Manitoba Hydro Place, Winnipeg, Canada

The 21-story office tower in Winnipeg is the headquarters of Manitoba Hydro – one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable towers in the world. The A-shaped building of the famous electric power and natural gas utility, dubbed an “Open book”, comprises two wings, resting on a podium, and a south-facing atrium (winter gardens). The most peculiar feature of the construction is its 115-meter-tall solar chimney which manages the system of passive ventilation and provides the fresh air supply 24 hours a day. Before entering the working space, the air is filtered through adjustable vents. Opened on September 29, 2009, the tower was built by the design of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects. The designing team took advantage of the perfect conditions of the territory and used the constant winds and solar energy. Besides, the unique tower is triple-glazed, i.e. consists of a single-glazed interior which is separated from the double-glazed exterior layer of the building. In 2008 construction of the tower with the gross floor area 64,568 square meters (or 695,000 square feet) cost $ 278 Million. The project has received LEED Platinum certification from the Green Building Council of Canada.

By Astghik Atabekyan, www.building.am