County of Simcoe Expansion

Ted Handy and Associates Architectural Digest

Energy conservation and environmentally-friendly design are key elements of the $24.7 million expansion, which will add much-needed space to the existing 43,000 square-foot building constructed in 1973. The expansion, which will add almost 70,000 more square feet of space to the administration centre, will feature some of the most up-to-date LEED (Leadership in energy environmental design) features available."It's important for us to minimize the building's effect on the environment and showcase this kind of technology," said Darren Bedard, maintenance and facilities manager for the county. The two-storey expansion, which wraps around three sides of the existing building, features a wide variety of green technologies. Exterior glazing on the large windows, combined with argon gas between the panes of glass, reduces ultraviolet light from entering and increases the insulation factor, as well as letting in plenty of sunlight. Working areas will have daylight sensors (so lights are dimmed or shut off if...Read More