post Secondary, Residential

AME ROLE:

Mechanical Design

Completed:

2020

Location:

Kelowna

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

The newest addition to the UBC Okanagan campus, the six-storey Skeena Residence was developed to address the growing demand for on-campus student housing.

The 75,000 sq.ft. new residence features 220 bedrooms centered around amenity and social spaces that include lounges, study areas, kitchenettes, and laundry facilities. Community connection was paramount to the building design.

As Canada’s first Passive House Certified student residence, the Skeena Residence required an innovative approach to the mechanical systems.  Leveraging a zero-carbon mechanical system, we designed a standalone electric-based system that utilizes an air-source heat pump to achieve simultaneous heating and cooling with heat recovery.

With a fast-tracked schedule of just 33 months, the project team was focused on open and efficient collaboration to achieve the project goals.