This week, the west expansion of the Vancouver Convention Centre celebrates its grand opening, and we thought you should know a little about this incredible facility.  Designed by Seattle's LMN Architects, as well as MCM and DA, the green convention center's most visual feature is the massive, six-acre green roof.  It's Canada's largest and the biggest non-industrial living roof in North America!  Set directly on the waterfront of Burrard Inlet, the west expansion is 1.2 million square feet and seriously enlarges the city's ability to provide greener conference space.  Here are some of its green features:

• Targeting LEED Canada Gold;
• Green roof features more than 400,000 indigenous plants;
• Expansion included shoreline and marine habitat restoration;
• Water conservation and reuse system features black water treatment and desalinization;
• Heat pump system takes advantage of constant seawater temperature;
• Energy efficient fixtures installed throughout;
• The structure uses natural ventilation and controlled daylighting; and
• Cooling provided by radiant floors.

The black water and desalinization system alone is expected to cut potable water use by 60-70% over typical convention centers.  Plus, the expansion created 130,000 square feet of new waterfront promenade and 120,000 square feet of public plazas for the public.  It's an amazing facility by all accounts, and I'm sure we'll see more of it in the future. 

Photo credits: LMN Architects and VCC Expansion Project.