February 12, 2009

OUR COOL BLUE ARCHITECTS

Camp Kawartha’s environment centre on the grounds of Trent University received $100,000 from the Gainey Foundation toward building costs of approximately $185,000.

Green Building

Camp Kawartha Environment Centre in Lakefield, Ontario is sustainable building in action

Building itself serves as tool for teaching green principles

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The new Camp Kawartha Environment Centre aims to be a groundbreaking environmental education facility for students, teachers and its builders all learning about sustainable buildings.

“The building itself becomes a teaching building and a practical tool for kids to feel, bear witness and see sustainable buildings in action,” said Jacob Rodenburg, executive director of Camp Kawartha. “We hope it will also serve as a model for other universities and plant the seed concerning sustainable buildings and living.”

The 2,000 square foot centre will be located on the Trent University grounds and will be built by students in Fleming College’s Sustainable Building Design and Construction certificate program. The Fleming students will design and build the new facility in partnership with Camp Kawartha.

The facility will be used by students from kindergarten to Grade Four and those in high school, with a maximum capacity for approximately 80 people. Its focus will be environmental programming showcasing sustainable living practices.

Construction is expected to begin in April and end by October of this year, running the length of Fleming’s sustainable construction certificate program. The centre recently received a $100,000 gift from the Gainey Foundation which it can put towards its estimated $185,000 building costs. When incorporating in-kind donations of labour and materials, along with a 21-year land lease with Trent University, the project is valued at approximately $500,000.

“We are proud to be a part of this strong community partnership and to help realize a unique and exciting environmental centre that will benefit and inspire children, educate and train future teachers and serve as an example as to how we can all live more sustainably,” said Bob Gainey of the Gainey Foundation in a statement.

Using innovative sustainable architecture techniques, the centre will consist of reclaimed and recyclable building materials, an earth-bag foundation, straw bale walls, solar power, a rainwater collection system, and composting toilets.

Chris Magwood, is co-ordinator of Fleming College’s Sustainable Building Design and Construction program and has helped deliver four examples of sustainable buildings through this one-of-a-kind hands-on course.

The most recent building was Madoc’s new performing arts centre built last year which was a net-zero building, a program first. Recyclable and sustainable materials were used throughout the structure. Square straw bales covered in a plaster mix of mud, clay and straw were used for the walls of the centre. Three different insulation types were used for the building’s three wings. One type is hempcrete, a site-mixed combination of ground hemp, water and hydrated lime.

The centre also has a geothermal heating and cooling system and electricity generated through a photovoltaic power system, where energy is collected through solar panels and stored in batteries.

Camp Kawartha is still looking for donations to cover construction costs and has started a “Buy a Bale” program. By purchasing one of the straw bales needed to construct the centre your name, or the name of your organization will be placed on a wall of recognition in the building. Donations are also eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

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