The Silva
As the first LEED Certified high-rise residential building in Canada, this building represents the beginning of a new era for sustainable residential high-rise design.
The Silva is a 67-unit residential high-rise located in the Central Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. The developer’s goal was to design and construct an attractive, elegant building that enhances the well-being of its occupants while minimizing the harmful impacts on the community and natural environments.
Cobalt provided mechanical engineering services for the design of this traditional high-rise building infused with sustainable ideals. At the project outset, The Silva was not intended to be a LEED Certified building. However, due to its strong green commitments, it managed to become the first LEED Certified building for the multi-residential sector in Canada.
Achieving this milestone started out with an optimized building envelope with high performance glazing. The use of dual flush toilets, low-flow faucets, and an ultra low-flow showerhead resulted in a 33% reduction in water usage. Drought-resistant plantings were selected for the green roof to further reduce potable water consumption.
Energy efficient lighting, occupancy sensors, and daylighting reduced energy consumption by over 20%. Other exceptional environmental aspects to the building were the commitment to incorporate locally sourced green building materials and a construction waste management plan that diverted 80% of related waste materials. This project is an excellent example of the possibilities of integrating green technologies early-on in the design process.
- Other Residential Projects
- Southeast False Creek
