The innovative building structure will utilize dowel laminated timber (DLT), which uses wooden dowels to stack individual 2×6 studs without the use of glues or chemicals, making the product fully recyclable at end of life. DLT can be manufactured locally and has a low carbon footprint, is hygroscopic, and its thermal mass will help modulate internal temperatures. Left exposed and untreated, dowel laminated timber is more environmentally friendly than using common construction material which would require continual replacement over the 100-year lifespan. In combination with the excessive use of timbers and natural wood finishes, this innovative and natural structural system will sequester approximately 109 tonnes of CO2e.

To achieve the Passive House Low Energy Building Standard, we created an innovative, thick building envelope that sits upon a frost protected concrete slab on grade. The wall and roof assemblies utilize wood fiber insulation. Wood fiber is dense, breathable, flame proof and due to its high mass, it has superior thermal retention which reduces thermal shift in the building envelope and thus minimizes the heating demand and life cycle GHG emissions. Wood fiber is made from waste products from lumber production, shredded into fibers and pressed into boards. The wood fiber insulation sequesters 21 tonnes of additional CO2e.

The Pavilion will not have a natural gas service connection. Heating and cooling will be supplied by an Air Source Heat Pump. The North American manufactured Daikin condenser and air handling units and VRV heat recovery condenser are especially well suited for low temperatures. The harnessed energy is stored in hot water storage tanks that supply domestic hot water, space heating, and hot water for ice resurfacing (a seasonal skating rink will sit outside the building). Air source heat pumps are rarely seen in this climate or in the Bow Valley, so in this respect the project is a technology demonstrator.  The humidity control and fresh air and ventilation will be done by the Canadian manufactured, high efficiency Tempeff ERV RGSP-K 700 unit. This is one of the few ERV systems that does not require defrost strategy.