Churchill Northern Studies Center

This job site is remote and exposed with only shrubby tundra vegetation and thin gravelly soils over shallow bedrock. There are no piped municipal services for water, sewer, or gas and no prospect for any in the future. A 1-km power line connects to a Manitoba Hydro electrical service but is frequently interrupted by winter weather. A high degree of reliability and independence was therefore required for the essential services of water, wastewater, heat, and power. The remote location also makes regular maintenance an issue, so it is imperative that systems be reliable and simple. Laboratory areas had to be provided for wet/dry and clean/dirty research activities. Some soil and plant samples must be dried for an extended time and the moisture and smell has to be contained, controlled exhaust and makeup ventilation, while maintaining good indoor air quality in the lab was vital to this project for research sample purposes. The four, main building ventilation systems have ventilation heat recovery a challenging accomplishment in an environment where heat recovery ventilators [HRVs] are very vulnerable to freezing. The main ventilation system is a dual core heat exchanger made in Manitoba and delivers 85% heat-recovery efficiency. Building controls are designed for reduced operating costs, while still being relatively simple to operate. The project team can access the building automation system for monitoring and trouble-shooting via internet when they are off-site.
Project Innovative Solutions: All heat recovery ventilation systems need additional defrost provisions
Ventilation openings need protection from wind-driven snow
Outdoor tanks will freeze; no sewage treatment equipment [e.g., tanks, treatment units] can be outdoors

Location: Churchill, MB
Sector: Institutional; Design Assist; LEED Platinum
Value: $2.5 M
Completed: 2011