The McGill University Health Centre’s Glen site: The first hospital in Quebec to be twice certified LEED Gold

Montreal - The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the McGill Healthcare Infrastructure Group (MHIG) are proud to announce that they have obtained a second LEED Gold certification, a first in Quebec. The certification LEED Gold for Existing Building (EB) has been awarded by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) to the new MUHC Glen site, which opened in 2015 in Montreal. In February 2016, the site obtained a LEED Gold for New Construction (NC) certification.

"Environmental sustainability is everybody’s business. We are therefore proud that the Glen site has achieved LEED Gold for Existing Buildings," stated Dr. Pierre Gfeller, MUHC President and Executive Director. "This certification confirms our commitment to sustainable design, operation and maintenance of buildings, and our teams’ collaborative efforts with partners to identify and implement the best sustainable practices."

"As a public institution, the MUHC offers a healing environment for both patients and the public," explains Pierre-Marc Legris, Director of Technical Services of the MUHC. "A LEED certified building means that we have built – and now operate – an efficient structure that offers the healthiest environment to its users with a lesser impact on the natural environment and on resources. Building on this achievement, a newly created Sustainable Development Committee pledges to spearhead impactful initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of our operations and services for generations to come."

"The MHIG is proud to have obtained the LEED Gold EB certification," says Jean-Pierre Dumont, President of MHIG. "Thanks to the tireless efforts of an accomplished team of employees from Johnson Controls Quebec Ltd. and SNC-Lavalin, we have reduced the structure's environmental footprint by 3,365 tonnes of equivalent CO2 per year, which could be compared to 20 million kilometres driven by a car. We’ve also succeeded in building a hospital complex that ranks among the greenest in North America."

"The CaGBC congratulates McGill University Health Centre on this achievement, made even more impressive given how complex and significant the energy, ventilation and patient care requirements are for a 24-hour medical care centre," said Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council and GBCI Canada. "The Health Centre leveraged LEED Coach Canada to assist them throughout the project to determine optimal strategies to achieve their sustainability goals and to create the healthiest environment for their patients. This project stands as a best practice case for any medical facility undertaking LEED certification in Canada."

The MUHC Glen site was built according to the principles of sustainable development and adheres to the most rigorous environmental standards, contributing to energy savings and healthy airflow. Some of the ways in which the facilities at the MUHC Glen site were designed to be as eco-friendly as possible include: 

• Implementation of energy-efficient initiatives resulting in less energy consumption than for the average standard Canadian hospital, resulting in savings of approximately $2,5 million per year;
• Reduced light pollution as a result of adapted lighting fixtures and an emphasis on natural light;
• Low-flow faucets that decrease potable water consumption by at least 40% in relation to comparable buildings;
• A bicycle path linked to the City of Montreal’s network and more than 400 parking spaces for cyclists;
• Showers for cyclists;
• 79 charging stations for electric vehicles;
• A waste management centre to recycle paper, cardboard, electronic waste, glass and plastic;
• Decreased heat island effect thanks in large part to the maintenance of green spaces consisting of trees, perennials and shrubs that do not require any watering, and to the presence of highly reflective materials;

During construction, the following initiatives led to the LEED Gold NC certification: 

• 94% of construction waste and debris were reused and recycled;
• 27% of construction materials came from local producers (less than 800 km from the site), thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting these materials over long distances;
• Strategic procurement of materials consistent with LEED criteria.

Through these initiatives, the MUHC and the MHIG are pleased to lead the way in responsible environmental stewardship within the healthcare sector.

About the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is one of the world’s foremost academic health facilities. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of its founding hospitals, the MUHC provides exceptional multidisciplinary patient-centric care. Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, the MUHC continues to shape the course of adult and pediatric medicine by attracting clinical and research expertise from around the world, assessing the latest in medical technology, and training the next generation of medical professionals. In collaboration with our network partners, we are building a better future for our patients and their families; for our employees, professionals, researchers and students; for our community and above all, for life. www.muhc.ca

About McGill Healthcare Infrastructure Group

McGill Healthcare Infrastructure Group, G.P. (MHIG) is a general partnership made up of SNC-Lavalin and Innisfree Canada Ltd. As part of a public/private partnership (PPP) with MUHC, MHIG has designed, built and financed the new hospital complex at the MUHC Glen site, which it will operate until 2044.

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