Project Details
The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) is a word-class sports and recreation facility.
Amenities include a multi-purpose indoor field house, a 2,100-seat gymnasium, squash and racquetball courts, a 16-metre climbing wall, a fitness and weight training area on two levels, a sports therapy clinic and tea rooms/refreshment facilities. The building also includes a 4-storey above-grade parkade.
Designed with enhanced sustainability features, the project benefits from water-to-water geothermal heat pumps as well as a connection from the existing Campus District Heating System to heat/cool the building. Its solar hot water system will pre-heat the domestic hot water load. These methods of delivering energy offer greater year-round efficiency and operational savings in addition to being environmentally friendly. In some areas, natural ventilation, relying on the wind effect and temperature differentials, is used to provide fresh air to the occupied space and reduces operating costs because no mechanical power is required, thereby also reducing carbon emissions. Displacement ventilation supplies fresh air at low levels to the occupied space in other areas. This air distribution method reduces energy and improves indoor air quality. Heat is harvested from a nearby computer centre via water-to-water heat pumps, thus providing the building with useful and innovative energy.
Other sustainable features at this facility include an extensive use of natural light which reduces dependency on artificial lighting and, by integrating the campus treated wastewater system to flush toilets and urinals, UVic will save water and energy, which is extremely beneficial to gaining valuable LEED credits.
The facility is connected to the existing Campus District Heating System and uses natural and displacement ventilation systems.
