Located in Hamilton, Ontario, the new 125,600 ft² McMaster University Engineering and Graduate Studies Building (designed by Vermeulen/Hind Architects, Dundas, Ontario), exemplifies current building engineering and sustainable design trends. With its reinforced concrete flat slab and column structure, one of the project's greatest potential environmental impacts was due to cement manufacturing's typically high green house gas (GHG) emissions. Structural engineers Halcrow Yolles, Toronto, Ontario, developed a concrete design utilizing slag cement, which was used to replace 20 percent of the cement required for floors and columns and 50 percent of the cement for the elliptical walls in the teaching presentation rooms. Total reduction in GHGs was calculated at over 300 metric tons. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2009. The building is targeting LEED Canada NC Gold certification (LEED Canada is a close adaptation of the USGBC LEED system). While using slag cement as a replacement for regular cement does not in itself result in a scorecard point, this strategy does contribute to the following credits: MRC4 Recycled Content; MRC5 Regional Materials; EQ4.2 Low emitting paints and coatings (using water-borne sealers for exposed concrete finishes). In addition, concrete is expected to contribute towards ID credits for exceptional regional content and green education innovation.

Photo courtesy of Vermeulen/Hind Architects.