Sustainability Study Market Lands, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Sustainability Study Market Lands

The Market Lands are situated in the heart of Winnipeg's Exchange District, central to many of Winnipeg's historical, cultural, and emerging community assets. For the last fifty years the site has been home to Winnipeg's Public Safety Building and Civic Parkade. At the time of the founding of the City of Winnipeg in the early 1800's, it was the site of the city's public market and a center of commerce and trade.

Transsolar collaborated with Daoust Lestage on a 10-story social housing project as part of the redevelopment in this area. The goal was to achieve a low-cost, low-carbon building complex offering low-income families a high quality of life.

As a first step, Transsolar focused on three key aspects: a solar-controlled façade with fixed elements, thermal mass, and natural ventilation – which ensure that the building will not require active cooling.

A second, slightly more ambitious option was presented to the client, which investigated different options towards carbon neutrality. With the goal of carbon neutrality in mind, Transsolar suggested the installation of solar collectors which, in combination with a large water storage underneath the building, would provide heat during the winter and make the building almost 100% independent.