Project Snapshot
Project Sponsor: VP Research / Building Operations
Project Size: 19,773 ft2
Budget: $27.4 million
Occupancy: June 2012
Project Manager: UBC Properties Trust and UBC Project Services – Dianna Foldi
Architect: McFarland Marceau
Construction Manager: Ledcor
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Project Summary
The Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility is the first global demonstration of a commercial scale bio-mass heat and power system developed jointly by Nexterra Energy and GE Energy. It is a “Living Lab” project resulting from the collaborative efforts of academics, researchers, operators and industry to demonstrate a new technology in energy production and construction methodology here at the UBC campus. Along with providing heat and power to the campus, the project will serve as a living laboratory for academics and industry to conduct ongoing research related to the bio-mass fuel system operation and plant performance.
The project is a new 21,000 square foot facility housing the Nexterra heat and power system, constructed primarily of wood. The structural system is comprised of glulam “moment” frames while the exterior walls, roof and floors are constructed with a newly certified composite material called CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) panels. The new plant is capable of generating up to 20,000 lbs of steam per hour and a new GE Jenbacher Internal Combustion engine will be integrated into the campus electrical distribution system capable of generating up to 2 MW’s of power.