Features of the Kinesiology Building

UNB Kinesiology Building

Green features

The Kinesiology building was designed and built to achieve a Gold certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), using sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, appropriate materials selection and indoor environmental quality. These certification standards, developed by the Canadian Green Building Council, make up the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

Some green features of this LEED-certified building include a rain catchment system, which uses recycled rain water throughout the building; air tubes which catch outside air and bring it before the ground where it is passively heated or cooled by the earth, resulting in huge energy savings; a living wall which is made entirely from recycled material and houses over 30 unique species; and automated fresh air vents to promote a healthy environment.

The Kinesiology building also has recycled and refurbished furniture placed throughout the building. Trees from the project site were harvested into a seating area, teaching podium, reception desk and locker room benches, while chairs from the seating area of “The Pit” in the Lady Beaverbrook Gym have also been refurbished and placed inside the building.

More about our certifications

This $36 million, 60,000-square-foot, three-storey, purpose-built facility was designed to foster entrepreneurial endeavours in fitness, exercise and wellness. It is the most environmentally friendly building on our Fredericton campus, having been built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and expands on the university’s health and wellness research cluster.

Registered w/ CaGBC w/ GOLD Target NC 2009:
Vegetated roof, earth tubes, daylighting, water conservation
9 GOLD buildings in NB
1st LEED building for UNB Fredericton

WELL Certification

The Kinesiology Building is WELL Building Standard which means its features and performance impact the health and well-being of occupants. WELL certification is based on performance in 7 key areas.

Air

Promotes clean air through reducing or minimizing the sources of indoor air pollution, requiring optimal indoor air quality to support the well-being of building occupants.

Water

Promotes safe and clean water through the implementation of proper filtration techniques and regular testing in order for building occupants to receive optimal water quality.

Nourishment

Requires the availability of fresh, wholesome foods, limits unhealthy ingredients and encourages better eating habits and food culture.

Light

Provides illumination guidelines that aim to minimize disruption to the body’s circadian system, enhance productivity and provide appropriate visual acuity where needed. It also requires specialized lighting systems designed to increase alertness, enhance occupant experience and promote sleep.

Fitness

Promotes the integration of physical activity into everyday life by providing the opportunities and support for an active lifestyle and discouraging sedentary behaviours.

Comfort

Establishes requirements designed to create distraction-free, productive and comfortable indoor environments.

Mind

Requires design, technology and treatment strategies designed to provide a physical environment that optimizes cognitive and emotional health.

WELL Certification benefits & highlights

Registered w/ IWBI w/ SILVER, V1
Educational Pilot Program
Aligns with values of Kinesiology
1st academic building in Canada
1 of 5 buildings in North America
On track to be one of the first certified under the pilot program

Sustainability Features

Sharing thermal energy with a neighbour

Due to demand control techniques within the CURRIE CENTER, the new Center for Healthy Living will receive all the heating and cooling needs from the CURRIE CENTER utilizing a thermal energy storage system. This allows the existing equipment in the CURRIE CENTER to be maximized and operate at higher efficiencies.

Earth tube system

One challenge of building on a hill is the exposure – and ventilation grills were not considered appropriate. Using an Earth Tube system, incoming fresh air is drawn underground through large underground pipes below the building. These pipes are buried below the frost line where the temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year. The system provides preheating in the winter and precooling in the summer for the entire fresh air quantities of the building.

On a recent hot summer day, we had 30-degree air entering the intake structure and 19-degree air entering the AHU - that’s a lot of free cooling!

Expected payback of increased capital cost supply and installation of earth tubes, including excavation into rock, is less than 7 years.

Rainwater harvesting

The term 'rainwater harvesting‘ refers to the practice of collecting rainwater from a roof or other surface and using it to augment freshwater supplies by storing it underground and pumping it into the building on demand. Rainwater is collected and stored in a cistern for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to runoff. Water collected is typically used as a non-potable source for uses such as toilet flushing, urinals, fill systems, trap primers, and irrigation.

Daylight harvesting

Daylight harvesting was used in this LEED project to further increase the building’s energy efficiency. This was achieved with daylight sensors that control the first two rows of lighting adjacent to the windows in large spaces and classrooms. The two rows are dimmed down or turned completely off if natural sunlight is present. As natural light levels increase, electric light levels can be decreased to maintain an acceptable level of light in a space, and save resources.

Daylighting systems automate this process, removing the human element of control by using a light sensor that measures light levels and sends them to a controller that is connected to the lighting control system. The control system can then dim or switch electric lights in response to the measured level.

Green roofing

Green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, and decreasing the stress of the people utilizing the building by providing an aesthetically pleasing landscape for them to enjoy. The green roof operates in conjunction with the rainwater harvesting system to control flow and maximize filtration efficiency.

Green roofing can extend the lifespan of a roof by over 200% by covering the waterproofing membrane with growing medium and vegetation which shields the membrane from ultra-violet radiation and physical damage.

Kinesiology Teaching Kitchen

UNB Kinesiology Building - Teaching Kitchen (Louise's)

Kitchen info:
Louise’s Kitchen (The Kitchen)
Kin room 130 – first floor
Capacity: 20

Did you know you can rent this space?

Louise’s Kitchen (the Kitchen) was designed and built as a teaching facility, where education, engagement and community building around food are primary objectives. The teaching kitchen is used to enhance personal and public health across medical, corporate, school and community settings. The Kitchen supports goals such as healthy eating, teaching cooking fundamentals, team building and cultural bridge-building through food. The basic setup includes induction cooktops with ovens, microwave ovens, stainless-steel topped counters, and rectangular tables for classroom-style seating, and an overhead camera that projects onto a high-definition screen. Food prepared in the Kitchen, must not be sold, for any purpose.

The Kitchen is available for rent, for a fee, to UNB faculty, staff and members of the community who would like to instruct others on healthy eating alternatives.

To schedule use of our facilities, please contact Valerie at (506) 453-4564 or equip@unb.ca.