Construction: August 14, 2023 to January 2024
As part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences’ Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED) project, the preparation and installation of an advanced solar array at the Thunderbird Parkade rooftop will begin next week.
What to expect during construction
- The top level of Thunderbird Parkade will be closed to vehicle parking and pedestrian traffic for the duration of the construction.
- Minor demolition work on the west side of the Thunderbird Parkade. The work is expected to start August 14 for 3-4 weeks. Limited temporary closures for pedestrians and vehicles around this area should be expected, but the parkade will remain open during construction.
- Some noise and dust from delivery and installation of the steel structure at the rooftop of the Thunderbird Parkade. The delivery date and installation are determined by the fabricator and is expected to begin in late-August. This work is anticipated to last about 3-4 months.
- There will be surface preparation work which involves concrete drilling for anchor points, assembly of the steel structure assisted by cranes and build, and waterproof concrete pedestals around select columns.
- The craning of the steel structure will be from the Pharmaceutical Sciences building loading dock. A traffic management plan will be in place, and designated traffic personnel will be stationed to direct pedestrian traffic as needed. Access to the building will not be impacted.
The Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED) project will transform a city block into a smart energy district through the addition of a solar array, a hydrogen refuelling station for light- and heavy-duty vehicles—B.C.’s first—and intelligent charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The Solar photovoltaic system will harvest renewable solar energy and convert it to electricity that is intelligently distributed to power electric vehicles, produce hydrogen for vehicles, be stored in batteries or feed the grid. But more than this, it provides data to research; the facility simulates different scales of integrated energy systems to develop new technologies and economic models for individuals, cities and utilities.
To learn more about the project, please visit the Faculty of Applied Science’s project page.
FOR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
- Aletha Utimati, Project Manager | aletha.utimati@ubc.ca
- Darren Herrington, Project Coordinator | darren.herrington@ubc.ca
- Francois Desmarais, Facilities Manager (Thunderbird Parkade) | francois.desmarais@ubc.ca
- Jeff Smith, Facilities Manager (Pharmaceutical Sciences) | jeff.smith@ubc.ca
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.