Watermain repair on 16th Avenue in the University Endowment Lands (UEL)

The University Endowment Lands will be completing an emergency repair on an incoming watermain on 16th Avenue. UBC Facilities will support this work from April 20th – 22nd, 2022 by switching over our campus water feed, once the repair commences.

Natalie Wagorn joins Infrastructure Development as Assistant Manager, Capital Projects role within Capital Planning & Strategic Project Development

Natalie will be working closely with Barb Gordon, Acting Director Capital Planning & Strategic Project Development, on the capital projects and planning portfolio and the major capital building projects process, including administration, reporting and financial management of major and routine capital projects involving campus infrastructures. 

Agronomy Road closure between Wesbrook Mall to Health Sciences Mall

Crane activity is scheduled on April 7, 2022, as part of the boiler replacement project for the existing low-pressure steam system serving the Life Sciences Centre and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building’s humidification load. During this work, Agronomy Road between Wesbrook Mall to Health Sciences Mall will be closed to vehicles from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Barbara Gordon steps into the role of Acting Director, Capital Planning & Strategic Project Development with Infrastructure Development

Barbara (Barb) Gordon is responsible for developing and coordinating multi-year capital plans for academic buildings and building system upgrades, as well as reporting on major and routine capital projects to the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training (AEST), UBC Administration, and the Board of Governors.

Wesbrook Mall Upgrades

The Wesbrook Mall corridor from 16th Avenue to Chancellor Boulevard is being upgraded in phases to repair the condition of the roadway and enhance safety and user experience for all modes of transportation.

Energy conservation measures implemented in I.K. Barber Learning Centre

An energy conservation project was implemented to repair the heat pipe system in the main air handling units (AHUs) to improve thermal energy in the building. Upon completion, the building’s thermal energy demand has been reduced by approximately 22%, saving UBC approximately $11,000 per year in thermal energy cost and reducing emissions by approximately 40 tCO2e per year.

Heat recovery chiller expansion in the Life Sciences Centre

In 2021, a third chiller module was added to an existing two-module heat recovery chiller to maximize more recoverable heat in the building. This additional chiller module will recover 5800 GJ of heat per year, equivalent to reducing thermal consumption by 21%, and is expected to reduce the building’s GHG emissions by 166 tCO2e per year.

A Walk Through Time

Construction work along the sidewalks on the south and south-east side of the Earth Sciences Building has started, as part of an exhibit extension of the Pacific Museum of Earth. The museum will be installing a ribbon of steel plates and displays providing a timeline of significant geological and biological events in Earth’s history.  The construction work is anticipated to be completed by end of April 2022.

Four newly funded projects aimed at boosting sustainability at UBC Vancouver

Four new Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) sustainability projects have just been awarded a share of $200,000 in funding, and will be set in motion this year on the UBC Vancouver campus. All these projects show ways to improve sustainability by using UBC’s campus lands, buildings, infrastructure, and people as a living lab.

Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Labs Renewal Project wins VRCA’s Gold Awards of Excellence

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) recognized the finest in BC’s construction industry at its 32nd annual Awards of Excellence gala. UBC’s Undergraduate Life Science Teaching Labs Renewal—Biological Sciences Building project was one of the 2020 Gold Awards of Excellence winners.