Welcome to UBC’s Bioeenergy Research & Demonstration Facility Building!
Access to the Building: For safety reasons visitors must obtain prior permission to enter the Bioenergy Research & Demonstration Facility Building. For the purposes of this tour, we ask that you kindly view the building from the exterior only. The key features of the building can be easily seen by walking along its south side.
Click here to enjoy the Building’s Narrated Audio Tour
The Bioenergy Research & Demonstration Facility -BRDF- was built in response to UBC’s need to generate sufficient heat and power to meet the campus’ growing energy demand through an affordable alternative fuel source that would also reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The plant is a combined heat and power (CHP) system, which converts wood chips into a synthetic gas that can be used in place of natural gas for both heating and electricity generation. The facility is part of the “Campus as a Living Lab” Initiative that combines operational infrastructure, research and educational opportunities related to sustainability, in this case, bioenergy. UBC is committed to taking advantage of its unique capacity for research and problem solving to embrace and deploy leading-edge technology and concepts using the campus infrastructure as a real-world demonstration and testing lab.
The BDRF is a partnership between UBC and two of the world’s leading developers of green technology; Vancouver-based Nexterra Systems Corporation and GE Energy.
The building enclosing the plant is a simple rectangular industrial-style shed, clad in glass and corrugated metal. A clear span, high height section houses the CHP system and a mezzanine area includes offices, labs and a public viewing space. BRDF is targeted to achieve LEED® Gold rating, which is a UBC requirement for all new buildings on the academic campus.
Project Facts:
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Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facililty |
| Architects: | MacFarland Marceau Architects Ltd. |
| Structural Engineers: | Equilibrium Consulting Inc. |
| Construction Manager: | Ledcor Group Ltd |
| Size: | 2,277 m2 |
| Completed: | 2012 |
We highly encourage that you visit the Official Website of the Bioenergy Research & Demonstration Facility Building for more information.
Make sure to visit all of the features of the building before moving on to the next stop.
General Information
Uses of Wood in the Building
Sustainability Features
Finish Tour 