Summer/Fall 2016 Aerial transit in Barcelona, Spain. Burnaby Mountain Link: Transformative, Sustainable Transit It would be faster, more comfortable, more million, with annual operating costs at $3.14 But using transit can be challenging. More reliable and would more than pay for itself million. CH2M estimated a life-cycle, cost- than 12,600 daily transit riders funnel through a compared to current transit service. It would benefit ratio of 3.6: meaning that the system single, overcrowded bus route; people pouring cut automobile traffic and reduce Burnaby would deliver value three-and-a-half times its off the SkyTrain at Production Way must often Mountain greenhouse gas emissions by more cost in the first 25 years. As SFU urban studies wait 20 minutes or longer for space on the #145. than 7,000 tonnes a year – and it would free up professor Anthony Perl recently told SFU’s And given that those buses must climb more diesel buses to provide 57,000 hours of annual student paper The Peak, the cost “might seem than 300 vertical metres, winter conditions service in other parts of Metro Vancouver. a lot to students … but it’s a fraction of the cost interrupt or cancel service altogether as many as of the Evergreen Line.” The Burnaby Mountain 10 days a year. By 2021 the total ridership could “It” is an aerial link between Burnaby Mountain Link, Perl said, “is a real value deal.” exceed the capacity of frequent bus service. and the Production Way SkyTrain station. As reported in Burnaby Now, SFU President Not surprisingly, the public supports the idea: A cable-propelled transit system would resolve Andrew Petter recently told the Burnaby Board provided with environmental, reliability and all of these issues. Universally accessible of Trade that university officials will be sharing cost-benefit information, 80% of Burnaby 35-person gondola cabins would take seven the case for the gondola with all three levels of residents and 88% of student transit users minutes – less than half the 15+ minute bus trip government over the coming months. favour the Burnaby Mountain Link as a on and off the mountain. vital connection in the region’s transit and This is great news for the Metro Vancouver SFU Community Trust CEO Gordon Harris transportation network. region and the residents of UniverCity—a third said recently that “the Burnaby Mountain of whom rely on public transit. TransLink has Certainly, the service would be a boon to the Link would extend UniverCity’s international been studying the potential for an aerial link 5,000 people already living in UniverCity, as well record for urban innovation and environmental for more than five years, with positive results. as for students, faculty and staff at SFU; 56% of leadership.” This would be the first urban aerial In a 2011 business case, updated this year, all commuters to and from Burnaby Mountain transit link in Canada, Harris said, calling it “a engineering consultants CH2M estimated use transit (compared to 39% in Downtown transformative and sustainable transportation capital costs of an all-electric system at $130 Vancouver and just 12% in the region overall). alternative.” Celebrating Firsts Elementary School Expansion Pursuing Passivhaus: Parcel 21 The University Highlands Elementary School, a community involvement. Teachers take provincial first and one of the key community- advantage of opportunities in the UniverCity building elements at UniverCity, is about to get community and on the SFU campus to help even better. The B.C. provincial government students learn about their impact on the local has recently approved an eight-classroom and global environment. expansion that will increase the school’s capacity to 450 children and will provide much- Expansion planning will begin soon, setting needed before-and after-school care space. the stage for welcoming a new generation of University Highlands students. The $11.7-million University Highlands Elementary opened its doors just over five years ago, thanks to a building donation by SFU and First sales transaction at the grand opening of the new BC investments of $8.8 million from the provincial Liquor store on April 15th, 2016. government and $2.9 million from the Burnaby School District, SFU Community Trust, and the Welcome to the City of Burnaby. Community B.C.’s first LEED™ Gold school renovation Sketch for Passivhaus at Parcel 21. Cedar Woven Huts at the UniverCity Childcare Centre. is now home to 227 students and features BC Liquor Store a curriculum focused on sustainability and University Highlands Elementary School. Already acknowledged as an international innovator in providing market-based, green-building 8992 University High Street solutions, SFU Community Trust is now pursuing Passivhaus, a building model that will meet the Centre in Bloom Celebrate Life...Enjoy Responsibly most ambitious standards for low heat-energy consumption, high insulation, high-quality windows, On May 12th, SFU Community Trust Director www.bcliquorstores.com/store/locator/239 and fresh air ventilation. of Development Dale Mikkelsen was on 604-298-3441 Province & SFU Endorse Central Energy Plant hand in Seattle to receive an award for Petal The Passivhaus model has had significant success in Europe, where it is regularly delivered within Certification from the International Living Visit http://univercity.ca/retail-services for a traditional construction budgets. The Trust is pursuing Passivhaus on Parcel 21, in the form of an Future Institute (ILFI). The ILFI oversees full list of UniverCity shops and services. affordable 90-suite rental building that will provide increased access to a high quality, comfortable, c. the Living Building Challenge (LBC), and healthy, and affordable living environment. the UniverCity Childcare Centre is set to Awards + Recognition The Trust has established a learning partnership with BCIT, whose architectural and construction become the first Living Building in Canada. trades students will use the project for on-site learning, providing future designers and builders To be fully certified, a Living Building must UniverCity has received more than 30 national first-hand knowledge, experience, and changed expectations for the buildings of the future. Public achieve the most advanced measures of and international awards in the past decade consultation and design are already underway, and it is expected that Parcel 21 will be ready for sustainability in the built environment including these: occupancy by early 2019. possible today. The Childcare Centre must American Planning Association: National meet a series of performance criteria The Trust and the architectural lead – Local Practice – are documenting the evolution of the project Excellence Award for Innovation in Green in every challenge category, including on Facebook (PursuingPassivhausatUniverCity) and Instagram (pursuingpassivhaus_univercity). Community Planning Site, Health + Happiness, Equity, Beauty, Please follow along on our journey. Materials, Water and Energy. The Childcare City of Burnaby Environment Award: Planning and Centre has now received all of its LBC petals Development for the UniverCity Childcare Centre except Energy, which the Trust expects to CMHC Best Practices in Affordable Housing UniverCity Neighbourhood Utility Service. Evo Joins Car Share Fleet receive within the next twelve months. This Award for Verdant@UniverCity makes our childcare the most advanced LBC SFU recently signed an agreement with construction wood waste). “The proposed UniverCity residents now have more building in Canada to date. Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Corix Multi-Utility Services Inc. (Corix) to Central Energy Plant is another example of options for car share services with the The UniverCity Childcare Centre opened Sustainable Communities Award for Integrated expand the existing district energy utility for SFU Community Trust partnering with SFU and addition of Evo. They join MODO the Car in 2012 and was the recipient of a Canada Neighbourhood Development a new Central Energy Plant that will provide industry leaders to help deliver low-carbon Co-op and Zipcar as car share providers in both UniverCity and SFU with low-carbon, sustainable homes and a high level of comfort Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant Urban Development Institute: Award for the community. Parking stalls and electric thermal energy. With $4.7 million from the and convenience at UniverCity,” said Dale totaling $216,000 in partnership with the Excellence in Urban Development vehicle charging stations are currently Province of British Columbia and additional Mikkelsen, the Trust’s Director of Development. SFU Faculty of Education. Deemed “the available in The Cornerstone building greenest childcare centre on the planet” by Urban Land Institute: Award for Excellence, support from BC Hydro, the partnership The proposed plant would reduce greenhouse with additional spaces planned for the the ILFI, the centre was built for 18% less The Americas for Best Practice in Design, between SFU, SFU Community Trust and Corix gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 85%, and CentreBlock building when it opens later than a conventional childcare centre. Architecture and Development will produce energy using locally sourced improve 24/7 service reliability to Burnaby this summer. biomass that would otherwise be destined Mountain. Municipal and provincial regulatory Visit http://univercity.ca/media/awards- For more information about the UniverCity http://univercity. accolades for a full list of awards and for landfills